BBB warns online shoppers of tracking code scam

According to the BBB, the scammers exploit PayPal's policies by delivering incorrect items and using stolen tracking numbers.

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The Better Business Bureau is warning online shoppers of a scam that allows scammers to steal from consumers using stolen tracking numbers.

According to the BBB, the scammers exploit PayPal’s policies by delivering incorrect items and using stolen tracking numbers.

The scam works when consumers decide to buy a cheaper product on a website that looks legitimate. The site directs the consumers to PayPal, after checkout, a confirmation email arrives with a tracking number. After a couple of weeks, a package arrives and it is not what the consumer expected.

For example, a shopper ordered a 6 foot Christmas tree and instead received a “bottle brush Christmas tree no bigger than my hand.”

Another version of this scam delivers the package to the wrong address, when the consumers try and fix the issue, the website doesn’t help fix the issue.

Despite PayPal’s protection promise, some consumers say PayPal has sided with the seller in some cases.

PayPal makes the decision to side with the seller based on the confirmation of delivery to the consumer’s house, even though it is the wrong product.

BBB contacted PayPal about the scam reports, they replied, “We are stopping a significant majority of these fraudulent sellers at first transaction through our detection program and have refunded customers impacted by this fraud scheme even if they did not appeal our decision.”

To avoid online shopping scams, BBB created shopping tips for consumers at BBB.org/ShoppingOnline.