Chinese scam - using tracking number that shows item was delivered

[alezna]

Recently I have purchased an item from a dubious China based seller - few sells, underpriced item. Anyway I buy the item, and after a week it still isn't shipped. I contact the seller , ask how soon he'll ship my order, he replies,  saying to be patient and after a few days sends me shipping confirmation through paypal, that has a tracking number. I find it strange he didn't upload tracking info through Ebay and ask him why. He says he provided all the information to Paypal so there is no need. After a few more days I get the message that this Ebay member is no longer registered on Ebay and the listing is deleted. So, by now, I'm pretty sure I got myself into a scam. 

Anyway I'm very curious how the scam will work out with a tracking number provided, so I check everyday on the parcel tracking site it's way  from China to Canada. Then one day the tracking says item was delivered. I'm very surprised at that news, because I haven't received anything. Besides the tracking site said parcel was delivered to a nearby town. So I apply for a refund and get it from Ebay, luckily they sorted out this case.

My guess is the scoundrel somehow managed to get a valid tracking number of an item sold and shipped to Canada, then used it to prove he shipped my order.  Suppose that real item happened to be delivered in my city, there would be no way for me to prove that I didn't receive the  item I ordered.

Now I'm worried about:

1. Someone being able to get valid tracking information and use it for a different transaction

2. Tracking information not showing the exact address of delivery or name of the recipient

[femmefan1946]

The "your city" part is based on the US zipcodes, which are very vague.

The "plus four" numbers are better, but the basic zipcodes can be miles and miles of area.

Our Canadian postal codes cover postal walks. The area a single carrier covers in her daily work. And most carriers actually have several "walks" in a day's work.

My postal code covers a single urban residential block  with about 25 addresses. Some large apartment buildings are covered by several postal codes.

Further, most postal workers can read and write. It's practically a requirement for the job.

If the carrier is in postal code K1A 0A6, and the address is 113 James St, Ottawa, she would not be able to deliver it, since the postal code is the House of Commons and the address is ten blocks away with a different code.

EBay was able to spot the problem and refund you by comparing your postal code with the postal code on the fake tracking, and the delivered address with your address.

Wherever your purchase was delivered the Canadian system made it obvious it was not delivered to you.