Here are some links to contact if you get scammed:

1) U.S. Postal Inspection Service: U.S. Postal Inspection Service
2) USPS Mail Fraud Complaint Form: Mail Fraud On-Line Complaint Form
3) IFCC Internet Fraud Complaint Center: http://www1.ifccfbi.gov/index.asp
4)IFCC Complaint Form: https://www.ifccfbi.gov/complaint/cf2.asp
5) IFCC Fraud Statistics: http://www1.ifccfbi.gov/strategy/6monthreport.PDF
6) FTC Federal Trade Commission: Federal Trade Commission Home
7) FTC Consumer Complaint Form: https://rn.ftc.gov/dod/wsolcq$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE=PU01
8) NFIC National Fraud Information Center: "NCL's National Fraud Information Center/Internet Fraud Watch"
9) Consumer Sentinel: Consumer Sentinel
10)NCL National Consumer's League: Welcome to the National Consumers League
11)The BBB (Better Business Bureau): BBB
12)BBB Online Complaint Form: Untitled
13)Internet SCAMBUSTERS: Protect Yourself from Internet Scams - Subscribe to Internet ScamBusters
14)International Fraud--econsumer.gov: Welcome to EConsumer.gov
15)econsumer.gov Complaint Form: https://www.econsumer.gov/imsn/wimsnery2$com.main?p_lang_seq=1
16)Seller's local States Attorney General's office:
http://www.co.eaton.mi.us/ecpa/proslist.htm
17) Seller's local police department which you can find seller's city/town here:
USACOPS: Police Departments, Sheriffs' Offices, Officers, and Other Law Enforcement Agencies

cybercrime.gov

ADDITIONAL PAYPAL AND SHIPPING INFO

SELLERS!

RECEIVING PAYMENTS:

PayPal Seller protection covers: “A Chargeback is covered if it was due to non-receipt of merchandise, or an unauthorized payment. A Reversal is covered if it was due to an unauthorized payment. The Seller Protection Policy does not cover claims for Significantly Not as Described, or sales of intangible goods, services, or licenses for digital content.”
If you accept PayPal you will only be covered by the seller protection if you:
1. “You must have a Verified Business or Verified Premier Account at the time of the transaction,
2. The transaction must be between a CONFIRMED US, UK or Canadian buyer and a US, UK or Canadian seller, 3. The payment must be listed as "Seller Protection Policy Eligible" on the “Transaction Details” page,
4. You must accept a single payment from one PayPal Account for the purchase,
5. You must not charge a surcharge for accepting PayPal,
6. You must ship the purchased item to the address listed on the “Transaction Details” page, and that address must be identified as a Confirmed Address,
7. You must ship the item to the buyer within 7 Days of receiving payment,
8. You must have trackable online proof of delivery from an independent shipper to the address on the “Transaction Details” page. For transactions involving $250.00 USD or more, you must provide a proof of receipt that was signed or otherwise acknowledged by the buyer, and
9. You must respond to PayPal’s requests for information within the time period PayPal specifies.”

If you do not follow those steps you will not be covered by the seller protection program. It doesn’t matter if the buyer pays for an item or sends quasi-cash, buys it from eBay, off AuthenticForum or through random instant messages. You will not be covered by the seller protection policy if the buyer files.

Unconfirmed PayPal buyers MUST use BidPay - Auction Payment Service - BidPay.com or International Money orders for a SELLERS protection from scams and chargeback’s.

If you ship with BidPay - Auction Payment Service - BidPay.com or any online payment method you need to ship to the approved address with tracking in order to be covered by their protection programs. If you ship to alternate addresses provided by the buyer you will not be covered. You need to check with your payment processor prior about requirements to be covered prior to shipping. If you fail to follow the requirements you will not be covered.

SELLER SHIPPING:

For domestic US buyers:
Any USPS shipping service w/ delivery confirmation will cover you up to $250 through PayPal as long as you are eligible for seller protection. If the payment was $250 or more Any USPS shipping service with signature confirmation will cover you as long as you are eligible for seller protection.

For INTERNATIONAL SHIPMENTS to buyers:
**ONLY USPS International Express is fully trackable and includes $100 insurance built into the price.**
Shippers like FedEx, UPS and DHL have their own tracking systems in place. If you use 1 of those shippers you need to use a method that can track the package. If the item is greater then $250 and you accept PayPal you need to use a service that requires a signature confirmation.

'Proof of shipping or delivery' receipts will not be sufficient in the event of an item not arriving, getting lost, or a scam of any type.

Insurance will not cover you if the item is delivered. It only works if the item is lost or damaged.
If a buyer files a dispute/chargeback against you because the item was not received, insurance will cover you IF the item was NOT delivered.
*If a credit card chargeback is filed against you because you shipped to an unconfirmed address, or scammer you will not be covered by insurance. *

Global Priority Mail, while NORMALLY very reliable is NOT SUFFICIENT for a PayPal chargeback as delivery confirmation or a fully trackable method.

Sellers need to know that GPM is usually a fine, inexpensive and reliable way to ship, but just because a whole bunch of people use it with no ill effects...you are NOT PROTECTED, and you are taking a RISK using it, for sale and chargeback purposes for ANY reason whatsoever! KNOW THE RISK UPFRONT!

LOCAL PICK UP:

The only safe method for a local pick-up is cash.
If a buyer does local pick-up you will not be covered by any online payment processor if they choose to file. It does not matter if you get them to sign a piece of paper, take a photo of them receiving the item etc. You will not be protected. If you accept money orders, checks etc for pick-ups you are also susceptible to fraudulent money orders, bounced checks and more. Also if the transaction is through eBay the buyer can file a item not received claim through eBay and if you cannot provide tracking you will lose that claim.

MARKING ITEMS as GIFTS and UNDERVALUING a package worth:

While it is acceptable to mark an item as a gift for international buyers, UNDERVALUING the item for the purpose of the buyer avoiding their own countries customs fees, CAN get the seller into a situation where they are FINED HEAVILY, (up to $5000.00) and then put on a shippers BLACKLIST, whereby any package they send in the future will take much longer!

Undervaluing an item will also void International Express insurance. U-Pic and other 3rd party insurance companies notwithstanding.

As a seller, CONSIDER do you need to make an international sale SO MUCH that you will personally risk a huge fine for devaluing a package for a buyer that is a stranger to you?

For me, Should international buyers want an item badly, they can comply with the stipulations I set forth as a seller, or they could always pay retail in their own country.

***Please Know if you choose to take a RISK! You are risking not only losing the money but your item as well! That becomes a DOUBLE LOSS!***

by Mike & Joan

I wrote a Canadian buyer/seller shipping info thing. If the mods on the forum want to use it they are welcome to. This is from user tsukasa!!! Thanks!!!
___________________________________________

Canada to Canada
-Lettermail (1g-500g) does not include delivery confirmation or insurance and is not recommended. You can make it registered lettermail for an additional 6.95, which gives you delivery confirmation, $100 insurance and signiature. Maximum Dimentions: 380 mm x 270 mm x 20 mm
-$100 insurance included
-Delivery Comfirmation (Tracking) included on all options below.
-No additional taxes/duties (You will be charged GST for sure, and PST/HST if you buy from an online store located in your Province)

Regular Parcel
-Most affordable
-1to3 days locally, 4to6days regionally, 5to10days nationally to major cities
-Rates: $7-12CAD
-Signiature $1.50 extra

Xpresspost
-Faster than Regular Parcel
-On time Guarantee
-Next day locally and regionally, 2 days nationally to major cities
-Rates: $9-20CAD (estimation for a pair of jeans)
-Signiature $1.50 extra
-Prepaid envelope rates:
__-Regional (Western(BC,AB,MN,SK,Western ON), Central(QB,ON), Atlantic(NFL,PEI,NB,NS))
___-Standard:6.99 Letter:8.49 Pack:9.49
__-National: Standard:10.49 Letter:11.49 Pack:17.99
-Prepaid bubble envelope rates:
__-Regional: Standard:7.49 Pack:9.99
__-National: Standard:11.49 Pack:18.49


Priority Courier
-Fastest Service
-Next Day Nationally
-Rates: $15-35CAD (estimation for a pair of jeans)
-Signiature Included

For additional information on rates, delivery standards and so on, please visit Canada Post
_________________________________________________

Canada to USA
-Small Packets (1g-1kg) do not have a delivery comfirmation (Tracking) option, and are not advised. Air 4-10days shipping, Ground 6-12days shipping. $100CAD insurance included
-Light Packets (1g-500g) do not have delivery comfirmation or insurance, and is not advised. 4-10days shipping period. Maximum dimenstions for Light Packet: 380 mm x 270 mm x 20 mm.
-Insurance up to $100CAD is included, additional insurance is extra
-Delivery Comfirmation included in all options below

Expedited Parcel - USA
-Most economical
-6 to 12 business days between major Canadian cities to major USA cities
-Rates: $12-15CAD (estimation for a pair of jeans)
-Signiature n/a

Xpresspost - USA
-On time guarantee
-3 to 5 days between major Canadian cities to major USA cities
-Rates: $20-25 (estimation for a pair of jeans)
-Prepaid envelope rates: Standard:11.40 Letter:14.75
-Signiature: n/a

Purolator International
-Very expensive, but fast
-Next day AM to many locations in the USA
-Rates: $60CAD+ (estimation for a pair of jeans)
-Signiature: included

USA to Canada Taxes/Duties/Fees
-Nothing is guaranteed below. Some packages may get dinged if in the threshold, while some above the threshold may pass. Use this as a guideline only.

-Commercial packages $20CAD and below [No taxes/no duties/no fees]
-Commercial packages above $20CAD [local taxes**/no duties/fees*]
-Gift packages $60CAD and below [No taxes/no duties/no fees]
-Gift packages above $60CAD [local taxes**/no duties/fees*]
__ -Value accessed will be: Value Declared - $60CAD

*Fees
-Shipped with USPS [$5CAD]
-Shipped with UPS [here] (highest fees, not recommended)
-Shipped with Fedex [here]

**Local Taxes
-Local taxes include GST (7%) plus your local PST/HST

-If you are charged the incorrect taxes and/or duties, you can fill out the form on the back of the customs sheet, or use this one. Follow the instructions. Reply for more evidence or a cheque will arrive in around 2 months time.

For additional information on rates, delivery standards and so on, please visit Canada Post
__________________________________________________ ______

Canada to International
-Shipping internationally from Canada is expensive.
-The cheapest method is Small Packet Surface, but this does not include Delivery Comfirmation and can take up to 4-6 weeks. Not recommended.
-The cheapest method that is faster is Small Packet International Air, but this also does not include Delivery Comfirmation but delivery time is around 6-10 business days. Not recommended.
-Insurance up to $100 is included, additional insurance is extra
-Delivery Comfirmation included in all options below

Xpresspost International
-4 to 7 business days delivery time to most destinations.
-On time guarantee
-Rates: $50CAD+ (estimation for a pair of jeans)
-Signiature avaliable for a fee to some destinations

Purolator International
-2 to 4 business days
-On time guarantee
-Rates: $80CAD+ (estimation for a pair of jeans)
-Signiature included

International to Canada Taxes/Duties/Fees
-Nothing is guaranteed below. Some packages may get dinged if in the threshold, while some above the threshold may pass. Use this as a guideline only.

-Commercial packages $20CAD and below [no taxes/no duties/no fees]
-Commercial packages above $20CAD [local taxes**/duties†/fees*]
-Gift packages $60CAD and below [no taxes/no duties/no fees]
-Gift packages above $60CAD [local taxes**/duties†/fees*]
__-Value accessed will be: Value Declared - $60CAD

*Fees
-Shipped with local governement post [$5CAD]
-Shipped with UPS [here] (highest fees, not recommended)
-Shipped with Fedex [here]

**Local Taxes
-Local taxes include GST (7%) plus your local PST/HST

†Duties (please use this as a guide only)
-Any item with Canada/USA origins 0%
-Non Leather Clothing 16-18%
-Leather Clothing 13%
-Leather Goods (wallets, purses, belts etc.) 8-11%
-Fur Gloves (or gloves with fur lining) 14-15.5%
-Other Fur apparel 8%
-Most Shoes 16-20%

-If you are charged the incorrect taxes and/or duties, you can fill out the form on the back of the customs sheet, or use this one. Follow the instructions. Reply for more evidence or a cheque will arrive in around 2 months time.

For additional information on rates, delivery standards and so on, please visit Canada Post
__________________________________________________ ________

This is a wonderful article about forging customs forms from Free news and resources for online auction users . It includes detailed info about lots of topics and includes info about the fines associated with this crime.

When a Gift is Not a Gift: How (not) to fill out a customs form


Check out the article but I would like to include this part of the article here:

Any person who knowingly submits false or misleading export information through the Shippers Export Declaration (SED) (or any successor document) shall be subject to a fine not to exceed $10,000 per violation or imprisonment for not more than 5 years, or both. Source: U.S. Code: Title 13 : Section 305 FindLaw for Legal Professionals - Case Law, Federal and State Resources, Forms, and Code.

Maybe this info will help some people who choose to lie on the forms figure out that its just not worth it!

In addition to the info provided above:

This is the correct way to fill out a customs form for something you have sold:

On the white 2976-A form check the Merchandise box. You don't need to fill out any other info i.e. For Commercial Senders Only and License, Certificate & invoice #'s.

If you ship using paypal you need use the drop down Category Of Item tab. Select the Other option. In the additional comments put merchandise.