r/alibaba
DDP shipping with fake tracking ID
Bought a server on Alibaba, paid extra fees, got a fake tracking ID; suspecting a scam and asking whether to wait or demand a refund.
- Alibaba platform hosts fraudulent sellers who use fake tracking websites to scam buyers.
- Buyers face risks of losing money and receiving no goods despite paying for DDP shipping and extra fees.
Context: I bought a used server on alibaba. We agreed on price and ddp service.
I paid the bill. Then they said their logistic team has problem with inspection in my country. They need extra fee (50$) and a wooden box (30$).
I paid that. Now they give me a tracking ID (9 digits) but I can not find it anywhere else, juet on their website: http://81.71.25.135:86/tracking/tracking.html
On alibaba order detail, the shipment isn't trackable (no events) but have a small detail: DDP, express, orderid (matched the 9 digits). And the limit is 60 days
On their site, I can find the detail. But the target address is just my country name, not the address I gave them.
Read some thread about this website and saw a guy did not reveive his good make me kinda worry about my case.
Asked both gemini and claude, they said it's likely a scam.
Asked the seller, they said it's logiatic ddp for my country.
Should I wait for 1 week (the time that the seller tell me the good will come) or ask for a refund immediately?
Did you pay the extra fees on the platform with a credit card? You can file reversal on alibaba now. Don’t wait. If it arrives you can cancel the reversal. Don’t cancel because they ask you to.
The DDP warning is spot on. Most buyers don’t realize that if their forwarder uses a sketchy IOR shell company to under-declare the container value, Customs can seize the whole lot and leave them with zero recourse.
If you're already taking that kind of compliance risk on the freight line, you absolutely cannot afford to risk product quality too. That's why we force unannounced ground audits on the factory floor before that final 70% wire transfer leaves your bank. If the factory messed up the batch, you catch it before it enters a risky shipping lane.
Don't worry, this is not a scam. It involves the freight forwarder's first-mile and last-mile delivery. You can only track the shipment after the goods arrive at your local port and are received by the local logistics company. They probably chose a cost-effective forwarder, so you need to check the logistics updates on the forwarder's official website.
Imma pray for 1 week 🥲 thank you
I paid it unfortunately.
Checked with the Alibaba Customer support but a bot replied to me where it keeps saying ask the seller for more delivering information
And there is just an option to request a refund in the order detail
The maximum obligation in DDP is on the seller, not the freight forwarder.
Am I wrong? Is DDP an ICC Incoterm or is it a service?
In the context of how most Chinese forwarders are doing it is both a service AND a INCOTERM.
Anyway, good luck if you get yourself into any dispute, and need to go to arbitration.
We actually contribute to the community and explain to people what DDP can mean if you go with a shady forwarder - read through this sub-reddit and you will see this echoed over-and-over, contrary to your point.
What you are saying is not wrong, it is just not 100% right in the context of Chinese forwarders, i.e. of how DDP works in this case.
A good example of DDP is when you purchase from Amazon, i.e. all duties and customs fees are paid up-front. But using Australia as an example, if a DAP price and DDP price differ by less than the GST amount payable, obviously something is up.
Just like in China many suppliers who do EXW will provide free domestic freight despite the fact EXW by ICC definition would mean the goods are left ready for pick-up and then all obligations are finished.
Also, 90% of people doing shipments below $100K are not going to have the funds to hire a lawyer and make a case at the SCIA for arbitration.