Scam Patterns Beyond Delivery SMS

Not necessarily. A tracking scan in another EU country does not by itself prove a triangulation scam, but it does mean the shipment record does not match your order and you should treat it as a mismatch until you verify the tracking number and delivery proof.

Start with the order details you have:

• Check the shipping address on the order confirmation.
• Check whether the tracking number in the order matches the number in the seller’s message or the marketplace order page.
• Save a screenshot of the tracking page showing the delivery country, date, and status.

The key question is whether that tracking number actually belongs to your parcel. If the parcel was “delivered” in a country you never visited, ask for proof of delivery that links that tracking number to your order. The most useful proof is the delivery postcode, city, or signed delivery record, if the carrier can provide it.

Then contact the seller or marketplace, because they are the parties that can explain how the shipment for your order ended up in another country. Ask them, in one message, for:

• confirmation of the exact tracking number used for your order
• the destination address attached to the shipment
• proof of delivery or handover for that tracking number

If they cannot match the tracking number to your address, the most likely explanations are a wrong tracking number, a label mix-up, or a fraudulent shipment record. That is enough to open a non-delivery or item-not-received claim through the marketplace, if you bought through one.

If the seller says the parcel was delivered, but the carrier can only show delivery in another country, do not accept the status as proof that your order arrived. Ask the carrier what delivery details they can confirm for that number. What they can provide depends on the carrier and country, so look for the exact delivery postcode, city, scan history, or proof-of-delivery record.

If you paid with a card or payment service and the charge itself looks unfamiliar, contact the bank or payment provider as well. That step matters if the payment may have been unauthorized. Give them the order number, the tracking screenshot, and the seller’s reply so they can see that the parcel record does not match the charge.

If the payment is yours but the parcel is wrong or missing, the first dispute should usually be with the seller or marketplace, because they can investigate the shipment record. Use the bank route only if the merchant route fails or if the payment was not authorized.

Practical tip: save the tracking page now, because delivery histories can change or disappear after a short time, and the country shown on the scan is one of the strongest clues in this case.

A tracking number that “moves” is not proof that your parcel was really handed to a carrier. The best way to spot this scam is to check whether the number is recognised by the actual carrier and whether there is a real handover scan, not just seller-side tracking updates.

What to look for:

• The number works only on the seller’s or marketplace’s page, but not on the carrier’s official tracking site.
• The first update is only a label-created or pre-advice type status, and there is no later scan showing the parcel was accepted by the carrier.
• The scans keep changing location, but none of them show the parcel reaching the carrier that should deliver to your address.
• The seller sends screenshots or vague promises instead of a carrier-issued proof of dispatch.

A single odd update is not enough to prove fraud. The stronger warning sign is a pattern: tracking “movement” without any verifiable handover to the real delivery company.

Do this today:

• Open the tracking number on the carrier’s own website, not just inside the marketplace app.
• Save screenshots of:
• the order page with the tracking number
• the carrier tracking result
• the date you paid
• every message where the seller says it has shipped
• Look for the exact status wording and the dates. The important question is whether there is any event showing the parcel was received by the carrier. If you only see generic movement or a label status, that is weak evidence of shipment.
• Ask the seller for proof of handover, not just a tracking screenshot. Ask for the carrier name, shipment reference, and the acceptance scan or receipt showing the parcel was actually handed over.

If the seller cannot give real proof, open a case with the marketplace as soon as their order-protection process allows. That deadline depends on the platform, so check the order details page or help section for the dispute window and the exact wording for “not received” or “item not delivered.”

If the order is outside marketplace protection, contact your payment provider next. The relevant question for the bank or card provider is whether you paid for goods that were not delivered. Include the order number, tracking number, screenshots, and the seller’s refusal or silence.

If the carrier itself confirms there is no parcel number, or the number belongs to a different shipment, that is especially strong evidence. Ask the carrier for that confirmation in writing or save the tracking result showing no record or a mismatch.

Practical tip: Keep one folder with the order page, carrier tracking page, and seller chat, because a scam case is much easier to win when all three show the same tracking number and the same missing handover.

Yes, it could be a brushing scam, especially if the parcel was sent to your name or address, you never placed an order, and there is a tracking number showing “delivered” without any matching order in your accounts. But an unsolicited package can also be a misdelivery or a gift, so first check the label and tracking before you report it as brushing.

Do this in order:

• Check the shipping label for your name, full address, sender name, and tracking number.
• Search your email, marketplace account, and payment accounts for any order with the same tracking number or delivery date.
• Ask anyone else at your address whether they ordered it.

If you find no matching order, save proof before you do anything else:

• A photo of the outer label
• The tracking number
• The delivery date or status shown in tracking
• Any message, insert, or QR code inside the parcel

That evidence matters because brushing scams often use real tracking numbers and real addresses. A seller may ship a very cheap item and then use the delivery record to create fake “verified purchase” reviews or boost sales activity.

What to report depends on what the label shows:

• If the parcel shows a marketplace seller or store name, report it to that marketplace and say you never placed the order. Include the tracking number, your address as shown on the label, and the delivery date.
• If it only shows a carrier or postal tracking number, contact the carrier and ask whether the number is linked to a sender, seller, or delivery account. Give them the tracking number and ask for the origin of the parcel.
• If you find an actual charge on a card or wallet account, contact the payment provider as an unauthorized transaction. The parcel problem and the payment problem are separate, so mention both only if both exist.

If the parcel is addressed to someone else at your address, treat it as a likely misdelivery, not brushing. Ask the carrier what they want you to do with it and keep the label until they confirm.

Do not scan any QR code, click any link, or pay any “re-delivery” or “customs” request that arrives with an item you never ordered. That is a common trap in scam mailings.

The one fact that changes the next step most is whether the tracking number matches any order in your own accounts. If it does not, report it as unsolicited and suspicious; if it does, compare the seller name, address, and order date before deciding whether it is a brushing case or a mistaken order.

Practical tip: keep the parcel unopened until you have photographed the label and tracking number, because those details are the easiest way for a marketplace or carrier to trace where it came from.

You usually cannot prove a tracking number is fake from one status alone, but it is suspicious if the number is not recognised on the carrier’s own website, if the route does not match your order, or if the status behaves in a way that does not fit a real parcel handover.

Start by checking the number in the carrier’s official tracking page, not only in the marketplace app. Then compare three things: the carrier name, the origin/destination, and the dates.

Look for these warning signs:

• The carrier site says the number is invalid, not found, or has no record, while the seller claims it was shipped.
• The tracking only works on a third-party tracker, but not on the carrier’s own site.
• The origin country, delivery country, or city does not match what you ordered.
• The status stays at an early stage such as “label created” or “shipment information received” for a long time, with no acceptance scan from the carrier.
• The tracking number changes after you question it, or the seller sends a new number that tells a completely different route.
• The same number appears to be used for more than one order, or the parcel details suddenly change without a clear explanation.

If the carrier website recognises the number but the information looks odd, ask the carrier what the latest scan means and whether the parcel was actually accepted into their network. A seller can show a label number before handing over the parcel, so a “tracking number” by itself is not proof that the item was dispatched.

If the number is not recognised at all, ask the seller for:

• the carrier name
• the exact tracking number
• proof that the parcel was handed to the carrier, such as an acceptance scan, drop-off receipt, or shipping confirmation with a readable date

Keep the order page, the tracking page, and all messages. Screenshot the error message, the date, and the full tracking number before the seller can edit or replace it. If the seller gave you a number that only appears after a dispute starts, that is another reason to be cautious.

If the marketplace still shows the order as shipped but the carrier has no record, use the marketplace’s dispute or help process and include the tracking number, the carrier site screenshot, and the seller’s messages. If you paid by card, bank transfer, or another payment method with a complaint process, ask your bank or provider what evidence they need and whether their deadline runs from the payment date or the delivery date. Those deadlines vary, so check the current terms in your account or card agreement.

If the tracking shows “delivered” but you did not receive anything, contact the carrier with the tracking number and ask for proof of delivery details, such as the delivery address, time, and scan information.

Practical tip: Save one screenshot of the carrier error or status page every time you check, because a fake or changed tracking number is much easier to challenge when you can show the full history.

If you suspect triangulation fraud, treat the order as suspicious and save the evidence before anything changes. Report it to the marketplace or seller platform first, and contact your bank or card issuer the same day if you see any payment you did not authorise.

Do this in order:

• Save the order record now.

Keep the listing, order confirmation, tracking page, seller name, messages, and payment statement. Take screenshots before statuses or listings change.

The most useful clue is a mismatch between the marketplace seller, the parcel sender on the label, and the merchant name on your payment record.

• Check the parcel details carefully.

If the outer label, return address, invoice, or packing slip shows a different business or country than the seller claimed, keep photos of all of it.

Do not throw away the packaging. The label and tracking history can help show who actually sent the parcel.

• Report it to the marketplace or platform.

Give them the order number, seller name, tracking number, and a short explanation that you suspect triangulation fraud because the sender, listing, or payment trail does not match.

Ask them to review the seller account, preserve the order data, and tell you whether the seller dispatched the parcel through the platform or through an outside retail order.

• If there is any unauthorised payment, contact your bank or card issuer immediately.

This matters because triangulation fraud often involves a third party using someone else’s card to buy the goods.

Ask whether the transaction should be handled as card fraud or as a purchase dispute, and give them the order number, merchant name shown on the statement, and screenshots of the seller and tracking details.

• If the parcel is still in transit, keep watching the tracking.

Save each status update, especially if the carrier shows delivery to a different name, address, or country, or if the tracking number looks recycled or unrelated to the seller’s story.

If the carrier can confirm the shipment origin, ask for that information under your case reference.

If the marketplace says the seller used a third-party warehouse or a normal fulfilment service, that alone does not prove fraud. The warning sign is a real mismatch that the seller cannot explain: for example, the parcel looks like it was sent by an unrelated retailer, while the payment record and listing point to someone else.

If the marketplace does not resolve it, keep the case number and escalate with your payment provider first. For cross-border help, your national consumer centre or the European Consumer Centre can be useful if the seller is in another country, but they will also need your screenshots, order number, and any reply from the marketplace.

Practical tip: keep one folder with the order page, parcel label, tracking screenshots, and payment statement, because triangulation cases are much easier to report when every mismatch is visible in one place.

Yes, you may be able to get a refund, but it depends on whether the seller can prove that your actual order was shipped and delivered to your address. A tracking number or a parcel arriving in your name is not enough by itself.

Start by checking the order details against the parcel you received.

• Look at the order page, tracking page, and any shipping email or message.
• Save the order number, tracking number, delivery status, and a photo of the parcel label.
• Check whether the label shows your full name and address, or a different address, locker, or postcode.

The key question is whether the parcel was really shipped to you.

• If tracking only shows “label created,” “shipment information received,” or no movement at all, that usually means there is no proof of real shipment yet.
• If tracking says delivered but the address or location is not yours, that is also not proof that your order reached you.
• If the parcel is addressed to you but the contents are wrong, missing, or clearly not the item you ordered, treat it as a wrong-item or partial-delivery case, not a normal delivery.

Then contact the seller or marketplace and ask for a refund based on non-shipment or non-delivery. Say clearly that the parcel was never shipped to your address, or that the tracking does not prove delivery to you. Include the order number and the evidence you saved. Ask them to show proof of shipment and proof of delivery with the delivery date, full address, and tracking reference.

If the seller refuses or does not answer, use the marketplace dispute process if you bought through a platform. If you paid by card, PayPal, or another payment service, open a payment dispute next and explain that you did not receive the goods you ordered. Use the same evidence: order confirmation, tracking, and photos of the parcel label or any wrong delivery details.

If the package was sent to the wrong person or wrong address, the seller’s shipping record may still say “delivered,” so the label and delivery address matter more than the word “delivered” alone. If the parcel was never sent at all, the absence of a real carrier scan or handover record is the main point to challenge.

Practical tip: take screenshots of the tracking page before it changes, because the shipment status and delivery scan are often the first things you need when asking for a refund.

Yes, this can be a fake tracking injection scam, especially if the tracking number suddenly shows a city or country that does not match your shipping address and the same number appears to belong to a different parcel. It may also be a normal cross-border routing step in some orders, so the key is whether the tracking details actually match your order and address.

Check the tracking carefully now:

• Open the tracking in both the marketplace order page and the carrier’s own website, if you can.
• Compare the tracking number, carrier name, first scan location, and delivery status.
• Look for a city/country that is far from your shipping address with no obvious transit explanation.
• If the page shows “delivered” in a place you have never been, or the route looks unrelated to your order, treat that as a strong warning sign.

A fake tracking injection scam often works by attaching a real tracking number from someone else’s parcel to your order. That can make the order look shipped, moving, or even delivered when nothing was actually sent to you.

Save evidence before anything changes:

• Screenshots of the order page showing the shipping address, order number, seller name, and tracking number.
• Screenshots of the tracking page showing the city/country, dates, and status history.
• Any seller messages saying the item was shipped, delivered, or “in transit.”
• If the carrier site shows different recipient details, destination postcode, or a different route, save that too.

Then contact the seller and the marketplace, because they are the people who can check whether the tracking belongs to your order. Ask them to confirm:

• which carrier was used,
• the destination postcode on the shipment record,
• the date and place of the first scan,
• and proof that the parcel was labeled for your name and address.

If the seller gives vague replies, refuses to explain the mismatch, or only repeats the same tracking number, escalate to the marketplace with your screenshots and order number. Say clearly that the tracking location does not match the shipping address and that you believe the tracking may have been attached to another parcel.

If the tracking shows a different country but the parcel is still “in transit,” it could still be a normal international handoff. The deciding factor is whether the route makes sense for your order and whether the seller can link that tracking number to your address. If they cannot, the case becomes much stronger.

If the parcel is marked “delivered” in another city or country, move quickly. Check the marketplace dispute window in your order details or help pages, because the deadline depends on the platform and the date of delivery status. If you paid by card or another protected method, ask your payment provider what evidence they need for a dispute, and include the screenshots and order number.

Practical tip: save one screenshot that shows the tracking number, the strange city or country, and today’s date together, because that single image is often the clearest evidence in a dispute.

A parcel being combined with another order can be normal, but a tracking number that never matches your purchase is a warning sign. If the seller cannot link that number to your order, your address, or a shipping label, treat the explanation as unverified and move quickly.

First, check what the seller actually gave you:

• Does the tracking number appear in your order details, or only in a message?
• Does the carrier name match the one shown on the order page?
• Does the tracking result show your destination country, city, or delivery route, or does it look unrelated?

A legitimate merged shipment usually still has a clear connection to your order. For example, the seller should be able to show that your item was packed into a consolidated parcel, or that several orders were sent together under one shipment reference. What matters is not the phrase “combined with another order,” but whether the tracking can be tied back to your purchase.

Do this today:

• Ask the seller for proof that the tracking number belongs to your order. Ask for the shipping label, parcel photo, dispatch note, or carrier reference that shows your name, address, or order number.
• Ask when the parcel was handed to the carrier and which carrier is responsible.
• Save the seller’s message exactly as written, especially if they are changing the story or giving a new number each time.

Then verify the number yourself on the carrier’s own tracking page, not only inside the marketplace. Look for:

• your full or partial address details
• the same destination country as your order
• a first scan date that makes sense for the claimed dispatch
• the current status and last scan location

If the carrier tracking matches your address or route, the shipment may be real even if it was consolidated with another order. If the number does not match your purchase at all, or it belongs to a different name, city, country, or delivered parcel, that is a serious red flag.

If the seller refuses to give a shipping label, cannot explain the carrier, or keeps sending tracking numbers that do not connect to your order, do not accept the “combined shipment” explanation on trust. Use the marketplace dispute process if you have one, because the platform can compare the order record, shipment record, and seller messages. If you paid by card, bank transfer, or a wallet service, keep the payment proof in case you need to challenge the transaction later. The exact next deadline depends on the marketplace or payment provider, so check the order status and dispute window in your account now.

The most useful evidence is:

• your order confirmation
• screenshots of the tracking page and the seller’s messages
• any label or shipping proof the seller provides

If the seller can show one shipment reference that clearly covers your order, it may be a normal consolidated parcel. If they cannot, the mismatch is more likely to be fraud or at least a shipment that cannot be verified.

Practical tip: search the tracking number on the carrier’s website and compare the destination details before you accept any “combined order” explanation.

Treat this as suspicious until the seller can show real handover to the carrier. A tracking number created before the item was supposedly shipped, especially if it keeps showing scans but no real movement, often means a label was generated before the parcel was actually handed over.

Do this in order:

• Check the order page first. Look for the seller’s promised ship date, not just the tracking number. If the order is still marked “processing,” “pending shipment,” or similar, that matters more than repeated tracking scans.
• Open the carrier’s own tracking page, not only the marketplace version. You are looking for a first acceptance event such as “received by carrier,” “accepted,” “collected,” or a clear origin scan. If the tracking only shows label creation, electronic pre-advice, or repeated scans in the same place with no acceptance event, the parcel may not have entered the network properly.
• Save screenshots of:
• the order page showing the ship date or delivery promise
• the tracking page showing the early tracking number and the “no movement” scans
• any seller messages about delays or shipment

These are the best records if you need to open a dispute.

Then contact the seller in writing and ask for proof of shipment. Ask for the actual handover date and an acceptance scan or deposit receipt from the carrier. That is more useful than another promise that the parcel is “on the way.” If the seller keeps delaying, give a short deadline in your message, such as asking them to provide proof by a specific date, and keep the message polite and factual.

If the seller can provide proof that the carrier accepted the parcel, the problem may be a carrier delay rather than a fake tracking number. In that case, follow up with the carrier using the tracking number and ask whether they have a first scan, where the parcel was last accepted, and whether the label has been registered but not handed over.

If the seller cannot provide proof, or the tracking never shows a real carrier acceptance event, escalate through the marketplace dispute or buyer-protection process. The exact deadline depends on the marketplace and your order date, so check the order help page for the wording about “item not received,” “late shipment,” or “no tracking movement.” Use the tracking screenshots and the seller’s messages when you file.

If you paid by card, a wallet service, or another payment provider, check that provider’s dispute or chargeback rules as well. The relevant deadline depends on the payment method and provider, so look for the transaction date and the dispute window in your account or card terms. Do not wait for the seller’s tracking to “fix itself” if the seller still has no proof of shipment.

Practical tip: if the tracking number appears before the seller says the item was shipped, compare the order’s promised ship date with the first carrier acceptance scan — that gap is often the clearest sign that the parcel was only labelled, not dispatched.

A parcel marked “delivered” may have been used as proof for a different buyer if the delivery details do not match your order. The quickest check is whether the tracking record, delivery proof, and your order page all point to the same address, date, and recipient.

Start by comparing the delivered scan with your order information:

• Your full shipping address on the order confirmation
• The delivery date and time shown in tracking
• The recipient name, signature, locker, pickup point, or “safe place” note if the carrier shows one
• Any delivery photo, postcode, city, or geolocation shown in the proof of delivery

If the proof shows a different street, building, postcode, name, or pickup location, that is a strong sign the delivery confirmation may belong to someone else. If it only shows your city but not your address, or it lists a vague “delivered” status with no proof, that is weaker evidence and you should ask for the full delivery record.

Look for these red flags:

• The tracking number on the seller’s message does not match the number on your order page
• The “delivered” scan appears unusually fast, with little or no visible transit history
• The proof of delivery image shows another doorway, parcel room, mailbox, or neighbourhood
• The parcel was marked delivered to a locker, parcel shop, neighbour, or safe place that you did not choose or authorise
• The delivery name or signature is not yours, and you do not share the address

If any of those apply, save everything before it disappears:

• Screenshot the order page, tracking page, and delivery proof
• Save the seller’s messages and any email saying the parcel was delivered
• Keep your shipping address visible on the order confirmation
• Note the tracking number, delivery date, and the exact wording of the status

Then ask the right party for proof tied to your specific tracking number.

• Ask the carrier for the delivery record connected to that tracking number, including the full delivery address, recipient name or signature, and delivery photo if they have one.
• Ask the seller or marketplace to explain how the “delivered” status matches your order details.
• If the seller relies on a proof-of-delivery document, ask them to show that the address and recipient on that document match your order.

If the carrier’s proof matches your address and you still did not receive the parcel, the issue is different: the parcel may have been stolen after delivery, misdelivered inside your building, or left somewhere you cannot access. In that case, check with reception, neighbours, parcel-room staff, or building management and ask whether they saw the parcel.

If the proof does not match your order, challenge the claim immediately with the marketplace or payment provider, using the mismatch as the main point. Include the order number, tracking number, screenshots, and the exact reason you say the delivery proof is unreliable. If the marketplace asks for more evidence, send the documents showing your address and the carrier’s delivery details side by side.

The one fact that matters most is whether the delivery proof shows your exact address or only a general city or postcode. That decides whether you are dealing with a weak delivery record or a likely reused proof of delivery.

Practical tip: take a screenshot of the delivery proof with the date and tracking number visible, because carriers and marketplaces sometimes remove or overwrite it later.

Yes, it could be brushing or another fake-delivery scheme, but the cheap unsolicited parcel alone does not prove it. The key question is whether the tracking number and seller on that parcel are connected to your missing order, or whether it is a separate package sent to your address.

Start by matching the details:

• Compare the tracking number on the cheap item with the tracking number in your real order.
• Check the seller name, ship date, and delivery status on your order page.
• If the parcel has a different tracking number, a different seller, or no order in your account matches it, treat it as suspicious.
• If your order’s tracking shows “delivered” but you never received that parcel, keep that tracking page as evidence.

Do not throw the cheap item away yet. Take clear photos of:

• the outer packaging
• the shipping label
• the tracking number or barcode
• the item inside, if you open it
• any dates or status shown on the order page

Those details matter because brushing scams and fake tracking often rely on a low-value parcel being used as delivery proof, while the buyer’s real order stays missing. A tracking status such as “delivered” is especially important to save if it does not match what you actually received.

Then report it through the marketplace, because they can compare the seller record, shipping scan history, and your order details. Tell them:

• your paid order is still missing
• you received an unsolicited cheap item from a different seller
• the parcel label and tracking number do not match your purchase, if that is the case
• you want them to check whether the tracking for your real order is genuine or has been reused, altered, or falsely assigned

Include the order ID, tracking number, seller name, screenshots of the order page, and photos of the parcel label. Ask them to open a non-delivery or fraud review for the missing order, not just a general support ticket.

If you paid by card, PayPal, or another payment service, also contact the payment provider if the marketplace does not resolve it quickly or if the seller disappears. Explain that you may have a non-delivery problem and possibly a fake-tracking issue. Give the payment date, amount, order ID, and the marketplace case number if you already have one. If the charge itself is unknown or you do not recognize it, say that separately as a possible unauthorized payment.

If the tracking on your real order shows a real carrier scan, check the carrier’s proof-of-delivery details where available. What matters is the delivery location, not only the word “delivered.” If the parcel was allegedly signed for or left in a mailbox, but that does not match your address or building access, save that mismatch.

Practical tip: keep the unsolicited parcel unopened if possible until you have photographed the label, because the shipping details on the outside are often the strongest clue for proving brushing or fake tracking.

You usually cannot prove “fake tracking” from the marketplace page alone. What you can prove is that the number does not correspond to a parcel that actually moved out of the origin country, or that the carrier cannot match it to a real shipment.

Start by documenting the tracking carefully before it changes:

• Save screenshots of the full tracking history, not just the latest status.
• Include the tracking number, order number, dates, and the page URL if visible.
• Capture the fact that the parcel never reaches an export scan, handover scan, or “in transit to destination” type status.
• If the history repeats the same status for days or jumps in a way that looks copied, save that too.

Then check the number on the carrier’s own site, not only on the seller’s page. A fake-looking tracking page can still display a real carrier name, so the key question is whether the actual carrier recognises the number and shows any genuine scan history.

If the carrier’s site says the number is invalid, not found, or not assigned, save that result immediately. That is strong evidence that the seller used a bogus number or a number that was never linked to your parcel.

If the carrier recognises the number but only shows an acceptance scan in the origin country, ask the carrier for written confirmation of:

• the first scan date,
• whether the parcel was ever handed over to the network,
• whether there is any export or departure scan,
• and whether the parcel has left the origin country.

That written reply matters because it separates “label created only” from “parcel accepted but not shipped onward.”

Next, send the evidence to the seller and the marketplace together if you bought through a platform. Ask for either delivery proof or a refund, and include the tracking number, order number, screenshots, and the carrier’s written response. If the seller claims delivery, ask for proof that matches your order, such as a carrier record showing delivery to your address or parcel identification that can be checked.

If you pay by card or another payment method with a dispute process, use the same evidence in the claim. What matters there is not proving fraud in a legal sense, but showing that the seller’s tracking does not prove delivery. Keep the order confirmation, payment statement, seller messages, and all tracking screenshots in one file. Check your bank or payment provider’s dispute deadline now, because the time limit depends on the provider and payment type.

If the marketplace or bank asks why you believe the tracking is fake, keep the answer simple:

• the number does not exist on the carrier’s system, or
• it exists but never leaves the origin country, and there is no export/departure scan, or
• the seller cannot provide carrier-backed delivery proof.

Practical tip: take one screenshot of the carrier lookup result and one of the seller’s tracking page on the same day, so you can show that the “real-looking” page does not match the carrier’s own record.