How To Not Get Scammed On Ebay

How to recognize and avoid eBay scams

Larn how to spot these common eBay scams targeting both buyers and sellers, and learn how to avert them.

@pabischoff UPDATED: June 28, 2021

How to recognize and avoid eBay scams

Scammers will use whatever bachelor platform to fob innocent people out of their money or appurtenances, and eBay is no exception. The online auction site launched in 1995, and scammers have used information technology ever since. eBay involves a lot of trust on behalf of the buyer and the seller, but it's relatively like shooting fish in a barrel for that trust to be exploited. The company has put in some safeguards, merely you can do a lot to protect yourself as an eBay user.

This guide will tell you almost the most mutual eBay scams, what to look for, and how to protect yourself. Some are targeted at buyers, others at sellers. If you have been scammed, nosotros'll show you the steps y'all can take to study it.

eBay buyer scam examples

Ownership products through eBay is usually straightforward, merely some scammers work to defraud innocent people who are merely trying to get a practiced deal. Retrieve that if an offer looks besides good to be truthful, it probably is.

Here are some of the most common eBay scams for eBay buyers:

1. Non-delivery scam

An eBay coin-back guarantee protects buyers from fraudulent sellers, save for some exclusions. The following is a list of items that are non covered, which means the seller can have payment, neglect to send the detail, and then you lot as the buyer have no recourse through the eBay website. Be cautious when purchasing items from the post-obit list:

Businesses for auction
Some categories of business organization equipment
Websites for auction
Real estate
Vehicles
Services
Items sold by Sotheby'southward
Classified ads

2. Seller ships with deliberately wrong name on label

This scam is clever because the cant occurs offline after the eBay transaction is complete. Afterwards completing the sale normally, the seller will post the package with the correct address merely the wrong name. This leads yous as the buyer to retrieve you've received someone else'south parcel by error, and you lot render it or have it back to the post part. The eBay transaction is listed every bit refused or returned, the seller gets the product back and keeps the payment, also. At that place is no way to dispute a transaction in one case it's finalized in this way.

3. The empty box scam

This is a scam to scout for if you are looking for a highly popular item that is generating a lot of media attention, has a limited release, or is difficult to get elsewhere. You may see a coveted item for sale and quickly purchase information technology, sometimes paying higher up market price to secure it. Sadly, in the blitz, you may have failed to observe that the list merely specified the box the particular came in, not the item itself. You end up owning expensive packaging, without the desired product.

four. Counterfeit appurtenances

The downside of buying online is that there is no manner to verify the actuality of the goods before yous purchase them. Scammers know this and will sometimes offer high quality, make-name items for sale at a very attractive price. Unfortunately, the items are affordable because they are counterfeit, or 'knock-off' replicas.

v. Payment exterior of eBay

eBay's security systems can only protect buyers and sellers when transactions occur directly on the website. Illegitimate sellers may offering an item for sale but then request that the payment is sent outside of the platform. For instance, they may ask for greenbacks, bank transfer, check, money order or fifty-fifty gift cards. Once the scammer has your coin through untraceable means, they will cease communicating with you and will not send the item. eBay will not aid with a transaction that occurred across its purview.

6. Fake customer service

Like to the above scam, a fraudulent seller can place a fake Ebay customer service number on their profile or product page. When a problem with your order occurs—information technology doesn't get in or is the incorrect detail—the victim calls this number. The scammer pretends to exist Ebay customer service and convinces the victim to manus over coin or sensitive information. In some cases, the scammer will tell the victim that the former needs access to the latter's banking concern account in lodge to process a refund.

7. Gift card scam

Gift carte du jour scammers reach out to victims past phone, email, or social media. They offer some sort of express-time discount in lodge to create a sense of urgency. The scammer will ask for the victim's gift card number to use as payment. Once they accept the code, they disappear and make off with your souvenir card balance.

In one instance scammers contacted AT&T customers and told them eBay would pay half of their cable bill if they paid six months upfront using eBay gift cards. In some other version, scammers inquire to confirm payment in advance with a gift card, maybe in return for faster shipping or a discount.

eBay seller scam examples

It might come up as a surprise, but many eBay scams are non targeted at innocent buyers looking for a good deal. Scammers will often pose equally buyers and use consumer protection measures to assistance them defraud honest sellers.

Here are some of the most common means eBay sellers are scammed.

1. Private deal offered outside of eBay

A buyer may see your item and offer to pay for it privately rather than using eBay's official payment channels. They may reason that when sales are conducted offsite the seller (yous) can avert paying transaction fees. Yous close the listing and transport the item, but either they don't pay, or they dispute the transaction with eBay, challenge the item was broken or that the listing was a simulated.

two. Overpayment offer

If you have an particular for sale, a potential buyer may contact you lot and offer to pay over the asking price for it. At first, it might seem foolish to laissez passer upwards a generous offer, but often it'south a trap. The heir-apparent will pay with a fraudulent check. Yous send the item promptly merely days later on you find that the check bounces, leaving you with aught.

3. Changed address

This scam is a new twist on the offer of overpayment. A buyer will offer to buy your detail and transport a larger payment than required. They say it's to encompass additional shipping costs, as they suddenly need it sent to a strange country (often Nigeria, although not ever). The scammers will too inquire for your PayPal email address. Soon afterward, y'all'll exist contacted by scammers pretending to exist from PayPal, asking for postal tracking numbers. The email volition land that the payment will exist released to you once you have proven that the goods take been sent. If yous're a trusting person, you may send the particular in good faith, assuming the email is accurate. As it's a scam, you volition never see your money or your items again.

4. Empty box claim

In this case, the purchase may be completed without flaw. The buyer pays quickly, and yous send the particular without concern. The buyer receives the item only claims you sent an empty box – in other words, accuses you of fraud. eBay will demand a render and the buyer sends the empty box dorsum to yous, keeping the item and the money as it's refunded.

5. Buyer claims the item wasn't received

PayPal Seller Protection exists to help sellers trade confidently on eBay. In order for it to work, sellers must provide proof of item commitment. If the shipped item was sold for under $750, delivery notification is acceptable proof. If the item is sold for more than $750 the detail must have signature delivery proof. Experienced scammers know this and may take advantage of sellers that are unaware of this additional burden of proof requirement. They can claim the detail was not received, merits a refund and make off with the expensive detail.

vi. Broken replica scam

A buyer happily purchases your particular. In one case payment is confirmed you ship it promptly. In this scam, the heir-apparent then accuses you of sending a damaged item. They may fifty-fifty provide photos of the broken item. Unfortunately for you, the detail is a replica of the one you lot sent. The buyer can report the detail as damaged to eBay and get a refund, leaving you lot without your item or the payment.

seven. Unwarranted chargeback

A scammer doesn't have to effort very difficult to steal your coin, as most transaction sites are built to protect the buyer. If you successfully complete a transaction and the buyer pays with a credit card or PayPal, they tin can easily contact the provider and cancel the transaction. The coin will be recovered from y'all and y'all will be charged an additional chargeback fee (that'southward $20 for PayPal, individual credit card companies vary). The scammer only needs to say they suspect something was wrong and most institutions will chargeback straightaway, regardless of whether they already have the particular or what condition it's in. Disputing the chargeback tin have a lot of time and hassle on your behalf.

8. Feedback extortion

Because eBay functions as an intermediary between private buyers and sellers, the idea of building an online reputation on the site is pretty important. Each transaction creates the opportunity for both buyers and sellers to leave public feedback virtually the experience. Information technology'south unremarkably not a good idea to trade with accounts that have bad feedback. Knowing this, some scammers will purchase from you and so demand money be sent through private means and then that negative feedback won't be left on your account. This is a blazon of bribery. As completed feedback can't be disputed, it places some people in a position where they feel they must comply or risk the integrity of their account.

How to avert eBay scams

This looks like a long list simply it'south important to exist very diligent when buying or selling on the eBay platform. Some of this communication may be 2d nature to you, or may not apply to all sales. Be aware and act cautiously equally fiscal dealings online can exist risky no affair how careful you are.

Here's how to avoid eBay scams:

Never accept checks as payment. Information technology's very risky as they are frequently a target for fraud. If yous do accept checks, wait until they clear. After y'all deposit a check, the residue will show in your account, simply it can accept a week or 2 to verify. If you send the parcel before the check clears it could leave you with an empty bank account and no item. E'er use canonical eBay payment methods.
Ever complete transactions through eBay'south official channels. Communicate using the service provided. eBay cannot follow upward deals made outside of the platform and cannot verify communications or agreements made on individual channels. Requite yourself every chance of protection by showing eBay you lot've acted in practiced faith.
Document everything. Make an effort to record the packing and posting of every item, including any tracking numbers used. This will aid protect you against baseless fraud claims. eBay will typically side with the buyer, so dispute any claims you recollect are untrue and back them upwardly with your photographic evidence.
Along with photographing everything, attempt to tape any identifying details about the item. Specially if the item is expensive, popular, or desirable (such as new cell phones or gaming consoles). Tape any serial numbers or unique codes.
Always arrange for a tracking number for any deliveries you lot send. If the particular is worth more than than $750, arrange for signature on delivery. This helps to cover you for PayPal Seller Protection (but not necessarily other payment methods bachelor through eBay). Use the highest security tracking you think is appropriate for the value of the item you ship. Recollect that the more proof yous can suit, the more secure your transaction will exist in the case of a fraudulent dispute.
You should be able to dispute a chargeback with the bank if yous think it's fraudulent but be prepared to provide proof. PayPal Seller Protection likewise has mechanisms to protect confronting spurious chargebacks, then don't hesitate to claiming ane if you recollect information technology's incorrect. It can as well be smart to event a refund if you take an unhappy client. It will only cost you lot the amount of the detail, rather than the additional costs of chargeback fees if the customer takes the matter up with their financial institution.
Cheque to see if the image used to show the particular is existence used on other listings every bit well, or if information technology'south a stock image from the web. If it is, and the seller is unwilling to send other photos or data about the item, it could be a scam and should exist avoided.
Compare the price to other like items. If it's heavily discounted without expert reason (like listed damage for example) it may exist a scam or even stolen belongings. Steer clear.
Investigate the feedback page. If the good feedback is all from sellers for low-priced items, it may be strategic to make the profile look genuine. Information technology may likewise be an inexperienced seller, so don't hesitate to open up a conversation about the item within eBay'southward messaging organisation.
There is lilliputian you can do to protect yourself if the item isn't covered by the money-back guarantee, so investigate the seller profile in detail first, and human activity charily if the item is very expensive and outside the protection of the policy.
If yous receive a package that is not addressed to you, think advisedly. Are you expecting a parcel around this time? Check for any shipping numbers or transaction codes y'all can use to verify that it's your package. If every detail matches upward except the name, y'all may choose to open it to verify that your goods are there.
Never rush to purchase an detail on eBay. Read the listing carefully. If the item is listed as the box but in the championship of the listing or clearly in the description, in that location will be niggling you tin do to dispute a transaction, as the information presented was true and correct.

What to practice if you've been scammed on eBay

eBay is very aware that scams occur on the website. They readily cooperate with law enforcement and encourage scammed users to make a police report with their local authorities. If you want to sympathise the process of reporting a scam to police and how eBay is involved, visit the eBay Security Eye.

Yous can report an issue with a seller to eBay directly here.

If y'all detect an detail on eBay that you lot think is fraudulent, report the listing directly.

Report a buyer if you lot recollect they have acted illegally or fraudulently here.