A boxed Barbie from 1960? A Santa costume for your dog? If you want it, chances are high that you’ll find it on eBay—but where buyers and their money flock, scammers are sure to follow. eBay is generally a trusted site with many safeguards in place, but like any large online marketplace, it’s not immune to fraud. Have you ever been cheated on eBay or want to avoid becoming a victim? Here’s how to spot common scams on the online shopping site—and how to act if you’re caught out. Buy, sell, and surf more safely with multi-layered Avira Free Security.
What are eBay scams?
Whether you’re new to eBay or a seasoned pro at spotting one-of-a-kind items on the internet’s mega auction and shopping site, we’re here to help you spot a scam fast and act appropriately. An eBay scam usually involves a fraudster trying to get an item without paying for it or taking the money without sending the item. Sellers can also trick you into paying for fake, damaged, or broken goods or lure you into giving up personal information which they can then use for identity theft or account hijacking.
Who typically does the scamming? Both buyers and sellers can be perpetrators (and victims), so no one is necessarily innocent. They could be amateurs taking their chances or seasoned pros making a career of it. It seems that some things never change: Death, taxes, and eBay scams. Attempts at fraud began when eBay was launched in 1995, and they’ll continue in the future.
Don’t be lulled into a false sense of security because you’re dealing with a well-known online giant. It’s important to remember that eBay is an intermediary only, so it has limited powers to curb fraud and isn’t responsible for buyers receiving the items they paid for. There are buyer protection features in place but con artists are experts at avoiding them. And even if the site removes a suspicious account, nothing stops the scammer from creating a new one or hijacking an old one to continue sending scam offers and messages.
It’s up to you, as both a buyer and seller, to take every precaution before finalising a sale or purchase. Be wary, be vigilant, trust no one—and break off contact if anything seems ‘off’. Is the price they’re offering to pay for your battered laptop strangely high? Are they trying to persuade you to finish the sale privately off eBay because they really need to send the camera to their brother in the Peace Corps before your auction ends? Don’t! There are plenty of red flags. Learn to spot them.
What are the signs of a scam on eBay?
eBay scams usually start with fraudulent listings designed to trick buyers or a potential buyer who is trying to mislead sellers. Here are the top clues that will help you spot an eBay scam quickly.
TIP: Clues 1 and 2 would require you to stop, think, and do additional research. If you come across clues 3-5: Run, run like the wind.
Clue 1: Short sale duration. If the listing is only posted for a short time it could be because the fraudster wants a quick sale to avoid being caught. There might be a valid explanation for a rushed sale—such as tickets to an upcoming event or a seasonal item like a Halloween costume. Nevertheless, do your research!
Clue 2: Short or unrelated feedback history. If there’s very little feedback available on the seller, be wary. They could legitimately be new to the site, or they may keep opening new accounts after being banned by eBay. Perhaps they’re trying to hide negative reviews? Choosing sellers with a load of glowing reviews is the safer option. You still need to look more closely though. Are all these great reviews for inexpensive goods, yet suddenly they’re selling something much more valuable? Have they suddenly leapt from selling cheap kids’ t-shirts to an iPhone? Scammers sometimes pad their reviews by selling lots of small, low-value items to trick you with an overall positive rating.
Clue 3: Ultra-low price. If it sounds too good to be true, it’s not your lucky day—you’re just more likely to be scammed. And if there’s no obvious reason for the discounted price (like Christmas decorations being sold after Christmas), scroll on. Be especially wary of high-value electronic items like the latest smartphones or tablets going cheaply. Sellers know that buyers get excited when they find great bargains. They’re hoping you’ll buy quickly and think later.
Clue 4: Requests to take it off eBay. Scammers don’t want their victims covered by eBay’s money-back guarantee and buyer protections. They try and lure you off the site’s official payment and communication system by, for example, asking you to email/call them privately or pay for the goods outside of eBay. In addition to losing money (or the item if you’re selling), eBay could suspend your account because paying for items externally goes against their terms and conditions. See the eBay policy: Offering to buy or sell outside of eBay.
Clue 5: Requests to use alternative payment methods. What do cryptocurrencies, wire transfers, Cash App, and Zelle have in common? They’re payment systems that can’t be reversed. eBay scammers love them because you won’t be eligible for a refund if anything goes wrong. When in doubt remember these wise words from eBay’s payment methods policy: “The following payment methods are offered at eBay checkout:…(These are) PayPal, PayPal Credit, Credit card or debit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and eBay balance.”
In a nutshell, treat eBay like Las Vegas: What happens on eBay stays on eBay. Never be persuaded to communicate or settle beyond their official channels. If you’re ever concerned, reach out to eBay customer support and don’t hesitate to report an issue. You’ll help keep other users safer too.
Are you feeling overwhelmed by everything that could go wrong? Remember that most buyer and seller experiences on eBay are positive—and see the handy checklists below to help you stay safer on the platform.
Top safety tips for eBay buyers
Avoiding fake listings and potential fraud in the first place can help save you a headache, heartache, and money further down the line. Here’s our checklist for savvy eBuyers:
- Read the fine print of any listing. What exactly does the description say and what is the seller’s return policy?
- Research the seller’s history, reviews, and inventory. Are customers happy and what did they buy?
- Research the item you’re buying. What is its true value? Never rush into making a purchase because you think you’ll save money.
- Only interact with sellers by using eBay’s platform and never agree to leave eBay to pay or communicate.
- Don’t use payment systems that aren’t recognised by eBay, especially those that don’t allow refunds or chargebacks.
- Never give anyone your personal information, like an email or phone number.
- Track the shipment and get proof of posting if necessary.
On a roll? For more comprehensive information, explore the eBay Buyer Protection Guide.
Quick safety review for eBay sellers
Here’s our quick checklist for savvy e-sellers who want to help safeguard their finances and reputations:
- Only interact with buyers directly on the eBay platform.
- Don’t sell on someone else’s behalf unless you know them personally and trust them. Criminals might use you to sell fake or stolen items and you could become an accomplice to fraud.
- Manage the types of buyers who can bid on your items by using Buyer Requirements in My eBay when you’re listing an item.
- Cancel suspicious bids but remember that you must have a valid reason for doing so.
- Don’t get caught by fake payment emails! Always confirm directly with your payment provider that you’ve received the funds before sending an item. E.g.: Check your PayPal account and ensure that the payment icon in your My eBay is highlighted.
- Don’t be fooled by buyers who claim they need you to make a payment to their account before they can send you money. Untrustworthy payments are reportedly sometimes made this way through Western Union or MoneyGram.
- Use a trackable delivery method and get proof of posting and delivery. Tip: You can use My eBay to print postage labels for delivery services that offer online trackable proof of delivery.
- Fraudsters impersonate buyers to ask for refunds. Always check your My eBay Messages to validate that the claim is genuine.
If that’s piqued your interest, see eBay seller protection for the fine points and know your rights.
10 common eBay scams exposed—and how to respond
Know your enemy. Let’s see the scammers in action with these typical examples.
1. Empty box or photo-only scams
Scammers post popular, hard-to-get, or high-value items at low prices. They hope you’ll be so eager that you’ll hit “buy now” before you notice the fine print hidden in the description. This can include: “box only” (nothing inside), “Photo only” (congratulations! You’re the proud owner of a small digital image), or “Actual item may be different to the photos” (who knows what you’ll receive).
Do this: Take your time and read the listing thoroughly. Contact the seller through eBay’s messaging system to confirm the contents if you’re unsure.
2. Non-delivery scams
The name of this scam says it all really. You pay for something, and it never arrives. You can usually use eBay’s money-back guarantee and when you’ve been refunded start shopping again.
Do this: Before buying, look for bad reviews. If you shop anyway, stay alert and look for warning signs, like tracking information that doesn’t work. Don’t buy items from categories that aren’t covered by eBay’s money-back guarantee, like cars, real estate, and travel tickets.
3. Incorrect name scams
Ah, has your hamster’s headdress arrived at last? You’re delighted to receive your eBay order but notice that it’s addressed to a different person. If you’re a careful and honest person, you’ll assume that you received the wrong item and return it. That’s when the trap snaps shut. eBay will now consider the transaction as returned, so you’re no longer within the safe confines of its Money-Back Guarantee.
Do this: Check the tracking information to confirm that your package has indeed been delivered. If it has, open the parcel. Does it contain the item you were expecting? Keep it. If not, contact eBay. Never return goods without being sure that they’re not yours.
4. Tracking number scams
Dishonest sellers intentionally send a fake package to the wrong address so they can provide a real tracking number to the buyer and eBay. When the buyer claims that they didn’t receive the item, the scammer whips out the tracking number and avoids having to issue a refund.
Do this: Check with the seller to verify if it was an honest mistake. If they’re not willing to help, file a report with eBay. Also try and contact your local post office for details. Where was the package delivered? How much did it weigh? If you ordered a bed and the parcel that was sent only weighed 200 grams…ha!
5. Counterfeit or fake goods
From Chanel bags to Louboutin heels, eBay is awash with luxury items. Scammers sell fake products, sometimes at ‘real’ prices so you could spend a fortune on a knockoff.
Do this: Avoid eBay listings in social posts. Even if a Facebook friend posts a picture of her Ralph Lauren bikini with a link, her account may have been hacked. Ask to see a certificate of authenticity with a serial code and look for eBay’s Authenticity Guarantee checkmark.
6. Triangulation fraud
This is a rather convoluted scam and is called a “triangle” as three actors are involved: one legitimate customer, one fraudster, and one automated shopping platform like eBay. The fraudster poses as a seller offering a great deal and is paid by the real customer. The seller then uses a stolen credit card to fill the order. It’s a win-win/lose-lose situation. The happy buyer receives the product, and the (very happy) criminal walks away with the customer’s payment. The real cardholder loses out initially and if they’re awarded a charge-back for the item they didn’t buy, then the online shop must pay.
Do this: Ignore deals that seem too good to be true and read seller reviews. Fraudsters sometimes send freebies with the goods. Be on high alert as this “gift” will almost certainly have been bought with a stolen credit card.
7. Gift card scams
Scammers contact you by phone, email, and social media and say they urgently need a quick sale. They ask you to buy an eBay gift card and send them the gift card code as payment outside of the normal checkout process.
Do this: Treat any gift card as cash and never share the code. Don’t use gift cards as payment and definitely don’t bypass eBay processes.
8. eBay customer service scam
Scammers may pose as eBay customer support and post fake phone numbers on product listings or third-party sites. When customers call these numbers, the scammer asks for personal information to “help” them. This can lead to identity theft and account hijacking. Customers have even been asked to download malware that gives the scammer remote access to their computer!
Do this: Only contact eBay support through your eBay account and never share sensitive information over the phone.
9. Generosity scam
If a buyer offers you over the asking price for your item, why would you refuse? Because you’re smart and now know that they’re likely to pay you with a fraudulent cheque or stolen credit card. If the bank reimburses the credit card victim or the cheque bounces, you’ll have given away your item for free.
Do this: Avoid buyers who behave suspiciously. Always make sure that you have received any money owed before shipping.
10. Phishing emails
eBay has a Second Chance Offer program that lets sellers reach out to users who missed out when bidding. This service is useful for sellers who have more than one of the item, the winning bidder didn’t pay, or the reserve price wasn’t met. Scammers hijack this system and send fake emails to eBay users offering them a second chance to buy. They might even use the eBay messaging service but request that you send the payment to a non-eBay email address or payment system. If you pay for an item, you’ll never receive it.
Do this: Check that the message is in your eBay message inbox and in the Bids/Offers section of your My eBay. Send suspicious emails to spoof@ebay.com.
How to stay safer from online hazards on eBay and beyond
Whether you’re on eBay or elsewhere online, make sure you can answer these questions with a resounding “NO!”. Then follow the tips to shop online more safely and help avoid scams and the associated risks like identity theft and malware.
- Is your eBay password easy to remember—and do you use the same password for multiple online accounts?
You’re making life easier for hackers. If a password is easy to remember; it’s easy to crack, and if a cybercriminal gets hold of one re-used password, they can access multiple accounts. Use strong, unique passwords for all your accounts and change them if you’re alerted to a data breach.
- Do you click update reminders away—and can’t remember when you last updated your operating system and apps anyway?
Oh dear. Cybercriminals can exploit the loopholes in outdated software, which can also be ‘buggy’ and less stable. Always keep your security software up to date. Although eBay scams rarely result in cyberattacks, you never know when you’ll unwittingly click on a malicious link or download an attachment laced with malware. (Reminder: Never open attachments or click on links unless you’re sure they’re safe).
- Are you unsure if your antivirus software is current, or even what software you’re using (“I think it came with the machine”).
If you answered “yes”, then you need to up your game. Reputable anti-malware is a non-negotiable, essential defence in helping to protect your computer on eBay and beyond. Avira Free Security takes the headache out of choosing individual products—it combines a password manager with a software updater, plus antivirus for a multi-pronged approach to online safety (and it’s free!). The included virus scanner helps protect you from a range of online threats, including ransomware, malvertising, and even the latest zero-day attacks.
- Do you click on links promising special offers and buy on random online platforms?
Visit websites like eBay directly instead of clicking on links. It’s also a good idea to save your favourite sites as bookmarks. This will help you avoid websites that are replicas of the original but created by scammers waiting to harvest your credentials. You’re also less likely to fall victim to a phishing attempt, where fraudsters impersonate credible service providers. Consider a discrete browser add-on like Avira Safe Shopping to help you find the best real deals on legitimate websites. It can also stop malicious and phishing websites and helps detect unwanted apps in your downloads.
- Have you ever shared personal or financial information with other buyers and sellers on eBay? What about social media sites like Facebook—how much about you have you given away there?
It’s always a bad idea to overshare online as you never know who’s watching and what they intend to do with your information. Never give others the details they would need to steal your identity or hack into your online accounts. This includes your credit card details—only share these on trusted websites that have an SSL certificate and don’t save your card details in your browser! Learn more about CVV codes and how to keep them safe.
- Have you always been too busy to read eBay’s buyer/seller policies and guidelines?
Before you next head to eBay, familiarise yourself with their documents and always follow their procedures. If you’re ever in doubt about what a seller is requesting you to do, refer to the eBay Buyer Protection Guide. It’s packed with useful information, including the best ways to pay, plus what to do and whom to contact if something goes wrong. If you’re a seller, eBay’s seller protection promises to protect you from abusive buyer behaviour and events beyond your control.
Take these steps if you’ve been scammed on eBay by a seller
So, you read this article too late, and you’ve been scammed? Don’t panic (too much). There are steps you can take to try and recover your money and help protect other users.
- Request a refund from the seller because you must attempt to solve things before eBay will engage with your dispute. Be wary of sellers who claim that they’re fixing your issue, but the case isn’t moving along. They may be buying time while they continue to scam others. Demand prompt action and don’t let them fob you off.
- If you’re unable to resolve the issue yourself, report the seller to eBay. Make sure that your claims are accurate.
- If the listing for an item you bought is suddenly deleted by eBay, don’t report the seller to eBay. Instead, let eBay know that the item hasn’t arrived or open a return for a refund.
- If you paid via an external platform, request a refund directly with them. Here’s how to request a refund through PayPal.
- If scammers have your personal or financial information, monitor your credit report and bank accounts for signs of fraud or identity theft.
- Leave negative feedback about the seller to help warn future potential victims.
What can you do if you were scammed by an eBay buyer?
Unfortunately, there are fewer options for eBay sellers who may be the victim of fraud. You can contact eBay, but they won’t be able to pay any money you’re owed nor have the items returned to you. They can block the buyer from leaving feedback and take action on their account. To help protect yourself in future, set the option to automatically cancel items if they’re bought but not paid after a selected time frame. Log in to your account and see the Unpaid item assistant.
Also file a report with your local jurisdiction, such as Action Fraud in the UK.
Will eBay refund you if you get scammed?
Yes, the eBay Money Back Guarantee covers most transactions on eBay. It offers buyers peace of mind that they can get their money back if an item doesn’t arrive, is faulty or damaged, doesn’t match the listing, or the seller is refusing to honour their return policy. Before you breathe a huge sigh of relief, check that you’re eligible for the guarantee: Did you complete the purchase on eBay and use an eBay-approved payment method? Are you taking action within the required timeframe? And are you sure the item isn’t on eBay’s excluded item list? Did you answer “yes” to everything? Then you may be in with a chance for a refund.
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