The Most Common eBay Seller Scams To Make Your Jaw Drop

eBay is the world’s largest auction site for buying and selling any type of item you can imagine. Because of its good reputation, scammers utilize eBay to try and trick unsuspecting users into making fa

Is eBay a Scam?

The eBay auction site is not a scam. It’s a very reliable and secure way to buy and sell things. In fact, there are many individuals and businesses who make a living strictly through eBay!

If you’re looking for rare or vintage items, or just want to score a great deal on something you need, eBay is a great place to look.

Does eBay Have Scam Protection?

Fortunately, eBay scam protection does exist! The company offers something called the eBay Money Back Guarantee, which covers almost all transactions on the site.

If you get scammed and an item you buy doesn’t arrive, is different from the item listed, or is faulty or damaged, you can get your money back from eBay directly.

The Most Jaw-dropping eBay Scams

1. Unusual Payment Method Scam

The most common forms of payment on eBay are PayPal and credit card payments. These also happen to be the safest ways to pay because they are protected forms of payment.

One common type of eBay scam involves sellers requesting payment for items via alternative payment methods, such as an unregulated/unmonitored cash transfer app or something similar.

How To Avoid: Stick To Your Guns

Luckily, this type of eBay scam is very easy to avoid. All you have to do is stick to the regulated payment methods when you make a purchase on eBay and you’ll be fine.

2. Malware Via Email Scam

This eBay scam doesn’t take place via the site. Instead, scammers create fake emails that appear to be from eBay in an effort to get you to click on malicious links that install malware on your device and steal information from you.

How To Avoid: Always Double-, Triple-, and Quadruple-Check Emails

If you ever receive an email that looks like it’s from eBay, scrutinize it to make sure it’s authentic before you click on any links in it.

Look at the email address it’s sent from to make sure it’s authentic and Google the address if you’re not sure. Scammers might use an email address that’s close to eBay’s, but with one letter or number off.

Other red flags in eBay scam emails are spelling/grammar mistakes and odd language or phrasing.

3. The Hidden Link Scam

In some cases, eBay scammers hide links in their listings that take you to another third-party site where they sell fake goods. If you buy something on one of these sites, you aren’t protected by eBay once you realize it’s not the real deal.

How To Avoid: Avoid Clicking Blindly

To avoid this type of eBay scam, don’t click blindly on links in eBay listings. If you do happen to click on a link that takes you off the site, don’t buy anything from the alternative marketplace.

4. The Misleading Photo Scam

In some cases, eBay scammers trick you into buying something that’s different from what you think it is by uploading a misleading photo.

For example, they might upload a photo of a camera and a case for a very low price, so you think you’re buying both items. However, they also bury in the product description a disclosure that you’re only buying the camera case.

In an even more brazen version of this eBay scam, the scammers ship you an actual photo of the item you think you’re buying.

How To Avoid: Check Everything Matches Before Paying

To avoid the misleading photo eBay scam, always read product descriptions thoroughly and make sure they match the photo and listing title.

5. eBay Motors Scam

Beware of any car-for-sale listings you see on other marketplaces, such as Facebook Marketplace, that claim they are selling the car via eBay Motors. There are fake listings out there using eBay’s good name to get you to pay for a car that doesn’t exist.

How To Avoid: Don’t Pay Money Before You View The Car

To avoid an eBay Motors scam, never pay money for a car before you’ve had a chance to see it and test drive it in person.

6. Incorrect Shipping Name Scam

Another way fraudulent sellers try to scam people via eBay is by shipping items you buy with an incorrect name. They do this in the hope that you’ll see the wrong name and simply return the package to them without looking inside, so they can sell the same item multiple times.

How To Avoid: Open Packages If You Are Expecting

If you are expecting a package from an eBay purchase and you receive one with an incorrect name, check inside to see if the item you ordered is in there, rather than just returning it.

7. Empty Box Scam

The empty box eBay scam works similarly to the misleading photo scam. In this case, sellers upload a photo of a product “in its box.” Then, if you buy the item thinking you’re getting a great deal, they send you just the empty box.

How To Avoid: Check Everything Thoroughly

Scammers hide information in product descriptions to cover their bases. So, whenever you buy something that is pictured in a box, read the description carefully to make sure you are getting what’s supposed to be IN the box.

There is also an eBay buyer scam in which a scammer will buy something from you, then claim they received an empty box to get their money back from eBay and send you back the empty box. To avoid this, document every step of your sales with photographs and videos, so you can contest any issues with eBay.

8. eBay Gift Card Scam

In an eBay gift card scam, scammers typically reach out to you via phone or social media and ask for some type of urgent payment using an eBay gift card.

How To Avoid: Never Give Or Send Your Gift Card Code Anywhere

eBay gift cards are only valid for paying directly within the eBay platform. So, never give an eBay gift card code out to anyone who contacts you out of the blue asking for an eBay gift card payment outside of the site. Should you find yourself victim of an eBay seller Scam, contact PayBack the moneyback experts, to get a free consultation and retrieve what’s rightfully yours.