How to Spot and Avoid an eBay Scam

How to avoid eBay scams

1. Never accept checks as payment. It's very risky as they are often a target for fraud. ...
2. Always complete transactions through eBay's official channels. Communicate using the service provided. ...
3. Document everything. ...
4. Always arrange for a tracking number for any deliveries you send.

1. How can you spot a scammer on eBay?
2. How do I prevent buyers from scamming on eBay?
3. How do I know if an eBay seller is legit?
4. Can you be scammed on eBay?
5. Can eBay reviews be faked?
6. Can I get my money back if I get scammed on eBay?
7. Can eBay sellers steal your money?
8. Does eBay sell fake stuff?
9. Can I trust eBay sellers?
10. Should I buy from eBay seller with no feedback?
11. Can an eBay seller steal your credit card number?
12. Is it safe to buy from China on eBay?
13. What happens when eBay seller doesn't ship item?
14. Is it better to sell on eBay or Amazon?

How can you spot a scammer on eBay?

How To Spot eBay Scammers And Fraudulent Sellers

1. Check the feedback. Many scammers will boost their 100% feedback rating by purchasing lots of small items prior to attempting their scam. ...
2. $500 total sales. ...
3. Too good to be true. ...
4. Blow-outs, one-day sales, and urgency. ...
5. PayPal. ...
6. Logging in. ...
7. Outside-of-eBay transactions. ...
8. UPS tracking and signature confirmation.

How do I prevent buyers from scamming on eBay?

First, set your Buyer Requirements to as strict as possible, i.e. no paypal account, 2 non-pay strikes in the last year, live in countries I don't sell to. Second, sell your phones fixed price with immediate payment required. Those two things will stop the scammers without paypal accounts and buyers outside the US.

How do I know if an eBay seller is legit?

Like others have said, pay close attention to the sellers overall percentage of postive feedback. Don't just look at their percentage on the item page of their listing, actually click on the number of feedback and look at how many postive versus bad feedback they have.

Can you be scammed on eBay?

Whether you're a frequent buyer or seller on eBay (EBAY) - Get Report or consider yourself more of an occasional peruser, there are a lot of ways you can get scammed through online retail. From a classic bait-and-switch to fraudulent pay services, the methods of online scammers seem endless.

Can eBay reviews be faked?

While a seller may be able to use a few IDs to inflate their feedback numbers, they can't inflate them by that much. Feedback can only be left if a sale was made. Then the seller would have to pay listing and final value fees, to eBay for each transaction. That could get expensive for them.

Can I get my money back if I get scammed on eBay?

eBay Money Back Guarantee covers most transactions on eBay. It means buyers can get their money back if an item didn't arrive, is faulty or damaged, or doesn't match the listing. Learn more about eBay Authenticity Guarantee. ...

Can eBay sellers steal your money?

Does ebay let sellers steal money? No, eBay doesn't let sellers take your money and fail to deliver your item.

Does eBay sell fake stuff?

We don't allow counterfeit items or unauthorized copies to be listed on eBay. Items that bear a company's official brand name or logo can be listed, as long as the products were lawfully made by, for, or with the consent of that company.

Can I trust eBay sellers?

You can buy safely on eBay. In fact, eBay is safer than someone's personal website because of the third-party involvement of eBay and Paypal. Always report any offers to buy or sell an item outside of eBay.

Should I buy from eBay seller with no feedback?

Having no feedback doesn't necessarily make a seller new as a lot of buyers don't leave feedback. It is optional. If you decide to buy, follow all the rules meaning pay via PayPal and have the item shipped to your address on file. ... If there is any problem or concern, contact the seller first.

Can an eBay seller steal your credit card number?

As a buyer, if I pay with a credit card, does the seller ever see my credit card number? It doesn't matter if you pay with the credit card option during checkout or with PayPal, the seller never sees the credit card or even knows that you paid with one.

Is it safe to buy from China on eBay?

It depends on the seller. If you find a reliable seller, continue buying from them. If by direct you mean off eBay, of coure not. Even with eBay buyer protection, buys from China are either junk and/or take so long to arrive that you can't file to get your money back.

What happens when eBay seller doesn't ship item?

If your item hasn't arrived, you're protected by the eBay Money Back Guarantee and can ask the seller for a refund. Some sellers may also be able to send you out a replacement item, if they have one.

Is it better to sell on eBay or Amazon?

The bottom line is that Amazon is a far more competitive market for individual sellers and leans towards newer items whereas eBay provides sellers with the ability to build brand identity and while a majority of its items are new, it provides a niche for used items and collectibles.