Is eBay Safe? How to Avoid Getting Scammed On The Marketplace 

eBay safety measures

The platform uses a wide range of security measures to protect your personal information: 

• Privacy policy. eBay has an in-depth privacy policy that clearly explains all the nuances of user data collection and security measures the company must take for protecting users’ information from leaking and unauthorized access. In such a way, you can be sure that eBay takes a legal responsibility to do their best to prevent your data from getting into wrong hands. 
• eBay fraud protection. The platform offers buyers the right to request a refund for damaged, undelivered, or wrongly described products, while sellers can report about abusive buyer behavior and other security threats. As a result, all eBay users can be sure they won’t be left alone with their problems and can get adequate guidance and support. 
• Secure transactions. The marketplace follows the Level 1 certification according to Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS). This means the platform doesn’t disclose any of users financial data and allows only legitimate payment methods such as bank transactions or PayPal transfers to ensure eBay payment security.
• Firewalls and unauthorized access prevention. With the use of firewalls and access control tools, the platform ensures that nobody can access your eBay account without having proper login credentials. At this point, we need to remind you to come up with a strong password and change it from time to time. 
• Data encryption. To make your data unreadable for hackers even if it’s intercepted, eBay website uses 128-bit encryption, which makes decoding your personal information challenging. However, it’s not the top-standard encryption method, which means hackers still have chances to decipher your personal information by hacking eBay website.  
• Safe Harbor. This is eBay’s comprehensive safety resource and protective arm. It provides information on how to stay safe while buying and selling on eBay, as well as how to report suspicious activity.
• Escrow services. eBay offers escrow services for high-value transactions. This allows buyers to pay for items without sending money directly to the seller. The money is held in escrow until the buyer confirms that they have received the item as it was described by the seller.

Even though eBay provides a wide range of security measures, it doesn’t mean there are no scams on the platform. Let’s discuss the most widespread scam schemes for you to be as careful as possible when you buy and sell on eBay. 

The most common eBay scams 

Scammers target both buyers and sellers, which is why we’ve divided the most common eBay frauds into two respective categories: 

Buyer-targeted scams 

Buyers often fall victims to such scams on eBay: 

• Fake listing. Such a listing just says you can buy a particular item, but once you pay money, you get nothing in return. 
• Phishing messages and emails.  You receive a fraudulent email that looks like it’s from eBay, trying to trick you into revealing personal information or downloading malware.
• Counterfeit items. A listing offers you an original and new product, and you pay a full price but get a counterfeit or damaged item. 
• Overpayment scams. In an overpayment scam, a buyer sends you more money than the agreed-upon amount for an item. They then ask you to return the excess funds through a less secure method, such as a gift card or wire transfer. Once you send the excess funds, the original payment is often reversed, leaving you out of pocket.
• Photo-only items without description. An item listing includes just a photo (which is often of poor quality) without any description and random eBay username. When you pay for the product, you get a wrong/low quality product or nothing at all. 

Seller-targeted scams

If you’re selling something on eBay, scammers may target you with: 

• Chargebacks. The buyer receives the item, then claims it was never received or damaged and requests a chargeback to their bank account from their payment provider. 
• False damage claims. Your scammer-buyer may request a refund for a damaged item when it’s actually not, and provide fake evidence to get money back. 
• Payments outside eBay. When you agree to accept the payment that is not supported by eBay, you’re risking losing money as a scammer may be able to revert the transaction via this odd payment method or link you to a fake website infected with malware. 

These are the most common scam strategies on eBay you should be aware of. To recognize them before you fall into any of these traps, you need to pay attention to relatable red flags that we’re going to discuss next. 

How to spot a scam on eBay

Since scam schemes differ for buyers and sellers, it makes sense to divide scam signs into similar categories: 

For buyers:

When you’re buying a product on eBay beware of the following: 

• Suspiciously low prices: If a listing offers a high-value item for much less than its market price, it could be a scam. Check the seller’s feedback score and reviews.
• Stock photos only: In case the seller only uses stock photos instead of real images of the item, they might not actually have it.
• New or zero feedback sellers: Be cautious with sellers who have little or no feedback, especially if they’re selling high-value items. they may have created a new account to scam unsuspecting buyers.
• Pressure for off-platform transactions: Some scammers will try to lure buyers off eBay to avoid eBay buyer protection.
• Poor grammar or strange communication: Odd language, bad grammar, or broken sentences can indicate a scammer. Be careful if the seller avoids directly answering questions about the item.

For sellers:

• Buyer requests to ship to a different address: If a buyer asks you to ship to a different address than what’s listed on their eBay account, it is a sign of fraudulent request.
• Overpayment scams: Scammers may “accidentally” pay more than the listing price, asking you to refund the difference.
• Low feedback or new accounts for high-value items: If a new account purchases a high-value item and immediately asks for special treatment, such as expedited or even free shipping, consider delaying shipment until their payment is verified as this could be a scam sign.
• Requests for out-of-eBay communication: Similar to buyers, sellers should be wary of buyers who push for off-platform communication or alternative payment methods.
• Excessive returns or chargebacks: Frequent attempts to return items or file claims after receiving an item can indicate a buyer attempting to exploit eBay’s policies.

Key steps to stay safe on eBay

Being able to spot a scam is undoubtedly a good skill, but avoiding a fraud as such is crucial. Here’s useful eBay safety tips that will surely come in handy: 

Before buying 

• Check the seller’s reputation. Look at the seller’s feedback rating and reviews. A high rating and positive feedback indicate a reliable seller.
• Read the item description carefully. Pay close attention to the item’s condition, any defects, and shipping terms.
• Ask questions. Don’t hesitate to ask the seller any questions you may have about the item.
• Be wary of too-good-to-be-true deals. If a deal seems suspiciously low, it might be a scam.

Before selling

• Don’t share your personal information. Avoid sharing personal information like your home address or phone number with buyers.
• Use secure payment methods. This ensures you receive payment and protects you from chargebacks.
• Pay attention to unusual requests. Be cautious of requests to ship to addresses other than the one provided or to use payment methods outside of eBay’s system. 
• Have a proof of postage. Keep a record of your shipping information and proof of postage.

During the transaction 

• Communicate through eBay messages. Use eBay’s messaging system to communicate with the seller. Avoid sharing personal information like phone numbers or email addresses and don’t communicate outside eBay.
• Check shipping information. Ensure the shipping address provided by the seller is accurate and matches the item description.
• Track your package. Use the tracking number provided by the seller to monitor your package’s progress.
• Report suspicious activity. If you encounter any suspicious behavior, report it to eBay immediately.

After receiving your item

• Insect the item upon arrival. Check the item for any damage or discrepancies.
• Share honest feedback on the purchase. Provide feedback on your experience with the seller to help other buyers.

Other important tips 

• Add a passkey and two-step authentication. Add an extra layer of security to your eBay account by making it harder to access with passkey and two-step authentication. 
• Use official payment systems. Use only those payment methods that are supported by eBay. Never agree to accept or send payment with methods other than approved by the marketplace. 
• Beware of spoofed emails and links. Pay attention to the email addresses and links. They may look like legitimate ones but with a difference in one symbol which means you see a spoofed email/link that will leak your personal information or install malware on your device. 
• Use a virtual private network (VPN) app. A VPN app encrypts all your Internet traffic and passes it through a secure “tunnel” to a remote server, so that you can conceal your identity online without any fear that scammers can read your personal information and detect your location with an IP address. However, we recommend using premium VPN apps such as VeePN. Unlike free VPNs, VeePN offers high connection speeds and follows a strict No Logs policy. 

All security tips are quite explainable, but why is using VeePN so essential? 

Reasons for using VeePN to enhance your eBay security  

With VeePN, you can significantly improve your online security and use eBay with confidence, as our app offers a range of robust security features: 

• AES-256 encryption. It’s the most reliable encryption standard so far which ensures hackers won’t be able to read a single symbol of your personal information even if they manage to intercept your Internet traffic. Actually, this encryption standard is much more reliable and secure than one used by eBay. 
• NetGuard. This feature protects you from malware and pop-up ads you may face if you happen to click on a phishing link sent to you via eBay messages. NetGuard simply blocks access to your device, so it cannot do any harm. 
• Breach Alert. In case your personal information, including eBay credentials, leaks, this mini-app will notify you about this, and you’ll be able to take immediate action.  
• Anonymous Email. You may not want to show your real email address but still need to mention one when you register on eBay. Anonymous Email lets you create a fake address for public display, while all the messages will be forwarded to your real email.
• Automatic Kill Switch. If you use public WiFi, this feature can be a life-saver. Public WiFi hotspots are commonly unprotected while anyone can access them, which means hackers and snoopers are always waiting around the corner to steal your sensitive information. Using a VeePN can safeguard you from leaking your data, but should the VPN connection fail, you get vulnerable again. For such rare yet possible situations, Kill Switch automatically denies access to your device until a safe connection restores. 
  
  VeePN is compatible with all major operating systems and platforms, so you can use one subscription for up to 10 devices. Download VeePN right now and enjoy a 30-day money-back guarantee!

Written by VeePN Research Lab VeePN Research Lab is dedicated to provide you latest posts about internet security and privacy.

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