FAQs
Scammers are creating accounts and making offers on items the same day. These offers are over the asking price to get the seller to accept and then is asked to send the item to a different address out-of-country(i.e. Nigeria).
How do you know if a buyer is scamming you? ›
A buyer overpays for your product — If someone offers you extra money, they're most likely trying to scam you. They'll normally ask you to refund the extra with a gift card or wire transfer and then disappear. Later, you'll find out that the original payment was fraudulent.
Are people offering more than asking price on eBay scamming? ›
Potential on scam is high. You could accept and see how it plays out, maybe ask them why the offer is for more. If they pay through eBay, great, but if they ask to text you, or your email address or if you accept Venmo or some sort of way to bypass eBay, its a scam.
Why do people send fake offers on eBay? ›
Their desire to make an offer instead of just buying it outright is to try to get your offsite contact info, such as your email address or texting/phone number, after which they can throw some impressively fake payment documentation your way, and eBay can see none of it.
How do you know if a buyer is scamming you on eBay? ›
The 10 Latest eBay Buyer Scams (and How To Avoid Them)
- Empty box and “photo only” scams.
- Tracking number scams.
- Non-delivery of items not covered by a money-back guarantee.
- Shipping items with an intentionally wrong name.
- Counterfeit or fake goods.
- Triangulation fraud.
- Asking for payment outside of eBay.
- Phishing emails.
Being unable to verify the business or information provided by a cash buyer can be a sign that they are not legitimate. Scammers often use fake business names, contact information, or financial information to make their offers seem more legitimate.
What are bogus buyers? ›
Meaning of a Bogus Buyer
Some examples of bogus buyer activities include ordering an item, usually via cash-on-delivery (COD), or other post-delivery payment options, and either denying they ordered the product, or inputting an invalid address, making successful delivery impossible.
Why would someone offer more than the asking price? ›
Make Their Offer Stand Out
This is why some buyers start by offering above the asking price from the beginning. If a buyer knows that a particular area or type of home is in high demand, an above-asking price offer can get a seller's attention and make them look past offers that they already have.
Do people make fake offers on eBay? ›
Everything a buyer needs is right there when they click the buy now button on a listing. In addition to the above, anyone asking for a gift card to be included is a SCAMMER. Anyone offering to pay more for an item than the listing price is a SCAMMER. Anyone making an offer higher than the buy it now price is a SCAMMER.
Do people put fake bids on eBay? ›
Shill bidding is when sellers – or someone they know – place a bid on their item to drive the price up. This is called artificial bidding. Often the people placing bids have certain information about the seller's item that other shoppers aren't aware of.
How Do You Know If Someone Is Scamming You on OfferUp?
- Wants to communicate with you or complete a transaction outside of the platform.
- Requests verification codes from you.
- Sends suspicious links to you.
- Posts blurry or hard-to-see photos of sale items.
- Attempts to rush a sale or purchase.
Don't click on links that come from people you don't know, and don't respond. It's safest just to delete these messages. Don't respond to phone requests for your account information either. eBay will never ask you for your password or financial information over the phone.
How can you tell a eBay scammer? ›
Signs of seller fraud
- Short duration listings: Fraudulent sellers often want to close a deal quickly. ...
- Heavily discounted or sold-out items: Be wary if a seller has lots of high-value items at suspiciously low prices, or a stock of hard-to-find goods that are sold out everywhere else.
Scammers like to target new sellers, particularly those selling expensive items. Sending contact information (text or email) prior to a transaction is a violation of eBay policy; this policy is designed to protect honest buyers and sellers from this sort of thing, and to prevent off-eBay sales.
Will eBay refund me if I get scammed? ›
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.
How do you know if a buyer is scamming you on Marketplace? ›
Overpayment: If a buyer ever tries to give you extra money, they are most likely not legitimate. Fraudulent users often send more money than you've asked for, only to demand a refund for the “overpayment.” For instance, you might be selling a chair for $50 but receive a check for $200 from the buyer.
How do you know if a buyer is real? ›
Determine if their body language is open or closed
'If a person is genuine and open, their language will reflect this. Such as having a relaxed posture, open hand gestures and natural eye contact,' explains Adrianne. 'Alternatively, if a person is tense, unsure, and nervous, their body language will show it too. '
How do you verify a buyer? ›
One of the most common ways to verify buyer identity is to ask for a photo ID, such as a driver's license, passport, or national ID card. You can request the buyer to send you a scanned or photographed copy of their ID, or use a third-party service that can verify IDs online.
What will a scammer ask from you? ›
Scammers will ask you for money.
Once they gain your trust, they'll ask for your help to pay medical expenses (for them or a family member), buy their ticket to visit you, pay for their visa, or help them pay fees to get them out of trouble. They may even offer to help you get started in cryptocurrency investing.
