Can you get scammed easily on eBay?
eBay is full of listings for legitimate high-quality items. But scammers also list fraudulent or fake goods and try to get you to pay full price for them. The listings will often state that the item is authentic and include photos (stolen or faked) that will lead you to believe you're purchasing the real thing.
The online auction site launched in 1995, and scammers have used it ever since. eBay involves a lot of trust on behalf of the buyer and the seller, but it's relatively easy for that trust to be exploited. The company has put in some safeguards, but you can do a lot to protect yourself as an eBay user.
eBay is a legitimate shopping resource, and most people have good experiences while using the site. However, there are many eBay scams that you need to watch out for to protect yourself. Whether you buy or sell on the site, you should know about major eBay scams so you don't become a victim.
- Advance Fee Scams. ...
- Tech Support Scams. ...
- Phishing. ...
- Emergency Scams. ...
- IRS or Government Imposter Scams. ...
- Foreign Money Exchange Scams. ...
- Counterfeit Cashier's Checks. ...
- Bogus Debts.
A scammer posing as a buyer says they want to buy the thing you have for sale. When it comes time to pay, they insist on paying through a mobile payment app. They send you a fake payment notification and hope you send the item before you realize it's a scam. Or they say there was an issue with the payment they sent.
- 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.
In the US, one in ten adults will fall victim to a scam or fraud every year. 1.3 million children have their identities stolen every year. You are more likely to become a victim of identity fraud by having your wallet snatched than you are via online fraud. When it comes to victims of doorstep fraud, 85% are over 65.
Always pay through eBay-approved methods.
PayPal and eBay both keep records of transactions, and you have access to these records at any time; going through third-party sites or payment methods is a surefire way to lose the support of both companies in the event of a scam.
eBay.com is as safe to use as any ecommerce website, as most people who sell items on eBay do so honestly. eBay also protects the use of your credit card through its online transaction services, and has money back guarantees. eBay is one of the oldest and most popular online marketplaces for reasons such as these.
Under eBay's Money Back Guarantee, a buyer can ask eBay to intervene if their purchase doesn't arrive or isn't as described, and the seller doesn't offer resolution within a week.
