Found a great deal on eBay? Read the fine print—and watch for these common eBay scams.
14 Most Common eBay Scams to Look Out For
Empty box scam
This scam can be deeply frustrating, and it’s deceptively simple: You order an item, open the box and there’s nothing there. Scammers can trick you into buying an empty box by burying phrases like “empty box only” at the end of the product title in the online listing.
Why does this work? Most of us don’t read the full listing. “Generally what I’ve heard is that they’re selling electronics or higher-end items, like the latest smartphone or Nike sneakers,” Schober says. “Then they say in the fine, fine, fine print that it’s an empty box.”
How to avoid it: Shop slowly
Avoiding this scam is as simple as avoiding impulse buys. Make sure you read the item description in full, and review the seller’s profile for red flags—such as no reviews or negative reviews—before buying, Schober says.
Alternative payment method scam
All online shopping carries some risk. That’s why eBay and similar platforms guarantee both financial protections and legal safeguards for buyers and sellers alike. Unfortunately, scammy sellers are more likely to recommend alternative, less monitored methods of payment. Once the transaction is complete on their end, there is little recourse for the burned buyer.
“Gift cards is the alternative form of payment I hear about the most,” Schober says. “If you get to the payment part and see gift cards, that’s a red flag right away. I’ve never heard of any situation where payment by gift card makes sense.”
Other alternative payments to avoid include cryptocurrency, bitcoin, Zelle and Venmo. Any pressure to move payment off the official eBay platform signals a potential eBay scam, and you should stop working with that buyer or seller immediately. Once you’re off eBay, you lose the ability to trace the transaction or utilize the protections offered by eBay.
How to avoid it: Stick to payment methods you know
To ensure secure online transactions, always make payments through trusted methods, and avoid moving communication off the eBay platform. Schober recommends Apple Pay and Google Pay, which are far less likely to be targeted by scammers, followed by PayPal, which is also a relatively safe payment platform.
Customer service scam
Scammers posing as eBay support representatives target users through direct messages, emails or phone calls, claiming there’s an urgent issue with your account. They request sensitive information like passwords, full credit card numbers or personal identification under the guise of “verifying your identity” or “securing your account.”
How to avoid it: Only communicate on the official eBay platform
Legitimate eBay representatives will never ask for your password or complete financial information. When you receive unsolicited communication off-platform, you should assume it is a scam, says Mason Wilder, a certified fraud examiner and research director for the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. If there’s truly an issue with your account, you’ll find it in your messages on the eBay website.
Google ads scam
A twist on the classic customer service scam, the Google ads eBay scam takes it to another level. When you search for “eBay phone number” or “eBay customer service” on Google, some of the top results—in the ads section—could be scammers hidden in plain sight, according to a recent report from Malwarebytes, a cybersecurity software company.
Once you click on the scam ad, you’re directed to a fake website with the scammer’s phone number and a request for you to call. Of course, the hope is that you’ll give away sensitive personal information they can then profit from.
How to avoid it: Only seek support from the original eBay site
Go to eBay.com directly instead of following a Google ad link. And be alert to typical red flags—slight differences in spelling and style (like “e.bay” or “E:Bay”), requests for personal information or gift cards, and general pushiness or urgency.
Phishing email scam
One of the easiest ways to fall victim to fraud is by not recognizing phishing scams. We’re often inclined to trust automated or hyper-personalized emails that seem like they’re from a legitimate sender, whether you’re receiving updates from eBay directly or the PayPal account linked to your eBay account. But, these scam emails contain a link that takes you to a fake website.
According to eBay, red flags that point to this common eBay scam include generic greetings like “Attention eBay member,” demands to take immediate action (such as to provide confidential information, avoid account suspension or reset your password) and attachments of any kind.
That said, scammers have become increasingly sophisticated, and not all phishing emails have the mark of a fake, as Mark Hayes, an experienced eBay user and marketing manager for Adobe Experience Cloud recalls. “I received an incredibly authentic-looking email from ‘PayPal,’” Hayes says of the correspondence, which stated that his funds had been “locked away” and would only be released if Hayes did X, Y and Z. According to Hayes, there were no spelling errors, poorly rendered images or other typical red flags.
How to avoid it: Don’t trust every email
“The best way to avoid falling prey to this kind of scheme is to keep tabs on your own eBay account directly, and exercise caution and a healthy amount of skepticism when one of these messages lands in your inbox,” says Kimberly Smith, a product and growth manager at Audicus who formerly worked in the financial industry.
There’s a simple way to discover whether a message from eBay or PayPal is legit: Go straight to the source. That’s what Hayes did. If a message is truly real, it will appear in your eBay messages inbox or in your PayPal Message Center.
Fake tracking number scam
Tracking number scams can take on many forms, but the gist of it is you get a fake tracking number and your package never arrives. The tracking number could be real and show up in the system as delivered—it’s just not for your package or your address. What’s happening here? Scammers are trying to wait out eBay’s money back guarantee.
“What cybercriminals do is comb [through] what is covered and what is not covered, and they’ll scam people based on that,” Schober says. The eBay money-back guarantee only covers you for 30 days, so scammers try to wait that period out with delays—then take the money and run.
How to avoid it: Research sellers
“I always look at the seller’s history,” says Schober. “Is it a brand-new account? That’s risky right there. If they’re a real seller, there are reviews and ratings, a track record established on eBay that gives you some comfort.” If they don’t have these basics covered, it’s not worth the risk.
Negative feedback extortion scam
Negative feedback scams happen when buyers threaten to leave negative reviews unless you give in to their demands for a discount, refund or additional items not included in the original listing. While this could send you into a panic over your reputation, it’s best to stay calm.
How to avoid it: Don’t take the bait
“I would recommend resisting people’s demands in these kinds of extortion attempts,” Wilder says. Document the communications and pass along the evidence to eBay. According to eBay’s user agreement, the platform will remove any reviews linked to extortion attempts if you respond within 90 days. However, some sellers have complained about being unable to get the company to take action. If you’re struggling to get eBay to take action, Wilder suggests writing them a rebuttal letter explaining your policies as a seller and defending your reputation.
Second chance scam
“Sometimes if you’re a potential buyer and you lose out on an item, scammers will send an email purporting to be the seller offering you a second chance,” Wilder says. They’ll say you just missed out on the deal, but they have additional stock. If you send them a payment—off platform of course, where there are no protections—you’ll get what you wanted. They might ask you to verify your account by filling out a form to initiate the transaction, or ask you to click a link for next steps, Wilder says. Whatever the details, it’s an eBay scam.
How to avoid it: Double-check on eBay
This one’s tricky, because—as eBay notes—second chance offers are a real feature on eBay, and you do get an email with the details. As always, though, you should never trust off-platform communications. When in doubt, check your messages as well as bids and offers on the eBay website. Legitimate second chance offers will always show up there.
Hidden link scam
This eBay scam is especially tricky. The scam begins innocently, with a real product page to interest the buyer and what looks like a legitimate link to an eBay listing. Once you click on the link, however, you are discreetly taken to a different product page. For unwary buyers, this can mean unwittingly receiving a counterfeit.
How to avoid it: Never blindly trust or click a link
In this case, it’s another example of needing to double-check all the information at every step in the process. Reading descriptions carefully and double checking the market price for similar items can help you spot a counterfeit.
No delivery scam
This eBay scam is similar to the fake tracking number scam, and it’s just what it sounds like: You order an item, but it never gets delivered. In particular, scammers have figured out that they can get away with not delivering on their promises when it comes to digital or intangible products, because they’re often not covered by eBay’s money-back guarantee.
Digital or intangible products include travel tickets and vouchers, website and business services and non-fungible tokens (NFT).
How to avoid it: Don’t buy intangibles on eBay
There are two simple ways to avoid this scam: Avoid buying digital or intangible products on eBay altogether, or make sure you’ve done your research on the seller before you buy. Checking out their reviews and feedback can help you tell whether they’re trustworthy or not.
Overpayment scam
This eBay scam happens when the buyer offers to pay extra to get the item sooner. While this may seem like a good idea, it is likely a scam. These scammers might volunteer to send you a check for the extra amount, or offer to send a wire transfer. In all likelihood, the check will bounce or the wire payment won’t go through.
Buyers can get burned by checks and wire transfers too. Wire payments are difficult to trace, track and recover, making them the preferred transaction method of scammers. Whenever sellers only accept wire transfers as payment, “that is a huge red flag,” Smith says.
How to avoid it: Only use payment methods you trust
If you’re a seller, stick to your listed price and your preferred payment methods. If you’re a buyer, never agree to send a wire transfer. When in doubt, turn to PayPal or a credit card. Should the worst happen, you have both recourse and peace of mind.
The pick up scam
This scam is so good it almost seems like a way to avoid a scam, but beware. If a buyer asks you if they can collect the item in person, be wary, regardless of their story. This opens the door to a painful “he said, she said” situation that will leave you high and dry. Here’s how it works:
“The buyer purchases the items, and then pays by PayPal … then contacts the seller and requests to collect the items” says eBay seller Jay Lee, the founder of uAcademy online learning platform. After they get the item, the scammer files a PayPal claim for items not received. The seller is unable to provide any proof of delivery or postage (since the buyer picked up the item), and the buyer denies collecting it. Unfortunately, Lee says PayPal will usually rule in favor of the buyer—who receives a full refund and has the purchased item.
How to avoid it: Document all interactions
Document and keep every communication. Lee adds: “If the buyer has already paid for the item by PayPal, then stick with the PayPal rules.” Advise the buyer that the item can be sent according to PayPal and eBay guidelines.
Broken/counterfeit scam
Perhaps the biggest eBay scam involves shipping a falsely advertised item. You think you’re getting a nice set of gently used fine china dishes or some great vintage record albums, but the dishes arrive broken or the records are from the “Beetles,” not the Beatles. Often, these items are heavily discounted, making you think you’re getting a great deal.
“As with most things, if it’s too good to be true, it probably is,” Smith says, noting that often these items are marked down by 80% or more. “These scammers are common but relatively amateur, and the red flags tend to be fairly evident to most people,” Smith adds. “If you’re one of the optimistic people who do purchase one of these heavily discounted items, you can expect to either receive a counterfeit—or never receive a product at all.”
How to avoid it: Exercise caution, and investigate
Is the price substantially lower than you’ve seen it on authorized resellers? Does the fine print say something like “replica” or “factory second”? That’s often a cloak for counterfeits.
An immediate red flag is pressure to move communication and payment off-platform. (Remember, eBay can’t help you recover money sent through back channels.) Also, check seller reviews for mentions of counterfeits or fakes, and be wary of fake or AI-generated reviews, which can be used to hide counterfeit goods. Counterfeiters either have dummy accounts through which they post positive reviews, or they can buy positive reviews through social media.
Keys to look out for with fake reviews include very poor grammar, repeated phrasing and sentences that are totally generic—the product may be described in glowing terms, but they rarely say what the product actually is.
eBay motors scam
Yet again, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. This eBay scam involves a seller offering an amazing deal on a car, and offering a relatively believable reason for needing a quick sale. Maybe the seller has to move abroad, or their grandmother died and he’s just trying to get the car out of the driveway because it brings back too many memories.
“It will immediately draw thousands of people to it due to the cheap price,” Lee says. “They will then offer to allow viewing of the vehicle, but request a small, fully refundable deposit by a bank transfer.” Of course, you will get your deposit back if you don’t like the car. Surprise, surprise: The scammer collects money from hundreds of potential buyers and hits the road.
How to avoid it: Never send money on trust
“This scam is quite easy to spot,” Lee says. “Be wary of vehicles that are significantly cheaper than other similar models,” and when you contact the seller, look for red flags like explanations that the car is in another state, or it’s not available to view unless you send money. And as always: “If the seller requests a deposit by bank transfer—walk away.”
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Sources:
- Mason Wilder, CFE, certified fraud examiner for the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners; interviewed, April 2025
- Scott Schober, CEO of cybersecurity firm Berkeley Varitronics Systems; interviewed, April 2025
- Malwarebytes: “Large eBay Malvertising Campaign Leads to Scams”
- Which?: “A Third of Buyers Have Experienced a Scam on Popular Second-Hand Marketplaces in the Last Two Years, Which? Warns”
- Mark Hayes, marketing manager for Adobe Experience Cloud; interviewed, 2022
- Jay Lee, eBay seller and founder of uAcademy; interviewed, 2022
- Kimberly Smith, product and growth manager at Audicus; interviewed, 2022
- eBay: “Customer Service”
- eBay: “Recognizing Phishing Phone Calls and Emails”
- eBay: “Feedback Policies”
- eBay: “eBay Money Back Guarantee”
