Scammers, hackers, and con artists are all rampant on eBay. The average user has been victimized over time by this artful scam. Though online marketplaces offer a lot of opportunities for buyers and sellers, not every person on these sites is necessarily planning to enjoy the wonders of the platform fairly. As many ways as eBay provides for both parties, there are just as many tricks that scammers can use against you. Avoiding scams should always be your priority, scammers are getting more tricky each day. Thankfully, some ways to avoid eBay pitfalls have been discovered in order to keep you safe before the inevitable occurs with one of the largest global markets in existence today. Here are some common eBay scams that you need to hear about.
Common eBay Scams
The Alternative Payment Method
If you are buying online, there is always a certain risk that the seller can pull a number of tricks: credit card fraud, stealing numbers, and your identity. In reality, it’s never just one factor that leads to these crimes. PayPal and similar platforms both offer financial protections for buyers as well as legal resources for sellers in case something goes awry. That said, scammers who recommend alternative/less monitored methods of payment are more likely to complete transactions after which they have very few or no repercussions from their actions on the buyer end whatsoever.
Hidden Link Scam
Online scams are especially malicious when they trick your understanding of how hyperlinks work. This scam usually begins innocently, with a real product page to interest the buyer and make them want to buy from that company. Once they click on the link for purchasing or going directly to their website, though, you’re discreetly taken elsewhere-the scammers just tricked you.
It’s always important to double-check all the information at every step in the process, which is exactly what we did here. Reading descriptions carefully and looking out for similar items on sale can help someone spot a counterfeit from a mile away.
Only Showing Stock Photos
This classic scam is actually rather devious, and it can leave buyers feeling regretful. The scheme works by offering a product for an unusually low (but possible) price. These listings are often accompanied by quality pictures and good descriptions of the item that looks on the up-and-up to start with. However, once you realize something has gone wrong, like not receiving your order at all or finding out that what was supposed to be delivered wasn’t exactly as promised because there were printouts, that’s when the scam occurs. For example: “Photo of Item”, “Item Box Only” or “Item Sold Separately” are included in the descriptions. Meaning they are only photographs or boxes but not actual items themselves.
Empty Box Scheme
One of the oldest tricks in the book, this buyer scam usually targets small high-value items like smartphones or handbags. The problem begins when a buyer claims they received an empty box after receiving their order. If worst comes to worst and this happens, the seller keeps what was paid for by that customer and receives a refund from them.
Wire Payment Scam
Scammers will try to trick unsuspecting buyers by offering to pay more, but with the intention of not paying at all. They may offer a check which bounces or send you a wire transfer that doesn’t go through. Wire transfers are difficult for sellers and police officers alike to track since they’re so transactional in nature. Whenever sellers only accept wire payments as payment, that is an enormous red flag.
Ways To Stay Safe
- Use tracking: Sellers are advised to use a trackable postal service when sending goods. This way, the buyer can’t claim they didn’t receive it (and demand a replacement) without any proof of receiving your item in the first place. As well as this, if you have used a timely delivery service such as Royal Mail or another courier, then you will automatically be eligible for automatic bad feedback removal if they try and say that an item didn’t arrive on time but there is proof otherwise.
- Secure Passwords: Keep your eBay account secure by using a strong password that is different from the one you use with other online platforms. Avoid using personal information such as your maiden name or favorite pet’s name in it, and make sure to include upper-case letters, lower-case letters, numbers, and special characters within it.
- Only Send Payments via eBay: Ignore any sellers or buyers that want a different payment method than what we offer. There’s no Money Back Guarantee if you opt for PayPal, and it would be hard to do anything about money coming in using Western Union or Moneygram.