", $1,000 from my eBay card, so I won't do that. In the event eBay is useless in resolving the issue, as they often can be, you'll want to contact your credit card company or bank. Here are a few things you can do to try and fix the situation. This was done through ebay email but no bid was placed. If you'd like to contact him, Twitter is the most effective means of doing so. If you contact the seller and they tell you that they've been working on eBay for years when their account was registered last week, that should raise an immediate red flag. The same logic applies to your home address--especially if you're purchasing something from a long-distance seller, consider picking the package up at the post office. Getting scammed as an eBay buyer Buying products through eBay is usually straightforward, but some scammers work to defraud innocent people who are just trying to get a good deal. However, if you buy a car from an online listing, you may be at risk of being scammed! Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 269,000 times. Is it legit if a seller wants me to wire transfer money to eBay? Pretty much every online forum or eBay related blog you visit will be FULL of such stories and from the emails I get, it’s clear that this is one of the main things that holds new sellers back from getting started on eBay. People get scammed all the time. Do not trust any email telling you that you have been paid. Examples include fake, … All you have to do is alert them, and they'll look into the situation for you. Scammers might impersonate service providers, like DirecTV or Comcast, and offer you a cheap deal because they’ve partnered with eBay. Please flag the ad on CL. They will reverse the transaction and your laptop is gone forever and you'll never get that money back! Perhaps the largest scam on eBay is the scam of shipping a falsely advertised item. If the seller is reluctant to give you information or they appear evasive, you should give the item a pass. How safe is this? If you want to initiate a monstrous crap-storm, just mention eBay’s new Managed Payments System on the eBay Community or any social media outlet. These kinds of scams happen most often with big-ticket items like cars or property, so if you must purchase a vehicle or something similar through eBay, be sure to insist on a mutual meeting place to do the transaction. Though it's safe if the buyer says it is optional to use gift cards. (Ideally you'd have done this before buying, but it's an easy thing to forget about.). wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. You should also generally be on the lookout for things that simply sound too good to be true. Very sickening! For tips on how to avoid getting scammed as a seller on eBay, including what to do if a buyer refuses to pay, read on! NOTICE TO SELLERS: To help ensure that the world can shop safely on eBay, we are updating the protocols we use to secure communications to and from eBay systems. As a general rule, you should not accept money orders or checks of any kind--the risks are simply too high, even if your buyer's intentions are good. Setting a no-refund policy will probably decrease your overall sales. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. eBay has buyer protection, and as long as the description specifically does not match the item, you can file a report with eBay and get the issued resolved if you file it within 30 days of the item being claimed as 'shipped'. ; Always read the listing carefully and check the seller's Feedback before buying. Safeguard your account. Can I get a refund from eBay if I have all the receipts and I didn't get what I ordered? This may dissuade some genuine buyers, but it will also keep scammers away. Pay on collection of big-ticket merchandise such as cars, large furniture, or similar items. Although you should definitely do your own research on this based on the context of your transaction, you should generally never send money to a third party. The brutal truth is, in cases like this, eBay almost always sides with the buyer. If so, you have to wonder where they have been. If you pay with PayPal and the seller turns out to be a scammer, you can file a claim with PayPal and generally get your money back. Sometimes people sell very small, cheap items in "penny auctions" to get high sales figures, high approval ratings, and positive feedback. * You have to go through the Resolution Centre. ", http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-ebay-scams-to-be-aware-of/, http://www.ebay.com/gds/Sellers-Tips-to-help-prevent-fraud-/10000000003499209/g.html, http://www.welivesecurity.com/2015/02/09/common-ebay-scams-avoid/, http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidseideman/2014/06/23/part-6-how-to-hit-a-homerun-selling-on-ebay/#4c5e5b12450a, http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/33635894/how-to-avoid-being-scammed-when-selling-on-ebay, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Here are the most common eBay scams to know about: three as a buyer, six as a seller, and one that applies to all eBay users. Finally, retain all documentation for at least a year after the transaction and check your bank account regularly in case of any irregular activity. *for the love of god do not ship anything to Nigeria!!! Maybe they could help you in some way or give you some advice. when i contacted Ebay they said there was nothing they can do. When you start and end your transaction on eBay Motors, you automatically get the benefit of eBay's Vehicle Protection Program*. Yet you can only use ebay gift cards on eBay.com. You can always say "more information upon request" in your posting to counteract the harshness of this policy--honesty is on your side. The most common scam is called the "bait and switch refund", in which a buyer complains about receiving a broken or faulty device after it ships. Thanks. Most of the time, you’d be right. If you wire money to a seller, you are giving that person a gift of cash. To avoid getting scammed on eBay, check out a user's reviews and avoid doing business with someone if their reviews are negative. Sellers can't really scam people this way because without a tracking number (or even if they send you the wrong item) buyer can always get the case closed in their favor. Total and complete 100% SCAM. Several users have reported success in bypassing scams by having a PayPal-related email and an eBay-related email separate of one another; that way, if, for example, a buyer contacts the PayPal email with an inquiry, you automatically know it's a scam. Most scammers will be unresponsive to emails or may cancel their eBay account, which helps you to start the claim process sooner. Is this legit? You don’t always get what you pay for. And as everyone says, most real cars being sold have a reserve price on them and the car will not sell if the reserve is not met. When I asked, one could not even tell me what he bought. They have a very comprehensive look at how to stay safe while using their platform. Remember that eBay Money Back Guarantee only covers eligible transactions that are completed ON eBay.co.uk and paid for with PayPal. Seller Beware: How To Avoid Being Scammed On eBay. According to the Federal Trade Commission’s 2019 “Put the brakes on phony online car sales” Consumer Information article, this happens a lot. Even if you are outside the 45 day timeframe to file a dispute, do it anyway. It helped assure me I wasn't getting, "I haven't heard from anybody yet to know if eBay Motors is legitimate, but you just said that I shouldn't send them, "I was selling, and two different buyers offered higher than the asking price. The good news is that the scams that tend to occur are generally easy to recognize. I am interested in a car I found on Craigslist. Paying through PayPal using a credit card is almost always ideal because it's easier to have the charges blocked. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. No, this is a scam, do not give them any information! If you used a debit card the money's likely gone, but sometimes your bank can still help you and it's worth making the call. How do I know if I can trust a sale on eBay? If you're able to, tell the person you are contacting authorities. I used to get scammed on eBay a lot! You should also avoid negotiating with the seller outside of eBay, and don't agree to pick up the item in person unless it's in a public space with a lot of people. The seller wants my address and phone number because she is selling it through eBay's Buyers Plan. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. If you are an avid user of eBay, most of your experiences have probably been great! When You Buy and Sell. Since eBay is obligated to side with the buyer in the event that they provide proof--an easy enough process, since all they have to do is buy a broken version of whatever you sent them for practically nothing--you will be forced to pay them a refund. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. This article has been viewed 269,000 times. You can avoid most basic scams by simply requesting more information about the item and the terms of the item's sale. If you have too many disputes opened against you, you can be banned from using PayPal, *make sure you see the payment in your account before sending any items out, *only ship to the address PayPal gives you, *ALWAYS get tracking, signature needed if over $250. Craigslist is intended for face-to-face transactions that are paid with cash, because this is the way to prevent most scams. Got any other suggestions for coping with being scammed? Here are a couple of different ways to avoid being scammed when buying or selling on eBay. Depends on what buyer do. Whether you're a frequent buyer or seller on eBay (EBAY) - Get Report or consider yourself more of an occasional peruser, there are a lot of ways you can get scammed through online retail. How do I know if it's safe to pay someone through eBay? Often times scammers can be easy enough identify and avoid, but we don't always have our guards up and some are more clever than others. You have had some very instructive answers here to your question about getting scammed and I can see that you've taken some of that advice on board. PhD Student in Text & Discourse, Unisul University. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. You can follow Adam Dachis, the author of this post, on Twitter and Facebook. It gave me a few ideas on how to help him prove that he was being scammed so he wouldn't have to lose his item and pay a fine he couldn't afford. References This person told me she would send me 5 times what the item was worth if I would send my item immediately. EBay has a Money Back Guarantee. Questions that I have were, "It was very helpful! They are willing to transfer the money to me and take care of postage from Australia to the US. Yes. Some scammers can even provide service to your home for a short time to make you believe the scam is legitimate. You are more protected as a buyer on eBay than those selling so I asked a few fellow bloggers to share with me ways in which you can avoid getting scammed when selling on eBay. By using our site, you agree to our. now im out of $70.00. Frugal living blog SquawkFox has a few suggestions for dealing with the unfortunate problem of being scammed by an eBay buyer. First, you're going to need to contact the seller and try to resolve things yourself as eBay will not help you if you do not do this. They then insisted on me giving them, "To keep my banking and address details secure. Last Updated: January 7, 2021 In this case, 91% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. Instead, only do business with someone through PayPal or eBay so that you have a written record of everything. A seller may approach you before the end of an auction, and suggest you come to a private deal - perhaps at a lower price - so he or she can avoid paying all the eBay fees. Trust your gut. I received a text from a buyer asking me to reply to their email about their interest in my laptop. I was asked to send an electronic item I was trying to sell to someone in a foreign country. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. 3d If they scam you they go to jail and you get you're money back The easiest way to ensure the cooperation of both parties in an event like this is by meeting face-to-face in a neutral area with plenty of visibility--i.e., a shopping center. I would call the bank as well and explain to them that you were scammed. I will find out if there's a judgement some kind of way before I do any transactions, but thank you, this is been a big help. When dealing with customers, be polite and respectful, but firm; remember, you don't owe anyone anything other than a guarantee that they'll get what they pay for. Then file a police report, and file a complaint with eBay and PayPal as well. Israel Vieira is a Discourse Analyst and a PhD Candidate in Text and Discourse at Unisul's Language Sciences Program, where he studies the effects and characteristics of hoaxes, fake news and conspiracy theories. For tips on how to avoid getting scammed as a seller on eBay, including what to do if a buyer refuses to pay, read on! Once again, eBay and PayPal will usually back you up in this case, so long as you have retained all of your written records. 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