Recognising and avoiding scams on eBay

eBay is one of the world’s largest online marketplaces, but its broad user base also attracts scammers. On this page we give advice on how to recognise trustworthy sellers and avoid scams on the international market.

How to recognise a trustworthy seller on eBay

  • Amount and quality of feedback - Check the feedback the seller has received. Trustworthy sellers usually have plenty of positive reviews.
  • The seller’s positive feedback percentage - On eBay you can see the percentage of the seller’s positive feedback. Good sellers maintain a positive feedback rate of over 98%.
  • Age of the account - How long has the seller been on eBay? Long-standing membership (at least a year) is often a sign of trustworthiness.
  • Sales volumes - Sellers who have made hundreds or thousands of transactions are usually more reliable than those who have sold little.
  • Quality of the product description - A thorough, honest product description and high-quality photos are signs of a good seller.
  • eBay badges - The "Top Rated Seller" or "Power Seller" badges mean the seller meets eBay’s quality standards.
Vinkki: eBay näyttää myös myyjän saamien negatiivisten palautteiden määrän viimeiseltä 12 kuukaudelta. Tarkista myös nämä!

Common signs of an eBay scam

  • Unrealistically low prices - If the price is significantly below the market price, it is probably a scam.
  • A new seller account with no feedback - Especially for valuable items, this is a warning sign.
  • A request to make contact outside eBay - The seller proposes doing the deal by email or elsewhere outside eBay.
  • Incomplete or vague photos - High-quality photos are missing, or the photos are clearly copied from elsewhere.
  • Vague payment methods - The seller asks you to pay by Western Union, gift cards or cryptocurrencies instead of PayPal.
  • No return policy - The seller offers no return policy at all, even though eBay usually requires one.
  • Too good a selection and availability - The seller has an unusually large number of sought-after, sold-out items available.
Varoitus: Jos myyjä pyytää sinua maksamaan eBayn ulkopuolella, kieltäydy. eBayn ostajaturva kattaa vain eBayn kautta tehdyt maksut.

Checking images on eBay

On eBay, checking the product images is especially important, because scammers often copy images from elsewhere or use the manufacturer’s product photos. Here is how to check that the images are genuine:

1
Tallenna kuva laitteellesi

Right-click the image in the eBay listing and select "Save image as" (on a computer) or press and hold the image (on a mobile device).

2
Käytä käänteistä kuvahakua

Use the reverse image search tools; Google Lens and Yandex in particular work well for checking international products.

3
Huomioi tulosten alkuperä

If the image is found on the manufacturer’s website, it may just be a product photo, but if the same image is used by many different sellers, be careful.

4
Pyydä ainutlaatuisia lisäkuvia

Ask the seller for more photos that show the item’s condition, serial numbers or other unique features. Ask for a photo with a date or some unique identifier.

Pro-vinkki: Jos ostat kalliimpia tuotteita, kuten elektroniikkaa tai luksustuotteita, pyydä myyjää ottamaan kuva, jossa näkyy sekä tuote että tietty teksti (kuten käyttäjänimesi). Aito myyjä yleensä suostuu tähän.

Safe trading on eBay

  • Use PayPal - PayPal offers a Buyer Protection programme that protects your purchases.
  • Prefer sellers from safe countries - Shipments from high-risk countries involve more problems.
  • Check the seller’s return policy - Good sellers offer clear return terms.
  • Read the product description carefully - Pay attention to the item’s condition, details showing authenticity and warranty information.
  • Ask questions before buying - Unclear matters should be clarified before making the deal.
  • Document everything - Save product descriptions, photos and messages in case of a dispute.
  • Use a tracking code - Make sure the shipment has a tracking code you can use to prove the item arrived or failed to arrive.

What to do if you are scammed on eBay?

If you suspect you have been targeted by a scam on eBay, act quickly according to the following instructions:

1
Ota yhteyttä myyjään

The first step is to try to resolve the issue directly with the seller through eBay’s messaging system. Document all communication.

2
Avaa kiista eBayssa

If you do not get a response or the problem is not resolved, open a dispute in eBay’s Resolution Center. Do this as soon as possible after your purchase.

3
Tee valitus PayPaliin

If you paid with PayPal, file a complaint through PayPal too. PayPal’s buyer protection can help you get your money back, even if eBay’s process is still ongoing.

4
Ilmoita huijaus eBaylle

Report a suspicious seller to eBay using the "Report this item" button on the product page or the "Report user" function on the seller’s profile. If you received a phishing message in eBay’s name, do not click its links; instead forward the message as an attachment to eBay’s official address spoof@ebay.com.

5
Ota yhteyttä luottokorttiyhtiöön

If you paid by credit card, you can request a chargeback from your credit card company if the eBay and PayPal processes do not produce a result.

Tärkeää: eBayn Money Back Guarantee -ohjelma suojaa useimpia ostoksia, mutta siinä on aikarajoja. Yleensä sinun on tehtävä ilmoitus 30 päivän kuluessa arvioidusta toimituspäivästä.

eBay’s special features and protection mechanisms

Overpayment scam and off-platform payments

A common scam against the seller is overpayment: the buyer claims to have accidentally paid too much and asks to be refunded the difference outside eBay. The original payment later turns out to be false or is reversed, and you lose both the money and the item. Never refund money through a separate channel - direct the buyer to eBay’s official refund process. The same applies to the buyer: if the seller offers a discount for paying outside eBay (for example bank transfer, cryptocurrency or a payment app), it is almost always a scam, and eBay’s buyer protection does not cover it.

Gift card scams

The scammer asks for payment with the code of an eBay gift card, often outside eBay via social media, email or phone. When you share the code, the money disappears immediately and you never hear from the seller again. An eBay gift card is intended only for paying for purchases at eBay’s checkout - never give the code to anyone as payment for a service, a fine or anything similar. No trustworthy party asks for payment by gift card.

Empty parcel and wrong address scams

The item may arrive on time and with tracking information, but the parcel is empty - some scammers even adjust the weight to be correct to avoid suspicion. In another variation, the parcel is sent to a nearby but wrong address, so the tracking shows "delivered" even though you did not receive the item. Because eBay’s return process relies heavily on tracking data, the scam is hard to prove. Photograph valuable items and the packaging before sending, and always check that the tracking’s delivery address matches your own.

eBay offers several tools and protection mechanisms that help you avoid scams:

  • Money Back Guarantee - eBay’s buyer protection covers most purchases if the item does not arrive or does not match the description.
  • Seller review system - The star rating and percentage show the seller’s trustworthiness.
  • Protected communication - eBay’s own messaging system helps keep communication safe.
  • Verified Rights Owner (VeRO) - A programme that helps identify counterfeit or illegal products.
  • Top Rated Seller programme - Identifies the best sellers who provide excellent service.
  • Authenticity Guarantee - Authenticity checking of certain expensive items, such as luxury watches and bags.
Vinkki: Älä vältä kansainvälisiä kauppoja, mutta ole erityisen tarkka. Käytä eBayn Global Shipping Program -palvelua, jos mahdollista, sillä se tarjoaa ylimääräistä suojaa tulli- ja lähetysongelmia vastaan.