E-commerce

Is This eBay Email a Scam? How to Tell

eBay scams target both buyers and sellers with fake payment notifications, phishing login pages, and shipping fraud schemes designed to steal money or account access.

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Common eBay Scam Types

Fake payment received notifications

Phishing login page emails

Overpayment refund scams

Shipping address change scams

Second chance offer scams

Example Scam Messages

These are examples of fake messages impersonating eBay. Never click links in unsolicited messages.

“eBay: A buyer has paid for your item. Click to view payment details at ebay-payments.com”

“Your eBay account has been limited. Verify your identity to restore access.”

Red Flags to Watch For

Payment notifications not appearing in your actual eBay account
Requests to complete transactions outside eBay
Buyers asking to ship to a different address after payment
Links to non-ebay.com login pages

Real vs. Fake eBay — Side by Side

Signal	Real eBay	Fake / Scam
Payment confirmation	Visible in your eBay account under Sold / Purchases.	Only appears in an email linking out to ebay-payments.com or similar.
Communication channel	Buyers and sellers message through eBay Messages.	Buyer asks to move to text, WhatsApp, or personal email.
Shipping address	Ship to the address eBay shows at purchase time.	"Buyer" emails after purchase asking you to ship somewhere else.
Account warnings	Alerts appear in your eBay account, not only via email.	"Account limited" email linking to a non-ebay.com login page.

Legitimate eBay Contact Info

Visit ebay.com/help or call 1-866-961-9253. Always verify payments directly in your eBay account. Never complete transactions outside the eBay platform.