{"id":18420,"date":"2025-09-26T09:57:28","date_gmt":"2025-09-26T13:57:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/?post_type=is-it-scam&#038;p=18420"},"modified":"2025-09-26T09:57:29","modified_gmt":"2025-09-26T13:57:29","slug":"is-ebay-a-scam","status":"publish","type":"is-it-scam","link":"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/is-it-scam\/is-ebay-a-scam\/","title":{"rendered":"Is eBay a Scam?\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h2>Table of Contents<\/h2><nav><ul><li><a href=\"#what-is-e-bay\">What Is eBay?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#is-e-bay-a-scam\">Is eBay a Scam?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#so-should-you-use-e-bay\">So, Should You Use eBay?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#how-to-use-e-bay-safely-and-privately\">How to Use eBay Safely and Privately\u00a0<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re thinking of buying from eBay, you need to know: Is eBay a scam?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Below, we explain whether eBay is a scam and discuss some steps you can take to improve your safety when buying from this marketplace.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-is-e-bay\">What Is eBay?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>eBay is an online marketplace where individuals and businesses can list various items for sale, and buyers can purchase them.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"575\" src=\"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ebay-2-1024x575.png\" alt=\"eBay\" class=\"wp-image-18427\" srcset=\"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ebay-2-1024x575.png 1024w, https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ebay-2-300x168.png 300w, https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ebay-2-768x431.png 768w, https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ebay-2.png 1056w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>It was founded in 1995.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Initially, it was auction-based only, but now includes fixed-price sales as well. Item categories range from antiques and fragrances to car parts and clothing.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>eBay is available in multiple countries and is one of the best-known e-commerce platforms in the world.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"is-e-bay-a-scam\">Is eBay a Scam?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>No, eBay is not a scam. It\u2019s a popular e-commerce platform that has been around for a few decades.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>User reviews on eBay are mixed:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>4.1 out of 5.0 stars (from 4.94m reviews and 100m+ downloads) on <a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.ebay.mobile&amp;hl=en_US&amp;pli=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Google Play<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>4.8 out of 5.0 stars (from 4.86m reviews) on the <a href=\"https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/us\/app\/ebay-online-shopping-selling\/id282614216\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">App Store<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>1.2 out of 5.0 stars (from 15,496 reviews) on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.trustpilot.com\/review\/ebay.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Trustpilot<\/a>.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>1.1 out of 5.0 stars (from 5,429 reviews) on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.consumeraffairs.com\/online\/ebay.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Consumer Affairs<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>3.1 out of 5.0 stars (from 4,099 reviews) on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reviews.io\/company-reviews\/store\/ebay\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">REVIEWS.io<\/a>.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>1.6 out of 5.0 stars (from 3,486 reviews) on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sitejabber.com\/reviews\/ebay.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sitejabber<\/a>.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Complaints include missing packages despite \u201cdelivered\u201d status, poor customer service, account suspensions, high fees, and convoluted return processes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/Ebay\/comments\/1eo8fjk\/is_ebay_trustworthy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">internet forums like Reddit<\/a>, people generally report positive experiences while using eBay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, one person said:<em> \u201cBeen using for 10+ years and have never had a bad experience buying.\u201d&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"719\" height=\"156\" src=\"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ebayreddit.png\" alt=\"Positive Reddit post about eBay\" class=\"wp-image-18428\" srcset=\"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ebayreddit.png 719w, https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ebayreddit-300x65.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 719px) 100vw, 719px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Users recommend purchasing from established sellers who have recent and past positive feedback for items in the same category you want to buy.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">eBay scams<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As is the case with any marketplace, it is possible to encounter scams on eBay.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/Scams\/comments\/17uy3z1\/ebay_scams_to_look_out_for\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Common eBay scams<\/a> include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Phishing emails that, at first glance, appear to be from eBay but are actually scams designed to trick you into sharing your details or login credentials.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tracking number scams where a seller gives a buyer a fake or invalid tracking number to make it look like the item they bought is being delivered and delays disputes. The goal is to get the buyer to miss the window for opening a dispute.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/community.ebay.com\/t5\/Ask-a-Mentor\/Customer-Service-Scam\/m-p\/32871580#M188689\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Customer service scams<\/a> that involve scammers creating websites that list fake eBay customer service phone numbers. Users who Google eBay customer service contact details and call these fake numbers usually don\u2019t realize they\u2019ve been scammed until it\u2019s too late.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"874\" height=\"492\" src=\"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ebaycustomerservicescam.png\" alt=\"eBay customer service scam example \" class=\"wp-image-18429\" srcset=\"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ebaycustomerservicescam.png 874w, https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ebaycustomerservicescam-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ebaycustomerservicescam-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 874px) 100vw, 874px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re not sure whether something is a scam or not, you can always ask on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/eBayScams\/new\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">eBayScams subreddit<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Returns&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Many eBay listings allow returns, but the exact terms and conditions depend on the seller\u2019s policy, including how long you have to request a return.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Who pays the cost of return shipping depends on the seller\u2019s policy and why you\u2019re returning the item.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If the seller doesn\u2019t accept returns but the item you received is faulty, doesn\u2019t match the description, or arrived damaged, you may still be eligible for the eBay Money Back Guarantee.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you ask for a return, the seller has 3 days to respond. If they don\u2019t, you can ask eBay to intervene.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">eBay Money Back Guarantee&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Even if the seller you purchased something from doesn\u2019t allow returns, you may still be able to return the item and get a refund thanks to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ebay.com\/help\/policies\/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy\/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy?id=4210\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">eBay Money Back Guarantee<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"610\" src=\"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ebaymoneyback-1024x610.png\" alt=\"eBay Money Back Guarantee \" class=\"wp-image-18430\" srcset=\"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ebaymoneyback-1024x610.png 1024w, https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ebaymoneyback-300x179.png 300w, https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ebaymoneyback-768x457.png 768w, https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ebaymoneyback.png 1078w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The eBay Money Back Guarantee applies if you didn\u2019t receive the item or the item doesn\u2019t match the listing. It also applies if the seller doesn\u2019t fulfill their return policy.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, certain conditions must be met. For example, you must complete and pay for the item on eBay using an eligible payment method (e.g., debit card, credit card, PayPal, Apple Pay) and take action within specific time frames.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Note that some items may be an \u201cexcluded item.\u201d These include travel tickets, digital content, and sports trading card case breaks.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Security<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ebay.com\/help\/policies\/member-behaviour-policies\/user-privacy-notice-privacy-policy?id=4260#section10\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">privacy policy<\/a>, eBay states that it employs \u201ctechnical and organizational\u201d security measures to safeguard your personal information.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These measures include network security services, data encryption, physical access restrictions to their data centers, and logical access controls for data and systems access.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"261\" src=\"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ebaydatasecurity-1024x261.png\" alt=\"eBay data security \" class=\"wp-image-18432\" srcset=\"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ebaydatasecurity-1024x261.png 1024w, https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ebaydatasecurity-300x77.png 300w, https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ebaydatasecurity-768x196.png 768w, https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ebaydatasecurity-1536x392.png 1536w, https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ebaydatasecurity.png 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pages.ebay.com\/payment\/2.0\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Elsewhere on its website<\/a>, eBay states that your payment information is secure when you purchase items from sellers and is never shared with sellers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It also lists the additional security controls it has in place and notes that it maintains a Level 1 Certification according to the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"344\" src=\"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ebaysecurity-1-1024x344.png\" alt=\"eBay security \" class=\"wp-image-18433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ebaysecurity-1-1024x344.png 1024w, https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ebaysecurity-1-300x101.png 300w, https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ebaysecurity-1-768x258.png 768w, https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ebaysecurity-1-1536x516.png 1536w, https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ebaysecurity-1.png 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2014, eBay suffered <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2014\/05\/22\/hackers-raid-ebay-in-historic-breach-access-145-mln-records.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">a massive data breach<\/a> in which attackers gained access to 145 million records, with \u201ca large part\u201d of the data being copied. The scale of the incident prompted investigations by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.databreachtoday.com\/state-ags-investigate-ebay-breach-a-6870\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">several state attorneys general<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>See also: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/is-site-safe\/is-ebay-safe\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Is eBay safe?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Privacy&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>eBay explains the type of data it collects, why it collects it, and with whom it shares it in its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ebay.com\/help\/policies\/member-behaviour-policies\/user-privacy-notice-privacy-policy?id=4260\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">privacy notice<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It collects the following personal information:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Data you provide,<\/strong> e.g., name, address, phone number, email address, tax identification number, additional identification data (if you\u2019re a seller), information about bids and purchases, content you share with others through eBay\u2019s messaging tools, financial information, shipping information, billing information, age, gender, country of birth, nationality, employment status, family status, interests, preferences, country of residence, data you add to your eBay account or share through a web form, and other data eBay is required\/entitled to collect by law.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Data eBay collects automatically when you use its services, <\/strong>e.g., transaction amounts, time and location of transactions, form of payment, payment method, currency preference, account activity, interactions with eBay services, advertising preferences, communications with eBay, location data, settings of your camera, and computer and connection information.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Data from cookies and similar technologies, <\/strong>e.g., pages you visit, access time, frequency and duration of visits, links you click, activities and interaction with eBay advertising partners, user segment or category you fall into (such as \u201c20-49 years old, interested in sneakers\u201d), model or device type, browser type, device ID, advertisement DI, cookie-related data, IP address, location data.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Personal data from other sources, <\/strong>e.g., public sources, credit agencies or bureaus, data providers, and government or other sources.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Social network data you share with eBay, <\/strong>e.g., content you viewed and information about ads you\u2019ve been shown or clicked on.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>eBay collects and processes your personal data to fulfill its contractual obligations (e.g., enabling transactions and support), comply with legal and regulatory requirements, protect vital interests, pursue legitimate business interests (like fraud prevention, service improvements, and marketing), obtain your consent where required (e.g., precise location or biometrics), share data within the eBay family and payment partners, and power necessary automated decisions.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It states that it retains your personal data only as long as it\u2019s needed to provide its services and meet legal, contractual, or consent-based obligations, after which it either deletes or anonymizes it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The company warns that other users can access anything you share on the platform. For example, your purchases, bids, items for sale, saved interests, product reviews, comments, and similar.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another thing to note is that every message you send through eBay\u2019s built-in chat or \u201c@ebay.com\u201d email addresses goes first to eBay\u2019s servers, where it\u2019s automatically screened for spam, viruses, phishing links, or banned content. If a message trips those automated filters, it may be flagged for a human review.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Additionally, eBay utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance your experience, which may involve the processing of your personal data.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It says: <em>\u201cWhere permitted under applicable law, we use personal data collected from our users to train, test, validate, and align our own AI models as well as third-party AI models and systems.\u201d&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>eBay notes that it takes appropriate steps, such as filtering and data masking, to mitigate any potential privacy impacts from using AI.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"442\" src=\"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ebayaidevelopment-1024x442.png\" alt=\"eBay AI development and training \" class=\"wp-image-18434\" srcset=\"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ebayaidevelopment-1024x442.png 1024w, https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ebayaidevelopment-300x130.png 300w, https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ebayaidevelopment-768x332.png 768w, https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ebayaidevelopment-1536x663.png 1536w, https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ebayaidevelopment.png 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Depending on where you reside, you may have the right to access, rectify, erase, restrict processing, and obtain data portability of your data.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Terms of Service; Didn\u2019t Read (ToS;DR), a project that rates internet services\u2019 terms of service and privacy policies, gives eBay <a href=\"https:\/\/tosdr.org\/en\/service\/226\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">a \u201cGrade E.\u201d<\/a> This is the worst grade and means \u201cThe terms of service raise very serious concerns.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1003\" height=\"372\" src=\"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ebayprivacypolicyrating.png\" alt=\"eBay privacy policy rating (&quot;Grade E&quot; from Terms of Service; Didn't Read) \" class=\"wp-image-18435\" srcset=\"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ebayprivacypolicyrating.png 1003w, https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ebayprivacypolicyrating-300x111.png 300w, https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ebayprivacypolicyrating-768x285.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1003px) 100vw, 1003px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Some of the concerns listed include the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>eBay can read private messages.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It shares your personal data with third parties not involved in its operations.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It uses third-party cookies for advertising.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It processes and stores your data in a country that is less friendly to user privacy protection.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It uses your personal data to employ targeted third-party advertising.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>On the plus side, it says that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>When eBay wants to make a material change to its terms, users are notified at least 30 days in advance.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You can opt out of promotional communications at any time.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It prohibits the publishing of personally identifiable information without the owner\u2019s consent.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Similarly, the Common Sense Privacy Program assigns eBay a rating of 60% out of 100%, which is<a href=\"https:\/\/privacy.commonsense.org\/evaluation\/eBay\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> classified as a \u201cWarning\u201d rating<\/a>. It means eBay \u201cDoes not meet our recommendations for privacy and security practices.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"152\" src=\"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ebayprivacypolicywarning-1024x152.png\" alt=\"eBay privacy policy rating (&quot;Warning&quot; from the Common Sense Privacy Program)\" class=\"wp-image-18436\" srcset=\"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ebayprivacypolicywarning-1024x152.png 1024w, https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ebayprivacypolicywarning-300x45.png 300w, https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ebayprivacypolicywarning-768x114.png 768w, https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ebayprivacypolicywarning.png 1031w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Some of the issues flagged by the Common Sense Privacy Program include eBay selling or renting data to third parties and displaying behavioral or targeted ads.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Privacy lawsuits<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>As of 2025, eBay is facing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.valueaddedresource.net\/ebay-privacy-lawsuits-third-party-trackers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">potential lawsuits in California<\/a> over allegations that it shared customers&#8217; private information with third parties without obtaining proper consent, potentially violating state privacy laws, including the California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Law firms claim that eBay used third-party tracking software to collect detailed user data without providing users with adequate knowledge or gaining their consent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"so-should-you-use-e-bay\">So, Should You Use eBay?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Probably.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s a well-known e-commerce platform offering a vast selection of items, robust buyer protections, and competitive pricing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, you do run the risk of encountering occasional scams.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, before you shop on eBay, make sure you\u2019re okay with the company\u2019s data-collecting and data-sharing practices.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-to-use-e-bay-safely-and-privately\">How to Use eBay Safely and Privately&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Check seller reviews. <\/strong>Stick to sellers with high positive ratings and recent sales in your item\u2019s category. When reading past customer reviews, look for mentions of late deliveries or unresponsive customer service.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Pay through eBay<\/strong>. Always use eBay-approved methods (credit\/debit card, PayPal, Apple Pay, or Google Pay) to ensure the Money Back Guarantee applies in the event of an issue.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Dispute immediately<\/strong>. If an item shows \u201cDelivered\u201d but hasn\u2019t arrived, open a claim as soon as possible. Never wait for extra tracking updates. This is a common scam.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Turn on two-factor authentication. <\/strong>eBay <a href=\"https:\/\/community.ebay.com\/t5\/Announcements\/eBay-launches-a-new-2-step-verification-method-to-increase\/ba-p\/29818464\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">offers two-factor authentication<\/a>, so be sure to turn it on to add an extra layer of protection to your eBay account.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Create a strong password. <\/strong>And don\u2019t reuse it elsewhere online. There have been reports of individuals whose eBay accounts were compromised because they used the same password for multiple online services.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Monitor eBay login activity<\/strong>. Periodically check recent sign-ins for any suspicious activity.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Share minimal information. <\/strong>Don\u2019t give any unnecessary personal details in messages.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Avoid off-platform requests<\/strong>. Never send payment or personal data outside of eBay\u2019s messaging or payment system.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Opt out of marketing<\/strong>. You can do this by going to <em>Communication Preferences <\/em>in your eBay account and turning off promotional emails and SMS.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Control cookies<\/strong>. Block or delete third-party cookies in your browser (or use a privacy extension) to limit ad tracking.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Review ad preferences<\/strong>. On the Ad Choices or Advertising Preferences pages, adjust or turn off personalized ads.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Verify eBay emails<\/strong>. Scammers like to impersonate eBay, so be wary of any emails you don\u2019t expect.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Be cautious of calls claiming to be from eBay. <\/strong>As eBay says on its website, it is unlikely to call you. If you get a call from someone claiming to be an eBay representative, hang up and\/or don\u2019t call back. If you\u2019re not sure whether the call was genuine, check your eBay messages. If it is genuine, eBay will also send you an email to your eBay messages.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Report phishing attempts. <\/strong>Whether it was a phishing email or call, you can report it to <a href=\"mailto:spoof@ebay.com\">spoof@ebay.com<\/a>. For phone calls, email the details of what the caller asked and the number they called from. For emails, forward them to the eBay email address.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Our guide to whether eBay is a scam.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":18427,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false},"class_list":["post-18420","is-it-scam","type-is-it-scam","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/is-it-scam\/18420","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/is-it-scam"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/is-it-scam"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18427"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/joindeleteme.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18420"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}