eBay shopping scam message examples
Example scam messages
Subject: eBay invoice: payment received, confirmation required. Your buyer has paid. Complete the final verification step at ebay-payment-portal[.]example to release the funds and ship the item.
What gives it away:
- Releasing funds through a link in an email is the hook; eBay says any link in its emails is for convenience and won't require you to submit confidential information on the next page
- Check your eBay Messages: eBay says that if it sent the message, a copy will appear there too
- The 'final verification' page is an off-platform lookalike built to take your login or banking details
Mid-negotiation on a listing, the 'seller' suggests closing the deal off eBay: 'The checkout is playing up on my end. Just do a direct bank transfer and I'll post it today, I'll even take a bit off the price for the hassle.'
What gives it away:
- Moving payment off eBay strips away the platform's buyer protections, which is the entire objective
- A discount offered specifically for paying by bank transfer is bait, not generosity
- Real transactions complete through eBay's checkout; a seller who refuses it is a seller to report
eBay Support: A policy issue has been detected on your recent listing. Sign in at ebay-account-review[.]example within hours or the listing and your account will be suspended.
What gives it away:
- A text can't prove it's from eBay, whatever name or number it shows; eBay says to close the page and type the address into your browser, or use the official eBay app, instead of following a link
- The countdown-to-suspension framing is pressure, not policy; real notices from eBay also appear in your eBay Messages
- Typing ebay.com.au yourself and checking your account messages settles it in seconds
How to check a message you've received
Never tap a link in an unexpected message. Instead, paste the text into the free message checker for an instant verdict, or check a suspicious link with the link & website checker. To verify directly, contact eBay through its official app or the number on its real website — never the details in the message itself.
Understand the scam and the brand
Not sure about a message?
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Frequently asked questions
Is this eBay message real or a scam?
The messages on this page are defanged examples of eBay impersonation scams — illustrations modelled on common scam patterns, not genuine eBay messages. To judge a specific message you've received, paste it into the free Scam Scanner checker for an instant verdict, or verify it directly through eBay's official app or website.
How can I tell a fake eBay message from a genuine one?
eBay messages about a purchase or sale also appear in your eBay Messages, in the eBay app or at ebay.com.au, so check there instead of trusting a sender name, address or link. The examples below break down the tells that give a fake away — unexpected links, urgency, and requests for payment or details. If anything asks you to click a link or hand over information, treat it as suspicious until you've verified it independently.
What should I do if I already clicked a link or paid?
Act quickly: contact your bank, then follow the step-by-step recovery guide at /what-to-do. It walks you through who to contact — your bank, IDCARE and the right reporting channel — in the order that matters most.