Some people say that scams are the cost of doing business online if you are buying or selling on sites like eBay, Craigslist, or Facebook Marketplace. That’s a sad reality that only makes it difficult for people to trust others. It is also something that Swappa, the safest marketplace for used tech, works very hard to prevent.
If you’re thinking about buying or selling used tech on eBay, it’s important to know how to protect yourself from fraudsters and scammers. What follows is a list of the most common eBay scams, along with some of the anti-fraud measures Swappa takes to prevent these scams from happening.
Table of contents:
- Top 5 eBay scams and how Swappa prevents them
- How to report an eBay scam
- Swappa is the safest marketplace for used tech
5 most common eBay scams and how Swappa prevents them
1. Seller creates a listing on eBay using stolen pictures
The scam: In this scam, the seller creates a fake listing using photos they’ve either grabbed from another listing or found somewhere else on the web. The scammer uses these photos as bait, after which they can use any number of tactics to steal your money.
Swappa’s solution: Swappa’s photo verification system stops fraudulent listings before they go live in our marketplace. This ensures listing photos actually belong to the seller and aren’t simply pulled from another marketplace. It’s a simple anti-fraud measure, but it is one that gives our users the freedom to shop worry-free.
2. Seller has the item listed at a deep discount
The scam: Everyone loves finding a great deal on used tech, but don’t let that blind your better judgment. For scammers looking to make a quick buck, using an absurdly discounted item is their best method to entice hungry buyers. In cases like this, the buyer may want to send a quick payment, so they don’t miss out.
Swappa’s solution: If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is — but how can you tell? This may be a little difficult to figure out on eBay, but Swappa provides up-to-date pricing information for every device available in our marketplace. Swappa also makes it easy to filter search results and narrow things down to the same device condition (and other criteria), allowing you to quickly scan other listings to see if the price seems too low.
3. Seller wants to shift your communications away from eBay
The scam: Another huge red flag is sellers who want to move communications off eBay and onto private emails or text messages. The reasoning here is that bad sellers are attempting to cover their tracks. Once a conversation has been taken offsite, the seller will often ask for partial or full payment using an alternate payment method. Without being able to confirm you actually paid for the item, you will not be able to file a dispute and eBay will take the side of the seller, leaving you — the buyer — high and dry.
Swappa’s solution: Swappa simply doesn’t allow communication to be taken off-site. Buyers send their payment as soon as they click the Buy Now button on a listing, and our policies make it clear that off-site communication isn’t allowed. Keeping your communication on Swappa means you can easily look back and review the conversation — and it also means that Swappa staff stays involved and is able to assist and provide accurate guidance if an issue arises.
4. Seller tries tricking you into buying a picture or empty box
The scam: When you browse listings on eBay, you probably have a specific product in mind. In some cases, scammers have sold only the box (packaging) belonging to an item — or even just a photo of it — for a price. This tricks unknowing buyers into thinking they’re getting a crazy good deal, only to find out they just purchased an empty box or a printout. If this was made known in the description, eBay may end up siding with the seller and the money you lost will be on you.
Swappa’s solution: If you’re looking at low-priced tech on eBay, make sure you read the listing’s description to make sure you know exactly what you’re paying for. On Swappa, we only allow sellers to create listings for fully functional devices — no exceptions, and we also review listings before they are approved for sale. This helps thwart would-be scammers. And when in doubt, a Swappa staff member is always happy to help.
5. Seller ships a phone that is still being financed
The scam: This is a tough one since oftentimes the buyer doesn’t discover there’s something wrong until it’s too late. Even if you receive a phone that works when you get it, that doesn’t mean you’re fully in the clear. It’s possible the phone is still being financed, which means the moment the original owner stops making payments, the carrier will blocklist the device. This can happen a few days — or even weeks — after you’ve been happily enjoying the phone without issue.
Swappa’s solution: Selling a financed device is strictly prohibited by Swappa’s marketplace policies. But don’t just take a seller’s word on it — Swappa’s listing review process includes a variety of serial number and IMEI/ESN checks to make sure it isn’t on a blocklist and that it doesn’t have an outstanding balance.
How to report an eBay scam
If you’ve already run into an eBay scam, such as never receiving the item you ordered, you should report it as soon as possible. The first step is to open a case and attempt to work things out with the seller. Once a case has been opened, the seller has 3 business days to provide a delivery update, offer you a replacement, or issue you a refund.
If a resolution cannot be reached within 3 business days (or the seller simply ignores you), you can escalate things to eBay Customer Service by visiting their Resolution Center. A step-by-step guide can be found on eBay’s Customer Service help page.
Swappa is the safest marketplace for used tech
Online marketplaces such as eBay allow you to find all kinds of different things, and they can be great places for collectibles and other hard-to-find items. But if you are looking to get a great deal on electronics, head to Swappa, a marketplace built from the ground up for gently used tech.
In general, scammers tend to focus their attention on marketplaces that don’t fight as hard to keep them away. Swappa hates scammers as much as you do, and our goal is to keep all users safe, which means we always remain vigilant in the fight. Swappa’s goal is to keep scammers out and to prevent fraud before it even happens. Here are a few things Swappa does to make this happen:
- Swappa provides 24/7/365 customer support: Our customer support team is always available and aims to reply in minutes (instead of hours, days, or weeks like you often find with other marketplaces). If you have a question or concern, you can quickly reach out using our help desk.
- Swappa doesn’t allow junk or jerks: This may sound like a playful policy, but it is one we take seriously at Swappa. We don’t allow junk to be sold in our marketplace, and we’ll quickly show you the door if you insist on being a jerk.
- Swappa reviews listings to prevent problems: Similar to our always available help desk, Swappa’s moderation team works around the clock reviewing listings to make sure our device criteria requirements are being followed.
- Swappa never stops fighting fraud: Swappa works to fight fraud during all parts of the listing and sale. Swappa’s review process begins before a listing is approved for sale, and continues through after an item has been purchased.
- Swappa has policies to protect buyers and sellers: At Swappa, we want all users to be safe, and it doesn’t matter if you’re a buyer or seller — our policies have been created to protect all users.
Here at Swappa, we’re committed to providing a safe marketplace for used tech. And, we’re very comfortable saying that Swappa is “the safest marketplace to buy and sell used tech.” But don’t just take our word for it, check out reviews left by other Swappa users. Swappa has a Trustpilot rating of Excellent, and you can see why in the reviews below.