Is eBay Having Account Security Problems?

[valueaddedresource]

I'm seeing a huge spike in posts on Twitter and other social media about accounts being suspended/deactivated due to concerns they have been compromised and used for fraud in the last few hours.

This Reddit post has over a hundred responses already.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Ebay/comments/r8b1rm/ebay_is_apparently_going_on_a_suspending_spree_if/

Anyone know what the heck is going on?

[dogchow747]

I am not sure.

There were some complaints dealing with managed payments and cancellation of sellers accounts if they did not provide requested financial info.

I read some of the reddit stuff, will look further.

Careful with my response, I am uninformed.

Reddit should not be discounted.

[valueaddedresource]

There are many reports all over Twitter right now too and Down Detector.  On that Reddit post, a moderator said:

"Reading through the thread it appears they may have had an algorithm or something go haywire and mass ban people. Initially customer service didn't know what was going on and just went on their script about accounts being banned and they can't provide info. More recent posts are saying that customer service are now reinstating accounts after some minor verification. So it looks like they are being brought up to speed to reopen accounts."

[dogchow747]

"Havent sold anything in over a decade."

One blip from a Reddit response.

It may be a managed payments issue. Non responsive to requested info.

It sounds  .... bad

[dogchow747]

"I haven’t made a purchase nor sold anything in 6+ months & I have a $0.00 balance. I’ve been a member since 2004 with 100% positive feedback."

Off of a random Twitter complaint.

"Sold anything"

Managed Payments issue? Not responsive?

I bet my @dogchow account is gone too. I cant get into it due to email issue.

Bye bye old friend .....

[valueaddedresource]

@dogchow747  I'm not sure about that - here's another random Twitter complaint.

"why did you suspend my account? I’ve purchased items through y’all recently, successfully sold a hat with no issues, and I was permanently suspended. We just did a payout and a purchase and I’ve been a member since 05. What gives?"

[dogchow747]

"sold a hat with no issues"

Past sellers, even if they had a positive but minimal selling history.

[dogchow747]

@valueaddedresource..

I want to be careful. You may have a internet presence on Twitter and your own website.

I am just some dude that tries to help other ebayers in my spare time.

I know nothing beyond what random readings from here and places you have looked at too.

Looks like there may be a issue, but I do not know.

Good luck with your website, I will check it out.

[dbfolks166mt]

     From the postings on this forum there does appear to be an uptick in the number of account suspensions but it is difficult to tell, even for the suspended seller, what the issue is since eBay is often vague about what they tell the suspended seller and I am pretty sure it is not information eBay is going to put into their quarterly reports. No share holder wants to read that eBay suspended 10,000 sellers due to suspicious activity. 

     Valueaddedresource mentioned a possible technical glitch which would not surprise me in the least. EBay's IT competence these days appears to be in a race with their customer support to the bottom.

[dhbookds]

I see this post on the tech board..........

community_team

Community Team

(0 feedbacks) View listings

‎12-04-2021 12:33 AM

Earlier today, a number of eBay accounts were inadvertently suspended. The issue should be resolved in the next few hours and any sellers who need to take action will be contacted. We regret any concern this may have caused.

The mea culpa "We regret any concern this may have caused." is almost laughable. 

[valueaddedresource]

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@dhbookds wrote:

I see this post on the tech board..........

community_team

Community Team

(0 feedbacks) View listings

‎12-04-2021 12:33 AM

Earlier today, a number of eBay accounts were inadvertently suspended. The issue should be resolved in the next few hours and any sellers who need to take action will be contacted. We regret any concern this may have caused.

The mea culpa "We regret any concern this may have caused." is almost laughable. 

---

Thanks @dhbookds ! One has to wonder if that regret will go so far as to refund any relisting fees these sellers may incur, rescind any automated holds on funds that would normally apply, or whatever else may be necessary to make sure affected users don't experience any negative consequences from this issue.

[glasser]

I would really like to hear a better definition of inadvertently

someone dropped their coffee on a keyboard?

someone hit delete by mistake?

What happened?

[wastingtime101]

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@valueaddedresource wrote:

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One has to wonder if that regret will go so far as to refund any relisting fees these sellers may incur, rescind any automated holds on funds that would normally apply, or whatever else may be necessary to make sure affected users don't experience any negative consequences from this issue.

---

I would assume they're doing a simple account restore so none of the payment hold issues for new sellers, etc should apply. The only problems I see are:

1. Listing fees (fortunately it's only Dec 4th)
2. Are the listings going to be readily available in their Ended listings section to relist?
3. Sellers with MQ items losing the sales history and search placement. Although this may not be a factor if mainly hobby sellers with only a few listings were affected. Most of the reports I've seen were from small sellers or sellers without active listings.

[valueaddedresource]

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@wastingtime101 wrote:

---

@valueaddedresource wrote:

---

One has to wonder if that regret will go so far as to refund any relisting fees these sellers may incur, rescind any automated holds on funds that would normally apply, or whatever else may be necessary to make sure affected users don't experience any negative consequences from this issue.

---

I would assume they're doing a simple account restore so none of the payment hold issues for new sellers, etc should apply. The only problems I see are:

1. Listing fees (fortunately it's only Dec 4th)
2. Are the listings going to be readily available in their Ended listings section to relist?
3. Sellers with MQ items losing the sales history and search placement. Although this may not be a factor if mainly hobby sellers with only a few listings were affected. Most of the reports I've seen were from small sellers or sellers without active listings.

---

@wastingtime101 I hope that's true. Affected users I've spoken to said they received the standard reinstatement email which does include verbiage saying access to funds may be delayed for 21 days and that will apply for 90 days or until the account gains a history for successful transactions.

Hopefully that is just boilerplate, but it is causing concern among sellers who were affected.

The email does also say that the listings will be in their Ended listings section to relist, but does not say anything about relisting fees.

[janet9988]

Ebay's user agreement already states that they take no responsibility for any glitch.

15. Disclaimer of Warranties; Limitation of Liability

We try to keep our Services safe, secure, and functioning properly, but we cannot guarantee the continuous operation of or access to our Services. Bid update and other notification functionality in eBay's applications may not occur in real time. Such functionality is subject to delays beyond eBay's control.

You agree that you are making use of our Services at your own risk, and that they are being provided to you on an "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" basis. Accordingly, to the extent permitted by applicable law, we exclude all express or implied warranties, terms and conditions including, but not limited to, implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement.

In addition, to the extent permitted by applicable law, in no event will eBay (including our parent, subsidiaries, and affiliates, and our and their officers, directors, agents and employees) be liable to you or any third party under any claim at law or in equity for any consequential damages or losses (including, but not limited to, loss of money, goodwill or reputation, profits, other intangible losses, or any special, indirect, or consequential damages), and all such damages or losses are expressly excluded by this agreement whether or not they were foreseeable or eBay was advised of such damages or losses. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, we (including our parent, subsidiaries, and affiliates, and our and their officers, directors, agents and employees) are not liable, and you agree not to hold us responsible, for any damages or losses (including, but not limited to, loss of money, goodwill or reputation, profits, other intangible losses, or any special, indirect, or consequential damages) resulting directly or indirectly from:

• the content you provide (directly or indirectly) using our Services;
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