Is this a scam?

[shedalp0]

I listed a designer leather handbag on eBay today. I have only sold a few items on eBay over the years, so have no seller feedback. I've heard that sellers such as me are often targeted by scammers. And I think I've had two today. The first was obvious: I got an offer that was $50 over the asking price, and the woman asked me to also buy $300 in eBay gift cards for her and she'd PayPal me. Obvious scam; I declined. Now someone else has reached out and offered $30 over asking price. There's a vaguely similar phrasing about how they will pay via "the PayPal method." Once again, although eBay sent me an email saying I had an offer, the person isn't putting the bid into the actual eBay listing, but asking me to reach out directly to their cell phone. Is that always a red flag, if they're asking you to email or call them? I assume so, but tend to be overly suspicious. My listing is just an auction; I didn't turn on best offer, but so far "buyers" are hitting that button and sending me messages.

[donsdetour]

Both are

SCAM, SCAM AND MORE SCAM

You do not need to contact anyone out side of eBay.

[div_style]

Block both bidders.  They're both scams.  100% scam.  Block and do not engage further with them.

[southern*sweet*tea]

Anytime a buyer wants you to text or email them, it is a SCAM.
Do not engage with them at all. Give them no information.

Report the "buyer"

Block https://offer.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?bidderblocklogin

Ignore

The whole idea is for the seller to be blinded with greed, or just stupidity, and for the scammer to get the seller's phone number or email address. Once that happens, the seller receives a very real looking, but very fake email stating that they have been paid, and in order to receive their funds they need to ship the item right away. Sometimes these emails will also have a phone number, for the seller to call and "verify" the transaction. That phone number is a direct line to the scammer.

These scammers depend on a seller's greed/naivete/ignorance/stupidity to ship the item without checking to see if they have actually been paid. It works surprisingly well, even with established sellers, because for some strange reason people want to "trust" emails.

There is no reason on this planet for a buyer to need a seller's email address, phone number, or any sort of financial/payment information. Everything a buyer needs is right there when they click the buy now button on a listing.

In addition to the above, anyone asking for a gift card to be included is a SCAMMER. Anyone offering to pay more for an item than the listing price is a SCAMMER. Anyone making an offer higher than the buy it now price is a SCAMMER.

[shedalp0]

Thanks, everyone. Exactly what I thought.

[vian-dere]

I’m being targeted by other sellers on eBay, I mostly purchase from eBay and have a100% ratings,and over the last 4/5 years I’ve sold several of My Personal items maybe 20/30 at very low prices I, I usually come out on the losing side not even breaking even, and all my ratings from buyers were also 5 stars ,several who even admitted it was a great price never left me a good rating after they promised,but I still have100% , only one neutral who I had taken to my watch guy who said it was good,used watch he’s a 5star so I trusted him , now I’m being accused of trying to sell 2 fake watches,by another watch seller with a business who bought cheap 75/100 free shipping and I know will sell for 300/500 dollars,I’m not stupid,also I’m no watch expert like I said I sell my personal items only ,for a little extra cash, I was reported and threatened,by honorable sellers ,also in past I tried selling a butt stock , trigger for rifle and a grip ,I was reported immediately, I called eBay and showed them all the others there selling same things,I was selling cheap just parts I had exchanged on my weapons,well now everyone has been removed,if only they had let me sell 3 of my unused parts