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Major privacy and security issue with eBay

Here's how eBay could be used right now for criminals to find homes with known expensive items and break in and steal those items.

 

Starting many years ago, eBay started showing the title of all items you sold on your feedback page.  The feedback is very useful for buyers, but showing the items sold is a huge privacy and security concern, which I'll explain how it can be used against you.

 

Let's say you're fairly well off and collect expensive jewelry.  You like to buy new jewelry and sell jewelry on eBay you no longer wear.  Sounds harmless.  But the problem is a criminal can use this information against you.

A criminal lists a bunch of items for sale on eBay at cost.  You (and many others) buy something from him.  He now has your address.  He then creates a list of addresses and uses your selling history to compile a list of homes and probable items that could be in each home.  You filter to the top of his list as you're only 60 miles away, it shows you've been selling expensive jewelry for years, and you happen to have an $15,000 piece being sold right now (so he knows it's in your possession).   He scopes out your home and breaks in, stealing not only the $15,000 piece that was for sale, but the rest of your collection.  This can be made far worse if there's a criminal network setup across the country doing this, as it maximizes the chances of finding someone local and easier to target.

 

I know you can hide ALL your feedback, which also includes hiding items sold.  But you really need to be showing feedback if you're selling something (it may even be required).  What I suggest is eBay add a new feature to hide all items sold but still show feedback.  I've had an eBay account for 24 years and have 100% positive feedback.  I never want to hide my feedback.  But hiding the items I've sold is a huge security and privacy concern of mine.  As shown above, this could easily be used to target eBay members.  And a network of criminals could really create a nationwide (or even worldwide) problem.

 

I currently turn off displaying feedback when I'm not selling something, then turn it back on just for when I have something for sale, then turn it back off.  That only minimizes my chances.  The only current way to totally prevent this is to turn off all feedback forever and only use eBay for buying.  Probably not what eBay wants.

 

So, eBay, please add a feature to hide items sold.  I see it as a major security and privacy issue.

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187 REPLIES 187

Re: Major privacy and security issue with eBay

That's a long convoluted scenario that has little chance of two random transaction aligning. Good news, there's a rather simple solution....two solutions.

 

  • Buying ID
  • PO Box



VintageCarMagazines

Message 61 of 188
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Re: Major privacy and security issue with eBay


@silverstatetreasureboxes wrote:

@gracieallen01 wrote:

I have no reason not to have 4 loaded weapons readily available, just in case.


Dang Gracies packin big time. Did they teach that in clinicals where you went to college? They did me.

 


 

Nah, learned that in 'another life',  way back in the early 60's.  I was way younger.

Not saying 'NO' doesn't mean 'YES'.

The foolishness of one's actions or words is determined by the number of witnesses.

Perhaps if Brains were described as an APP, many people would use them more often.

Respect, like money, is only of 'worth' when it is earned - with all due respect, it can not be ordained, legislated or coerced. Anonymous
Message 62 of 188
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Re: Major privacy and security issue with eBay

OOO NOOO this is not an acceptable solution! 

The only solution to this OPs problem is for ebay to change how they do things. 

Message 63 of 188
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Re: Major privacy and security issue with eBay


@forward-motion wrote:

Only 4?


I said '4 loaded'.  😁

Not saying 'NO' doesn't mean 'YES'.

The foolishness of one's actions or words is determined by the number of witnesses.

Perhaps if Brains were described as an APP, many people would use them more often.

Respect, like money, is only of 'worth' when it is earned - with all due respect, it can not be ordained, legislated or coerced. Anonymous
Message 64 of 188
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Re: Major privacy and security issue with eBay

One can learn something in one life and often it seems to carry over into another - like caring for members of the 'knife and gun club' in ICU.

Not saying 'NO' doesn't mean 'YES'.

The foolishness of one's actions or words is determined by the number of witnesses.

Perhaps if Brains were described as an APP, many people would use them more often.

Respect, like money, is only of 'worth' when it is earned - with all due respect, it can not be ordained, legislated or coerced. Anonymous
Message 65 of 188
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Re: Major privacy and security issue with eBay


@sodium419 wrote:

Private listings (according to eBay):

 

"Allow buyers to remain anonymous to other eBay users"

"Keep bidder and buyer identities hidden from the public."

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/listings/listing-tips/private-listings?id=4161

 

Says nothing about privacy for the seller.  Only bidders and buyers.


Well this is obvious - Sellers have listings - people need to see the items listed to buy them or there is no point in a seller being here, so how do you expect eBay to keep the seller's items private ???

 

Rather than stress yourself, just let us sellers worry about these terrible things that may happen and we can decide for ourselves if the risk is worth it.

 

 

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I have been imported from Australia and this is my posting ID
Message 66 of 188
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Re: Major privacy and security issue with eBay

"share your feedback with the "appropriate team."

...where it goes nowhere. 

lol 

Message 67 of 188
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Re: Major privacy and security issue with eBay


@gracieallen01 wrote:

One can learn something in one life and often it seems to carry over into another - like caring for members of the 'knife and gun club' in ICU.


I hear ya, I caught one of my patients doing a line of coke at his **bleep** table

( nurses abbreviate alot, means bed side (**bleep**)

Your my hero!

Message 68 of 188
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Re: Major privacy and security issue with eBay

perhaps you best be prepared for an increase in fees for all this security you expect eBay to provide ...

eBay has enough glitches, please don't ask for ways for eBay to create more glitches and make a worse mess of things...

everything eBay does/changes has consequences...

Message 69 of 188
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Re: Major privacy and security issue with eBay


@pikabo-icu wrote:

Round and round we go

Lot's of solutions but you keep saying NO

 

Me thinks you don't really want a fix for this..


It's starting to have many of the earmarks of the thread asking whether eBay is FDIC insured . . . OP presents a non-existent problem, no other serious poster takes up the cause, everyone else points out either solutions to or fallacies in the OP's proposal. OP rejects all solutions, becomes argumentative, knowing better than all the other long-term, well respected sellers participating in the thread.

 

I'm hoping this is not going to be a new Community trend.

Message 70 of 188
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Re: Major privacy and security issue with eBay

Yeah I agree. That FDIC thing really P me off! 

Message 71 of 188
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Re: Major privacy and security issue with eBay

It is oddly similar.

 

A trend we could do without.  Lol


....... "The Ranger isn't gonna like it Yogi"......... Boo-Boo knew what he was talking about!


Posting ID Only.......
Yes, I have no Bananas, only Flamethrowers.......
Message 72 of 188
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Re: Major privacy and security issue with eBay

@silverstatetreasureboxes 

 

Ah, I didn't start out in medical, but it does seem that we all end up paying our dues, one way or another, and sometimes it is going from one purgatory to another.

Not saying 'NO' doesn't mean 'YES'.

The foolishness of one's actions or words is determined by the number of witnesses.

Perhaps if Brains were described as an APP, many people would use them more often.

Respect, like money, is only of 'worth' when it is earned - with all due respect, it can not be ordained, legislated or coerced. Anonymous
Message 73 of 188
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Re: Major privacy and security issue with eBay

What about the 81 year old who turned out to be the young techy dude. 

Message 74 of 188
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Re: Major privacy and security issue with eBay

Just lately I find myself doubting any thread topic and waiting to see other responses first, how sad is that?

 

I actually second guess my answers at times thinking is this another click bait thread?

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I have been imported from Australia and this is my posting ID
Message 75 of 188
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