eBay

sodium419 · ‎07-11-2021

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.

tajenn-2263 · ‎07-15-2021

Seems like you're trying to lay out a scheme to get away with a crime and want input on how to do it...

sodium419 · ‎07-16-2021

Nope, it's the previously sold expensive items that are currently hidden that I'd rather not advertise.

sodium419 · ‎07-16-2021

They're a deterrent, but are mostly not useful, not just in our situation, but in most, quite common knowledge.

sodium419 · ‎07-16-2021

I'm laying out a scheme to show the hole in the system. If I wanted to capitalize on it, I wouldn't want eBay to add a feature. However, those of you who are against an OPTIONAL privacy and security feature, are questionable to your motives (probably criminal).

reallynicestamps · ‎07-16-2021

You are getting responses from Australia and Canada.

We here in Canada don't even allow Americans to cross the border or pull up to a dock. And Canadians have to spend two weeks in quarantine. The Aussies are even more cautious.

I don't think you understand just how large the eBay market is.

In the short run, don't leave feedback. Only about 40% of transactions get any FB, and most of that is left by sellers, the equivalent of the supermarket cashier's "Have a nice day." and just as sincere.

itscalledapostingid · ‎07-16-2021

A major part of ebay's appeal is being able to see what sold and for how much so that's not going to change ever. It is also beneficial to the individual seller. It boosts their credibility. It's a good thing.

I know of a couple other sites that didn't have the feature of viewing sold items and they added it due to popular demand.

sin-n-dex · ‎07-16-2021

@maxine*j wrote:
@mtgraves7984 wrote:

... Yes, let's get back to Shakespeare's, "doth protest too much, methinks."

As someone might who do was setting up a bogus scenario for a bit of insurance fraud... Oh, someone looked at things I'd sold and realized I had valuable stuff and now they've broken in and stolen it and thank goodness I'm insured with you and... and...

=

1. Most people who commit insurance fraud are not very bright

2. Most people who commit insurance fraud get caught by the company insuring them

3. Most people who get away with it now get caught later and taken to court to repay

I've seen some pretty outrageous insurance claims. The best was the guy claiming half a million dollars in jewellery and gold bars stolen while on vacation. The agent asked how anyone knew he was gone, he said he hung a sign on his front door advising anyone coming by that he was gone for the week. (The dolt doesn't realize you need a special policy for that much value in gold and jewellery... it's not covered under regular household wares). Also the insurance company wants proof you owned it when you claimed it was stolen, so a receipt from the purchase, or photos if you wearing it usually suffice.

C.