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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.

Message 1 of 188
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Major privacy and security issue with eBay


@sodium419 wrote:

Where can you find the completed listings?  Even more concern of a security/privacy problem.


The fastest way, from here, is to click on "View Listings" next to the feedback number on that's beneath your name, to to the right of your avatar.  On the page that comes up, click on Completed Listings in the menu on the left-hand side of the page.

 

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Message 31 of 188
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Major privacy and security issue with eBay

My guess is that you're also not selling $100k watches.

Message 32 of 188
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Major privacy and security issue with eBay


@caldreamer wrote:

You do realize that you name and return address is on the label when you ship the item.   Never had a problem with customer hunting me down to rob me.

 

Life is a gamble...


And anyone with any security or privacy concerns uses a Post Office Box, anyhow.  No street address.  Problem solved.

 

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Message 33 of 188
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Major privacy and security issue with eBay

Not really acceptable for eBay to force everyone to have a PO box when they could simply add a checkbox.

Message 34 of 188
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Major privacy and security issue with eBay


@sodium419 wrote:

Not really acceptable for eBay to force everyone to have a PO box when they could simply add a checkbox.


eBay isn't forcing anything..

That's your own paranoia.. Most of us are just fine the way it is. 

~Pika~
People in life that are the happiest don't have the most,, they make the most of what they have...

Message 35 of 188
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Major privacy and security issue with eBay

BUT if that is the only solution to your problem, then it is acceptable. 

Message 36 of 188
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Major privacy and security issue with eBay

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.

Message 37 of 188
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Major privacy and security issue with eBay


@sodium419 wrote:

Not really acceptable for eBay to force everyone to have a PO box when they could simply add a checkbox.


One final comment:   I envy anyone whose life is so easy, so comfortable, so secure, so free of pain and loss, that he has to fuss about problems he makes up in his own mind to fulfill his "worry" quota for the day.  Bless your heart.

 

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Message 38 of 188
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Major privacy and security issue with eBay

To be clear, I'm not really concerned for myself.  I think it could be a huge problem for others and a security hole that eBay should patch.

Message 39 of 188
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Major privacy and security issue with eBay

The solution is for eBay to add a feature to hide items sold and still show feedback.

Message 40 of 188
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Major privacy and security issue with eBay

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..

~Pika~
People in life that are the happiest don't have the most,, they make the most of what they have...

Message 41 of 188
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Major privacy and security issue with eBay

It doesn't sound like anyone is jumping on your band wagon. SOOOO, that's not going to happen. 

Message 42 of 188
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Major privacy and security issue with eBay

I'm exposing a privacy and security issue for eBay to patch by showing how it could be used criminally.  And I appreciate your envy.

Message 43 of 188
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Major privacy and security issue with eBay

I do want a fix, and it's quite simple, eBay add a switch to hide items sold but still show the feedback.  Haven't I made that perfectly clear?  I also haven't seen any realistic fixes.  Everyone use a PO box or don't use eBay really are not solutions.  Do you have some solution you're hiding that you'd like to share?

Message 44 of 188
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Major privacy and security issue with eBay

Not trying to convince anyone, posted for eBay to patch privacy and security issues.

Message 45 of 188
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