SCAMMERS?

[thestoriedpast]

Hello! I have been selling on ebay for approx 6 weeks. Just about every time I list i receive an offer, usually at the same price I'm selling at.  Initially I accepted the offers and was sent a message from the supposed buyer to send a number they could text me at.  I have always refused.  Then i realized my item was being held up until their time alotted to pay had run out.  I started to click on their sites and most dont exist anymore.  so, if I ignore these offers or decline the offers, is that hurting me?  Anybody know why this is happening and what i can do to stop it?  Any help is VERY much appreciated!

[mtgraves7984]

Ignoring and/or declining the offers is your best tack. It's happening because you're new and there's nothing you can do to stop them. Remain diligent. Good luck.

[magic_mousee]

Hello

Its be good declining the offers ,that is my opinion, look for other replies and do the best thing

good luck

happy selling 

[creativecrisis]

I suggest that you take the best offer off all your listings, and avoid running auctions. Set your listings for Buy It Now with immediate payment required. That way, a buyer will need to pay before taking your item off the market.

Good for you for catching the scam attempts! Never communicate with buyers outside the eBay message system. Put those usernames on your Blocked Buyers List.

[eye_of_the_tiger]

Hi @thestoriedpast ,

These “scammers” you are talking about- they are scammers. Why would they put in an offer at the buy it now price? Did you put the “required payment” on? If you did, nice job! Then you can go (if you want) and put your item(s) at the lowest price you are willing to accept, then remove the  offer button. Either way, I’d say remove the offer button.

[luckythewinner]

 if I ignore these offers or decline the offers, is that hurting me

Nope. 

Anybody know why this is happening

It happens because it costs a scammer nothing to attempt a scam. 

and what i can do to stop it?

You can try to slow it down by removing Best Offer from your listings if you can. But there is nothing you can do to stop a buyer from making an offer. 

[vintage-camerastuff]

Remove "best offer" for all of your listings.  You may want to lower your prices to be more competitive.   List all you items with immediate payment required.   That should keep the scammers away.  If they contact you with offers just ignore them.

[erkosuniverse]

It will not hurt you at all to decline offers,All of us sellers do this,so you are fine there

Scammers attempt this on everyone as well from time to time

Do set up your "blocked buyer bidder list",you can then enter their I.D. and block them

Sounds like you are doing the right thing keeping your eyes open,and being proactive

Best of luck and give things time as you are a new seller,things will get better for you

[7794heather]

Ive been on ebay 15+ years. I have high enough feedback that Im not a "new" seller. I had a few of these "scammers " attempt this of late. Everyone is prone to it. Just have to be on the defensive and take it for what its worth. They will also message you asking if you would take more for the item. Then they will ask for your phone # to message you outside ebay (against ebay policy) and ask you to buy gift cards. 

You were right to come here and ask. I did when it first happened because I hadnt come upon this before so I questioned it. It was like the gates of h e l l opened up and it was go time for these scammers. 

Immediately decline offer, copy and paste that person into your blocked buyers list and hope it sells to someone legit. 

[bearswatching]

Anytime you see the word text, block and ignore. The ONLY reason for that is to send you fake, but very real looking message that says you have been paid. Google eBay scams and educate yourself!

[vintagecraze50]

Since the dawn of this website there have those who try to prey on especially newer seller who they figure do not have a clue what they are doing and attempt to steal from you by saying they want you to text them blah and more blah. You NEVER under any circumstances do ANY transaction off this website, their payment system etc, Report their user I’d, oh they will open another account for sure, after they are kicked off. Block the user ID, AND TAKE THE BEST offer off your listing. Sell it buy it now. They tend to not waste their precious time on those.