What step(s) is Ebay making in reducing fraud accounts?

[robbypoison]

First off how is there not a general "fraud/security" forum topic...?!

I'm very curious what steps Ebay is making/plans to make in regards to reducing the amount of fraud accounts, especially after selling an item & getting bogus phishing messages to ship to a new address...this has been happening multiples times over this last year & doesn't seem to be getting any better...

Does anyone else have this same issue...?

[robbie31415]

Any stricter guidelines would make it harder for legitimate new accounts being created. If the process becomes harder people would probably default back to the marketplace they normally use.

You use the report and block functions that eBay has provided you.

[heckofagame]

If you are not falling for the fraud attempts, then the program is working. 

[ckimodog]

@robbypoison 

Hi

As far as any of us here know, eBay hasn't really announced any plans concerning multiple accounts.  Grant it, I agree with you.  It's too easy to be suspended for fraudulent activity only to create another account and do the same thing over again.  It's not fair to the sellers or the good buyers.  What you can do is Stop with the auctions and the best offers.  That's why you are being targeted.  Sell your items at a fixed buy it now price, immediate payment required and NO best offers.  I think you will find that you will have less of these types taking up your time.  You obviously are smart enough to recognize the scams, nip it in the bud.  Buy it now.  You'll see more money coming your way that you don't have to chase.

Happy Selling and Good luck to you

[hartungcards]

eBay is waiting for someonbe to list a refurbished Fraud-O-Meter at a reasonable price.  With free shipping.

[robbypoison]

What program? @heckofagame 

[heckofagame]

@robbypoison   The vigilant seller program. It falls on us to not be taken by fraudsters. 

There is really no way to prevent fraud. Methods come and go, but if someone is determined to steal from you, they will find a way. 

[stuff4divas]

@robbypoison  report fraud here>  https://www.ebay.com/help/buying/working-sellers/seller-fraud?id=4024

and if u c a listing that looks fraudulent, click on the 'report' button

[robbypoison]

I get that! Just figured eBay as the hosting platform has a duty to protect its users better than a free or public marketplace like Craigslist…or at least protect their own reputation before more users become frustrated and look elsewhere. This is coming from a seller who’s been here from the beginning of eBay.

[rugerskick]

Heres why any excuse ebay gives is **bleep**.

If they ban a seller, they ban them from the site.  Account is closed.  Any associated accounts are often also closed.  If you try to create an account again they scan the info and if its connected to a banned account, they ban that account.  Its obvious they clearly have this ability.  They apply it to sellers all the time.

How about applying it to fraudulent buyers?  Most of it is automatic anyway.

[eburtonlab]

How about applying it [banning] to fraudulent buyers?

Even if eBay required valid ID from every buyer to open or keep an account, that still would not stop scammers from hijacking existing user accounts and using those for scamming.

[fashunu4eeuh]

eBay does not share its security measures, nor discuss them with sellers and buyers. They keep the lid on tightly so as not give scammers a chance to circumvent their procedures.

Do not expect them to protect you from fraud. It is up to each seller to guard their own interests. Buyers, on the other hand, do have significant protections from fraud.

[lakefor94]

Doubt that eBay would do more for sellers at this point.  Like another poster stated and I do the same, Buy It Now with Immediate Payment cuts down on scams. Scammers also avoid TRS's who accept returns or sellers that have Free returns. Sellers need to learn the ropes and how to work within the system. 

ebay needs to do more for buyers. The fake tracking scams run amuck with NO help for buyers other than the buyer having to do all the foot work with the carriers in order to appeal. This is pitiful.

Then there are the sellers that run the buyers around about return labels trying to push them past the return window.  Buyers have to contact ebay to get that crap straightened out.

Ebay needs to run these sellers off the platform.

It is the buyers that need ebay's attention, not the sellers. 

[gurlcat]

Agree 100% about scammers avoiding sellers who accept returns especially free ones. It's just a shame that so many sellers think the opposite is true, that it would make them more vulnerable to fraud.  
I'm returning an item right now, that if I wanted I could have had for free, because the seller had no returns and didn't know what do do with an INAD, so of course he was notably ticked off at me, but I just gently guided him through it, feeling kinda bad for him but this item is no good, lol.  At one point he said he'd never had a return before, but that was clear already.  If I hadn't nudged him past "I"m not refunding you til you send it back!" and "You have my address, it's right on the package", because he didn't know he needed to choose a return label option and send it to me .... I could have just sat pretty for 3 days and then asked ebay to "step in."  
But I don't understand what you mean about sellers giving buyers the runaround in that way.  The message from ebay says right on it, if the seller doesn't give you a return label you can ask us to step in, beginning (date).   

[toomuchstuffagain35]

A long long time ago in an ebay far far away...there used to be a Safe Harbor board, later changed to Trust & Safety. But that quietly vanished one day.

Heck there was even a Seller Protection board for a very very brief moment in ebay board history. The dedicated Seller Protection team was very good, so that didn't last long.