In short
Most common fake: Urgent or threatening emails telling you to act quickly on your account.
Safest check: Check Messages in My eBay; if eBay sent the message, a copy will appear there too.
Where to report it: Forward suspicious emails as an attachment to spoof@ebay.com, then delete them.
What eBay says
eBay says it will never ask you for confidential information such as your password or card details, will not use threatening language, and will not include attachments in its emails. Source: eBay
Common fake eBay messages
These are the 5 shapes a fake eBay message usually takes. They are listed in the order we see them most often, and none of them is something eBay itself does.
- Urgent or threatening emails telling you to act quickly on your account
- Generic greetings such as Attention eBay member
- Links to lookalike web addresses such as signin-ebay style domains
- Requests for full card numbers, PINs or passwords
- Phone calls claiming to be eBay asking for account details
eBay's real web addresses
Genuine eBay links and emails use these domains. Look at the part just before the first single slash: ebay.com is real, but ebay-support-center.com or ebay.com.account-check.top are not.
- ebay.com
Scammers can also hide a fake link behind real-looking text. Learn how to read a web address.
How to check a eBay message safely
- Check Messages in My eBay; if eBay sent the message, a copy will appear there too
- Type the eBay address into your browser yourself instead of using a link
- Look carefully at the web address for misspellings or extra words
How to report a fake eBay message
- Forward suspicious emails as an attachment to spoof@ebay.com, then delete them. Official details on ebay.com
Also report it to the official fraud service in your country. See the worldwide list.
If you clicked, paid or shared details
Act quickly. It makes a difference.
- If you entered card or bank details, call your bank now using the number on your card, and ask them to block the card.
- If you entered a password, change it at ebay.com, typed into your browser yourself, and turn on two-step verification. Do not use any link from the message.
- Expect follow-up calls or messages pretending to help, sometimes claiming to be from eBay security. Never share one-time codes and never move money to a "safe account".
- Forward suspicious emails as an attachment to spoof@ebay.com, then delete them, then delete the message.
More help: Marketplace buyer and seller scams and what to do after a scam.
How to protect yourself next time
Watch for anyone using your identity
If you shared ID documents, card details or a Social Security number, monitoring can alert you when someone opens credit or accounts in your name.
Free: In the US, a credit freeze at Equifax, Experian and TransUnion is free and blocks most new-credit fraud. Elsewhere, ask your bank and your credit reference agency about fraud alerts.
- Aura Partner link US identity theft protection with credit monitoring and fraud insurance.
Keep security software with web protection on your devices
It blocks many known scam and malware websites and warns about dangerous apps. That matters most if you installed an app or "support" tool someone asked you to.
Free: Keep your phone and browser updated, and leave Google Play Protect or Microsoft Defender switched on. Both are free.
- Bitdefender Partner link Security suite for phone and computer with web and scam protection.
Compare the tools that help, and what each costs
Links marked Partner link may earn us a commission, at no cost to you. It never changes our advice, and the free option always comes first. Affiliate disclosure.
Questions people ask
Does eBay send messages asking for payment or personal details?
eBay says it will never ask you for confidential information such as your password or card details, will not use threatening language, and will not include attachments in its emails.
How can I check if a eBay message is real?
Check Messages in My eBay; if eBay sent the message, a copy will appear there too. Type the eBay address into your browser yourself instead of using a link. Look carefully at the web address for misspellings or extra words.
How do I report a fake eBay message?
Forward suspicious emails as an attachment to spoof@ebay.com, then delete them.
I clicked a link in a fake eBay message but did not enter anything. Am I at risk?
Opening a link is far less serious than filling one in. Close it, and if you need your account, reach it by typing ebay.com yourself. Clicking does tell the sender your number is live, so expect more messages for a while: forward suspicious emails as an attachment to spoof@ebay.com, then delete them.
Have you had this one?
Tell other people what the message said and how it reached you. It helps someone recognise it before they tap.
No stories yet. Yours could be the one that warns someone.
Official sources and further reading
We check our pages against official advice from the organisations themselves and from government agencies.