Recognising phishing phone calls and emails

Scammers may impersonate well-known companies via email, phone or text message, in the hope that recipients will provide confidential information (including passwords or bank or credit card details) and/or download malicious software.

If a message demands you take immediate action, includes attachments or links, asks you for personal information or promises a deal that is too good to be true, you should be cautious. This may include a request for wire transfers to overseas accounts, the purchase of prepaid cards, or cryptocurrency. Don't click on links that come from people you don't know, and don't respond.

Phishing phone calls

eBay is unlikely to make unannounced calls to you about your account.

If you receive a missed call from someone purporting to be from eBay, do not call the number back.

If you're unsure whether the request was genuine or not, check your eBay Messages - opens in new window or tab as we will have also sent you an email.

Email phishing attempts

A phishing email pretending to be from eBay typically contains a link that takes you to a fake website. There, you'll be asked to sign in, and submit personal and account information.

These emails often include the eBay logo and a fake eBay address in the "From" line.

Here are some typical traits of phishing scams:

• Asking for confidential information
• An urgent or threatening tone that asks you to act quickly
• Unsolicited attachments
• A generic greeting, like "Attention eBay member"
• A web address that looks like eBay, but which may have a typo or extra numbers and letters (like http://signin-ebay.co.uk )

Report a phishing phone call or email 

If you receive a suspicious phone call or email, you should report it to us immediately. Here's how:

Suspicious phone call

1. Tell the caller that you'll call back through official eBay contact channels. If you missed the call, do not call the number back.
2. Email ebay at spoof@ebay.co.uk with details of what the caller asked for, and the phone number they called from. 

Suspicious email

1. Don't click any links in the email or open any attachments.
2. Forward the message to ebay as an attachment at spoof@ebay.co.uk.

We'll let you know that we received the email.

Recognising legitimate contacts from eBay

If we need to contact you about your account, you can expect the following:

• Ebay will never ask you to provide confidential information like your password or credit card details
• Ebay will only include links for convenience. No link will require you to submit confidential information on the next page
• We won't include attachments. If you receive an unsolicited email with an attachment, don't open it
• We'll never use threatening language
• We'll always send a copy of any important messages to your eBay Messages - opens in new window or tab