I want to report a buyer because I’m sure he’s a scammer, eBay help is useless

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Summary: gabi---1982 expressed concerns about a buyer they suspect to be a fraudster, noting that the eBay help resources have not been helpful in resolving the issue.

Hello,

I’m not really getting anywhere with the “report buyer” function. I can’t report what I want to report there. The eBay help isn’t much use here either, and the automated chatbot isn’t exactly clever.

The buyer bought an item from me, and now that I can see the delivery address, it all seems a bit odd to me.

The buyer’s account was only opened on 29/05/2026 - he has one positive rating so far, but when you click on it, two are shown from a commercial eBay seller with well over 100,000 ratings.

The first name in the delivery address has an obvious typo in it, so e.g. it says “Madien” instead of “Madlen” - so a small “i” like Ida instead of a small “l” like Ludwig.

If I correct that for the shipping label, I could be accused of having used the wrong address.

Also, the item is supposed to be sent to a post office branch, but the delivery address is not filled out correctly; where the phone number should be, he / she has only typed “102030”.

I suspect that this is meant to make one think that “102030” is supposed to be the postal number. But I believe that even if the postal number has to be 6 to 10 digits, “102030” does not exist.

I think the buyer is trying to scam me.

I want to report this, but I don’t know the best way. I will cancel the sale one way or another. Shipping would have to be done by 10/06.

Thank you very much

Best regards

Gabi

gabi---1982

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Posted 2 months ago·Last reply 2 months ago

6 comments

nina@ebay

Mentor2 months ago

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@gabi---1982 Hey. 🙂 I’d be happy to take a look at that. As @perfect-sally already correctly mentioned, you can cancel the purchase if you suspect fraud.

Unfortunately, there’s no option here to report the buyer based on a suspicion.

Best regards,

Nina

gabi---1982

OP2 months ago

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Hello,

I will definitely not report a buyer for something that isn’t true. In principle, I don’t use functions that aren’t meant for the purpose and objective I see at the respective place.

As already written, there are these options:

1. The buyer demanded something that was not included in the original offer

2. The buyer abused the return process

3. The buyer contacted me or withdrew the bid without the intention of buying the item

All three are, as already written, miles away from what happened here.

The buyer is trying a scam here and I want to report exactly that, but I can’t, what kind of nonsense is that? Up to now, I had at least assumed that ebay is also interested in keeping the marketplace clean. So why can’t I report such fraudulent behavior?

By the way, your answers and arguments haven’t really helped so far, and when a user here in the help section quotes another one and says everything has already been said, that is neither helpful nor motivating nor to the point.

It would also have been nice if someone had addressed my arguments. I feel just as stupid here as if I were standing at some office. Whether it’s the local council office or the district office wouldn’t matter. Nowadays you look for and ask for help no matter where, and on the right questions you only get the wrong information or are treated like you’re stupid because you ask the right questions. Or you end up with people from generations who hold positions in offices where they’re supposed to help people. Instead, some of these, I have to say it as it is, incompetent and stupid people make decisions that can have, in part, existence-threatening consequences for the person on the other side who needs help. These are people I assume can’t even manage their own household because they forget the toilet paper when shopping.

Anyway, I’m here at

- ebay Germany -> Help from the Community -> Members helping members and not at the office.

Haven’t received any help so far, too bad.

And even if there’s no solution in sight for my specific problem, which is really a shame but also incomprehensible... maybe I have the wrong expectations, no idea... I maybe expected more human answers.

BTW, I’m definitely not the only seller this happens to, and you’d think the more experienced users here, who have heard of such scams more often, would know. And then answers like "Oh yes, that’s a scam, they keep trying it this way, best to report and block the buyer and cancel the sale with the following settings, then you can be sure nothing will happen to you, neither legally nor in terms of feedback" etc.

Regards

Gabi

gabi---1982

OP2 months ago

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Hello,

thanks for the quick reply.

Primarily I want to report the buyer, though!

In addition, cancel the purchase. If I even still need to do that... Because if ebay blocks or deletes the account because (at least) I reported the buyer then I don’t need to cancel the purchase.

At this point I “love” this other site where ebay used to be, you report fraudulent activity and they check it right away. I’ve already reported a lot of fraudulent listings (and thus accounts too) and in 95% of cases immediate action was taken AND I always got feedback!!

If I want to use the drop-down menu I can choose:

1. The buyer requested something that was not included in the original offer

2. The buyer misused the return process

3. The buyer contacted me or withdrew the bid without the intention of buying the item

That is all miles away from what happened here. I just want to "report fraudulent behavior".

One more question, what am I supposed to write when I describe fraudulent behavior?

Deception, manipulation, bad faith, fraud... ?

Thanks

Kind regards

Gabi

perfect-sally

Mentor2 months ago

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Because of your report, no seller will definitely be suspended! And I don't believe that you ever got any feedback from eBay on any reports; that doesn't match eBay's procedure if anything is done at all.

Unfortunately, there is no report option for fraudulent behavior, so your report probably wouldn't bring anything anyway.

At the very least, I wouldn't publicly accuse other users of fraud or label them as fraudsters. Whether someone is a fraud is decided by the judge in their ruling.

On the contrary, such a person, as written, can cause you significant and expensive problems if they take legal action against it.

perfect-sally

Mentor2 months ago

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Next to each article there is a drop down menu where you can also find "Report buyer".

And I would definitely cancel the purchase too, with the reason that something is wrong with the address, and put the buyer straight on the block list.

And please don’t always immediately write fraud or scammer in public. That can really backfire big time if the person affected takes action against you!

voli-maus

Mentor2 months ago

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@perfect-sally wrote:
Next to each item there is a drop down menu where you can also find "Report buyer".
And I would definitely cancel the purchase too, on the grounds that something is wrong with the address, and put the buyer straight on the block list.
And please don’t always write fraud or scammer in public right away. That can really backfire if the person affected takes action against you!

Exactly like that, and not otherwise, @gabi---1982 .

@perfect-sally has already described exactly how one should act in such a case.

There’s no messing around.