The safety of eBay sellers is one of our top priorities. With that in mind, we have taken a number of steps to help ensure the security of your account.
Learn how to recognise and report spoof emails, websites and policy violations while familiarising yourself with the simple steps you can take to keep your account secure.
To keep your account secure, eBay recommends updating your password regularly. Choose a strong password that’s difficult for others to guess.
If you think your eBay account has been compromised or hacked, you should change the passwords for both your eBay account and personal email account. Your email password should be different from your eBay password.
To change your password:
Before you change the password on your eBay account, eBay can ask you to confirm your identity using email or text.
Attention: Remember to sign in with your new password in the eBay app as well.
To add an extra layer of security to your eBay account, eBay strongly recommends you enable 2 Step Verification. It takes seconds to set up and means only you can access your account, even if someone else has obtained your password.
Once you’ve switched on 2 Step Verification, each time you sign in to your account, you’ll be able to confirm your identity by entering a code eBay sends you by SMS.
To set up 2 Step Verification by SMS:
1. Sign in to your eBay account.
2. Go to your name in the upper left-hand corner and choose Account settings from the dropdown menu.
3. Select Personal Info > Sign in and security.
4 . Click Edit next to 2 step verification.
5. Select Get a text message.
6. Follow the on-screen prompts to add your mobile number.
If you change your mind and would like to switch 2 Step Verification off, simply follow the steps above to turn off the function. eBay will also send you an email to let you know when you’ve switched 2 Step Verification on or off.
It’s important to keep your contact information up-to-date to help eBay reach you quickly with any updates related to your account.
If you change your address or phone number or set up a new email address, please update your contact details as soon as possible so your account information remains correct.
To change your contact details:
And if you’ve only changed your registered name or address, just review your changes and select Update.*
* If your payouts are sent to a Payoneer account and you need to make any changes to Personal info (such as owner name, address, nationality, date of birth), go to Payoneer and make them on your Payoneer account. These changes made to your Payoneer account settings will typically be updated on eBay within 24 hours.
Spoof or “phishing” emails are emails that claim to be from eBay but instead are sent with the intent of accessing your passwords and other sensitive information. If you receive a suspicious email claiming to be from eBay, you should immediately forward the message to eBay at spoof@ebay.com.
Don’t click any links in the email or open any attachments. eBay will let you know that it received your email and will investigate.
A phishing email pretending to be from eBay typically contains a link that takes you to a fake website. There, you’ll usually 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. Pay attention to signs that the email might be a spoof.
Here are some typical traits of spoof emails and websites:
If you receive a legitimate email from eBay, you can expect that:
It’s a good idea to check My eBay and your preferences regularly to make sure no one has accessed your account or made changes without your permission.
Check your active bids and listings in My eBay to make sure they’re yours. If anything has changed without your authorisation, contact eBay.
Signs that your account has been taken over include seeing listings or bids that you didn’t make, or noticing that your password has been changed without your knowledge.
If you think someone is trying to take over your account, eBay may place a temporary hold on your account until control of it can be safely returned to you. eBay can also help you remove any unauthorised fraudulent bids or listings.
Whenever there is suspicious activity related to your account, it’s important to act quickly.
Changes to your password, contact information, or address details.
Bids, offers, or purchases that you didn’t make.
Listings that you didn’t create.
If you can still sign in, take the following steps:
If there’s been no fraudulent activity on your account, you don’t need to contact eBay.
If you can’t sign in to your account, contact eBay immediately.
To keep your account secure, eBay recommend changing your password regularly, keeping your contact information up-to-date, and watching for signs of spoof emails.
If you believe your eBay account has been compromised, it’s recommended that you change the password on your personal email account as well. Your email account password should be different from your eBay password. Contact eBay
