$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
eBay second-chance offer scam
A fake email claims you have received a second-chance offer on an eBay auction you lost, directing you to pay off-platform for an item the scammer never intends to ship.
“online shopping scam”
↑ 184%Key indicators
Estimated impact
$120
median reported loss
Typical range$24 – $1.2K
Recovery rate~40%
Annual reports370,000
Scam breakdown
1
After losing an auction, the underbidder receives an email claiming the winning bidder backed out and a second-chance offer is available.
2
The email directs payment outside of eBay's checkout system, bypassing buyer protections.
3
The scammer collects the money and never ships the item.
What to do first
Legitimate second-chance offers appear in your eBay Messages and are processed through eBay checkout.
Related terms
fake eBay second chanceeBay auction scameBay 2nd chance phishingOnline shopping scamseBaySurgingeBay buyersBargain huntersCollectorsOnline shoppersUnited StatesUnited KingdomCanadafake eBay second chanceeBay auction scam
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
James, 35, a ebay buyers, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate online shopping scams situation while using eBay. After losing an auction, the underbidder receives an email claiming the winning bidder backed out and a second-chance offer is available.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: The email directs payment outside of eBay's checkout system, bypassing buyer protections.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: The scammer collects the money and never ships the item.
The outcome
James realized something was wrong when offer arrives via email rather than through your ebay messages inbox. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Legitimate second-chance offers appear in your eBay Messages and are processed through eBay checkout. James's experience shows why offer arrives via email rather than through your ebay messages inbox and payment requested through wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency instead of ebay checkout are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Offer arrives via email rather than through your eBay Messages inbox
- Payment requested through wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency instead of eBay checkout
- The offer price seems too good relative to what the item sold for
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Legitimate second-chance offers appear in your eBay Messages and are processed through eBay checkout.
- ✓Never pay for an eBay item outside of eBay's official payment system.
- ✓Report suspicious second-chance offers to eBay at [email protected].
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- eBay has published official guidance warning buyers that legitimate second-chance offers are always sent through eBay's messaging system, not external email.
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Legitimate second-chance offers appear in your eBay Messages and are processed through eBay checkout.
- ✓Never pay for an eBay item outside of eBay's official payment system.
- ✓Report suspicious second-chance offers to eBay at [email protected].
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
eBay has published official guidance warning buyers that legitimate second-chance offers are always sent through eBay's messaging system, not external email.
BBB Scam Tracker 2025
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. United States has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
ReportFraud.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Central U.S. consumer fraud reporting portal.
File an IC3 complaint
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI portal for internet-enabled crime reports.
Start identity theft recovery
IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. identity theft recovery plan builder.
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
eBay buyers, Bargain hunters, Collectors
Geographic concentration
United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia
Primary channel
eBay — Online shopping scams
Why this group is vulnerable
eBay buyers are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The rapid increase in reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- eBay has published official guidance warning buyers that legitimate second-chance offers are always sent through eBay's messaging system, not external email.
Source notes
- BBB Scam Tracker 2025
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about ebay second-chance offer scam
How does the ebay second-chance offer scam work?+
After losing an auction, the underbidder receives an email claiming the winning bidder backed out and a second-chance offer is available. The email directs payment outside of eBay's checkout system, bypassing buyer protections. The scammer collects the money and never ships the item.
What are the warning signs of ebay second-chance offer scam?+
Offer arrives via email rather than through your eBay Messages inbox Payment requested through wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency instead of eBay checkout The offer price seems too good relative to what the item sold for
What should I do if I encounter ebay second-chance offer scam?+
Legitimate second-chance offers appear in your eBay Messages and are processed through eBay checkout. Never pay for an eBay item outside of eBay's official payment system. Report suspicious second-chance offers to eBay at [email protected].
Who is most at risk for ebay second-chance offer scam?+
This scam primarily targets eBay buyers, Bargain hunters, Collectors. It is most commonly reported in United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and typically appears on eBay.
Is ebay second-chance offer scam getting worse?+
eBay second-chance offer scam is currently surging — reports are increasing rapidly. It has been reported across US, UK, CA, AU. Last updated 2026-04-04.
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Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.
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