Most eBay sellers are honest, but when something goes wrong, eBay gives buyers several ways to report a problem. The right option depends on what happened: a problem with an order, a suspicious listing, or a seller trying to take the deal off eBay. Here is how to report a seller on eBay in each case.
If there is a problem with your order
For items that didn’t arrive or don’t match the listing, don’t start with a report. Start with a request, which keeps you covered by the eBay Money Back Guarantee.
- Go to your Purchase history and find the order.
- Choose I didn’t receive it or Return this item if it isn’t as described.
- Give the seller time to respond, usually up to three business days.
- If the seller doesn’t fix it, ask eBay to step in and help.
If a listing looks wrong
On the listing page, select Report this item. You can report counterfeit or prohibited items, misleading descriptions, keyword spamming and listings that break eBay’s policies. eBay reviews reports and can remove listings or restrict sellers.
If a seller asks you to pay outside eBay
Offers to complete a sale outside eBay are against eBay’s rules and are a common scam. Don’t pay, and report the message using the report option in your eBay messages. Payments made outside eBay aren’t covered by the Money Back Guarantee.
If a seller harasses or threatens you
Report the message from your eBay inbox, and contact eBay customer service through the Help pages for serious cases.
Leave honest feedback
After the transaction, feedback helps other buyers. Stick to facts about the item, shipping and communication.
For sellers: avoid reports
- Describe items accurately, including flaws, with clear photos.
- Ship within your handling time. See how long eBay sellers have to ship.
- Answer messages quickly and resolve problems before buyers open a request.
- Never ask buyers to pay outside eBay.
Questions people ask
Will the seller know I reported them?
Reports of listings and messages are handled by eBay. Requests about an order, such as item not received, are visible to the seller, because they need to respond.
What happens after I report a seller?
eBay reviews the report and decides on any action. It doesn’t always share the outcome, but it can remove listings, limit selling or suspend accounts.
More in our eBay guides.
Sources: eBay Help on reporting listings and members, the Money Back Guarantee and off-eBay transactions, checked November 2026.