Fake eBay Extended Warranty and Buyer-Protection Upgrade Scam
Fraudsters contact eBay buyers claiming their purchased item qualifies for an extended warranty or enhanced buyer protection, then collect fees for coverage that does not exist.
Part of: Fake Extended Warranty Scams
Last reviewed: 7 June 2026
After a successful eBay purchase, scammers sometimes reach out to buyers — by email or even through eBay's own messaging system if they have a seller account — offering an 'extended warranty' or 'eBay Certified Buyer Protection upgrade' for the item just purchased. The offer feels timely and plausible because the buyer has indeed just made a transaction.
eBay does offer a Money Back Guarantee that is automatically applied to eligible purchases at no extra charge. It does not sell separately priced warranty extensions or post-purchase protection upgrades. Any communication offering to sell you additional protection for an eBay purchase is not coming from eBay itself.
The scam collects an upfront fee — often via gift card, wire transfer, or a payment app — and vanishes. Victims discover the warranty is worthless when they try to make a claim and find no record of the coverage with eBay.
How this scam works on the eBay brand
The approach often arrives as a follow-up email after a purchase, formatted to look like eBay communications. It lists the item you bought, the purchase price, and offers a warranty plan at a 'special discounted rate'. A link leads to a fake eBay warranty portal that collects payment details.
In some cases the outreach comes directly through eBay's messaging system from a newly created or hijacked seller account, lending it apparent legitimacy. The seller claims they have partnered with a warranty provider and can offer the buyer extended coverage.
A variant targets buyers of used electronics or vehicles: a fake eBay 'protection officer' calls to explain the item has known issues and offers a refund if the buyer purchases a warranty through a specific site. The site is fraudulent, no refund materialises, and the warranty fee is lost.
Common red flags
- Post-purchase outreach offering a paid warranty — eBay's Money Back Guarantee is free and automatic
- Payment for the warranty requested via gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency
- The 'eBay warranty portal' URL is not ebay.com
- Caller claims to be from 'eBay Warranty Department' — no such department contacts buyers by phone to sell add-on coverage
- Pressure to act quickly before the warranty window closes
- Message sent through eBay's messaging system but from an account with no transaction history or very recent creation
How to protect yourself
- Understand that eBay's Money Back Guarantee already protects eligible purchases at no cost — check the terms at ebay.com/ebay-money-back-guarantee
- Never pay for a post-purchase warranty offered through an unsolicited message
- If you want extended protection for an item, contact the manufacturer directly or your credit card issuer (many cards include purchase protection)
- Report any suspicious messages received via eBay's Message Centre by clicking the 'Report' button
- Do not click links in post-purchase emails from senders you do not recognise; verify your order status by logging into ebay.com directly
How to report it
- Report suspicious eBay messages using the 'Report' button inside eBay's Message Centre
- Forward phishing emails to [email protected]
- Report to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov (US) or Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk (UK)
- If you paid, contact your payment provider or bank to attempt a reversal
Frequently asked questions
Does eBay offer an extended warranty I can purchase?
eBay does not sell separate extended warranty products. Its Money Back Guarantee is automatically included with eligible purchases. Any offer to sell you a warranty in eBay's name is fraudulent.
I received a warranty offer through eBay's own messaging system — could it be real?
No. Scammers sometimes use hijacked or newly created seller accounts to send messages through eBay's internal system to appear credible. eBay will never use the messaging system to solicit warranty purchases from buyers.