Fake eBay Bucks / eBay Partner Rewards Scam
Scammers impersonate eBay with fake eBay Bucks or partner-reward expiry notifications, directing victims to phishing pages that steal their eBay login and stored PayPal payment credentials.
Part of: Fake Loyalty Points Redemption Scams
Last reviewed: 8 June 2026
eBay previously offered a loyalty programme called eBay Bucks that awarded credits on qualifying purchases, and it continues to run promotional buyer-protection bonuses and partner credit-card rewards. Scammers exploit awareness of these real features — and the confusion around eBay Bucks' changed status — to send fake reward notifications.
Victims who are unsure whether their eBay Bucks or partner rewards balance is active are susceptible to urgent notifications claiming a credit is about to expire. The combination of plausible historical loyalty programme memory and the urgency of expiry creates a window in which the victim acts without verifying.
Ebay's current rewards and promotions are managed at ebay.com/myb/summary. Any email claiming a rewards balance that cannot be verified there is fraudulent. eBay will never ask you to click an external link and re-enter your PayPal or payment card details to claim an earned reward.
How this scam works on the eBay brand
The phishing email replicates eBay's colour scheme and header and states: 'Your eBay Bucks balance of $[amount] expires on [date] — redeem them before they are gone.' A 'Redeem Now' button leads to a fake eBay login page.
After credentials are captured, the scammer logs in to the victim's real eBay account and may drain any stored gift card balance, change the account email, or use the stored PayPal account to make purchases on eBay sellers controlled by accomplices.
A variant targets eBay buyers who have an eBay Mastercard, claiming a 'cardholder bonus' has been issued and can be redeemed via the email link. This harvests both eBay credentials and, on a second page, the credit card number.
Common red flags
- Email arrives from any domain other than '@ebay.com' or a verified eBay subdomain
- The reward balance quoted does not match what is visible in your eBay account at ebay.com/myb/summary
- You are asked to re-enter your PayPal or credit card details to claim a reward you already supposedly earned
- eBay Bucks was a legacy programme — a notification claiming an active eBay Bucks balance may be fictitious
- An expiry deadline of under 48 hours is used to prevent independent verification
- The sign-in page URL is not ebay.com
How to protect yourself
- Navigate directly to ebay.com/myb/summary to check your real reward or credit balance
- Enable two-factor authentication on your eBay account at ebay.com/help/account/two-step-verification
- Change your eBay and PayPal passwords immediately if you logged in through a suspicious email link
- Review your eBay account for any unauthorised purchases or account changes
- Report the phishing email to [email protected]
- Alert PayPal if stored payment details may have been accessed
How to report it
- Forward the phishing email to [email protected]
- Report to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov
- If your PayPal account was accessed, contact PayPal's resolution centre at paypal.com/disputes
- File with the IC3 at ic3.gov if financial loss occurred
Frequently asked questions
Is eBay Bucks still active?
eBay changed its loyalty programme structure. Check ebay.com/myb/summary or your account notifications for the current status of any active rewards. Any email claiming a specific eBay Bucks balance should be verified there before any action is taken.
Can a scammer use my eBay account to make purchases?
Yes. A compromised eBay account can be used to make purchases charged to stored PayPal or card payment methods, and to receive fraudulent payments from other compromised accounts. Change your password and review recent activity immediately if you suspect compromise.
How do I check for unauthorised activity on my eBay account?
Log in at ebay.com and go to 'My eBay > Activity > Purchase history' and 'Messages'. Review any unfamiliar purchases or messages. Contact eBay customer service immediately if you see anything suspicious.