Classified ads security risk

[10.20]

I've complained to ebay about the need to provide so much information when replying to a classified ad as this seems like a major security risk to me but they seem to have no idea what I'm talking about.

eg when reply to a vehicle ad in classified it ask me to send the seller my email address, phone number, full name and postcode (and fills it in automatically). Why does ebay think the seller needs all this? It's like punishment for replying to a classified ad. None of it is needed because the seller can reply via ebay messages as normal, I don't see why they need anything other than the messaging platform and your user name.

By collecting this information a scammer can collect enough information about ebay users to possibly attempt to steal accounts and target them with scams outside of ebay impersonating banks etc.

Why is ebay allowing /forcing this security loophole?

[roger_roger_over_and_nowt]

I don't like this either.Sometimes it's possible to look at sellers "other items" and contact them through another ad.

[roger_roger_over_and_nowt]

Another possibility ,if the seller has no other non "classified" listings, is to put one of their items in your watch list,click on their feedback page (find their feedback page 🙄) and at top right you will see "contact member".

Click on that and choose "this is not about an item" and proceed 🙃

[steveu19]

I agree, I think you should be very cautious about responding to a classified ad especially when there are so many fake ads at present and even more so when the seller is new and/or has little or no feedback

.  I have responded to one and have had such minimal (and odd) replies from the seller that I am now very suspicious so now regret having to give away all my data in this way.  Its a clever way to harvest data.