Ebay Easy Returns Pilot - Is it real? BEWARE

[c.insp.morse]

I bought an item yesterday, and then this morning I received an email purporting to be from Ebay, ofering me the option to use an 'easy return' pilot scheme to return the itme for a full refund without needing to contact the seller.

There is no mention of this pilot schem on Ebay.

Needless to say, I did not click the link, and I sent the email to spoof@ebay.co.uk.

1) If it is real, then EBAY, you really need to make a clear page on your site, as I will NEVER click links in an email.

2) If it is a scam, which seems more likely, then how are the scammers getting the order number, my email address, the price paid, and all the item description? Is the scammer an employee that can see invoices as they pass through the system?

I don't believe my account has been hacked, but somoe having access to the purchase details is concering me, and it would be good to know that this is being investigated.

BEWARE if you receive one of these emails, and if you do want to return an itme, I strongly suggest you use the normal system on Ebay, NOT one that is offered in an email. 

[john1297576]

Whether real or not,the email should also come via Messages, I think it is a bit much to even push a return system to a buyer before they even have their purchase. Returns at the moment can be started without involving the seller!! About 50 % of the questions on here involve returns/refunds, changing the systems will not improve this, it will make it worse. Educating Buyers and Sellers into using the proper procedures is what is needed.

[c.insp.morse]

I agree.
I am quite happy wioth my item and in any case I would never click on a link in an email. I would use the system that exists on the Ebay site.

But more importantly I wanted to warn anyone else that they should think twice before trusting this, as there is no reference to it that I can find, on Ebay's site.

[redwick1]

Has the message come through ebay messages.

I believe there is a trial on Easy returns but I can not at the moment find the information

There was another post about this a few days ago

As you say it is up to the buyer and they can go through the normal channels

[c.insp.morse]

Thanks for the reply.

No, the message did not arrive through EBay messages.

If there is genuinely a trial, then Ebay should know better than this - instead of sending a link in an email, they should ask us to go to Ebay and click on a clearly visible link from there.

*IF* it is genuine, it is irresponsible these days to send emails expecting anyone with any security sense to trust it enough to click on a link.

[redwick1]

You are right that any ebay policy should be clearly shown
I found this link to a discussion on the Ebay Community about easy returns
There is more if you want to google it

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Archive-Shipping-Returns/Pilot-return-program/td-p/26217168

[arkwebus]

While I have no idea whether it's a scam but if you want to return something you do not need to contact the seller you simply go to the resolution centre and open a case.

You are in charge and it's all pretty automatic. 

@c.insp.morse