Empty box claims, false not as described cases, off-platform payment tricks, fake courier texts and chargebacks, with the evidence that wins a dispute.
Updated 6 October 2026
Before you start
Empty box claims, false not as described cases, off-platform payment tricks, fake courier texts and chargebacks, with the evidence that wins a dispute.
Most buyers are honest. A dishonest one counts on you having no proof of what went in the parcel. A two-minute packing video, a weight on the label and tracked postage close that gap.
Below are the scams UK sellers report most on Vinted, eBay and Whatnot, what each platform's help centre says, and the habits and kit that give you evidence.
Kit for this
The products this guide uses, with typical UK prices.
Overhead phone arm
Card and small-item shows sell on the shot of your hands. An overhead arm holds the phone steady and out of your way while you open packs.
Typical price£20 to £35
See on Amazon
30 kg digital postal scale
Covers the parcels most home sellers ship, up to 30 kg. Choose it when the 40 kg scale is out of stock.
Typical price£12 to £20
See on Amazon
Royal Mail Click & Drop
Imports orders from eBay, Etsy and other marketplaces, buys postage and prints to a thermal printer. Use it for the orders where you choose the courier; the platform labels its own.
Typical priceFree
Visit siteBrown packing tape, 48 mm x 66 m, 6 rolls
48 mm is the width tape guns take. Six rolls last a shop sending a few boxes a week for a few months.
Typical price£5 to £9
See on AmazonThe guide
Each step in the order you'll need it.
Empty box and missing item claims
A buyer says the parcel arrived empty or with the wrong thing inside. Without proof, the platform has your word against theirs.
Film the packing in one unbroken take: the item, its flaws, the item going in, the seal and the label. An overhead phone arm keeps both hands free and the whole desk in shot. Weigh the sealed parcel on a postal scale and photograph the reading. If the courier records the same weight, the buyer has little ground to argue.
Kit for this step
Not as described abuse
Some buyers claim a fault to return an item they changed their mind about, or send back a different, worn item. On Vinted, a buyer has 2 days from the delivery notice to report an issue, and the order is suspended while it is sorted.
eBay's seller protections let you report a buyer who files a false not as described request. eBay can remove related negative feedback and, for business sellers, may put up to £3.50 towards return postage. That help depends on an accurate listing. Photograph flaws, serial numbers and any marks before posting so you can match what comes back.
Off-platform payment scams
A buyer asks for your email, phone number or bank details, or offers to pay by bank transfer to skip fees. eBay bans offers to buy or sell outside eBay and sharing contact details before a sale. Vinted says payments made outside the Buy now button are not covered by its protection.
Keep every message and payment inside the app. A request to move the chat elsewhere is reason enough to stop replying and report the account.
Fake courier texts and QR codes
Scammers send texts or messages saying a parcel needs a fee, a new delivery slot or a payment confirmation, with a link or QR code to a fake page. Vinted says you don't need to leave Vinted to confirm a payment or receive an order.
Royal Mail says it does not ask for payment by text with a link. Forward scam texts free to 7726 and report fake Royal Mail messages to reportascam@royalmail.com. If you entered card details, call your bank first.
Chargebacks
A buyer can dispute a card payment with their bank after the platform deal is done. Vinted asks buyers to contact it before opening a chargeback, and a seller can dispute a claim within 14 days of the order being suspended. Whatnot handles payment disputes with banks itself.
Answer it with the same evidence: tracking that shows delivery, the packing video and the parcel weight.
Tracked postage and the eBay signature rule
Buy postage through the platform or Click & Drop so tracking links to the order. eBay's item not received protection asks for valid tracking uploaded before the estimated delivery date, and signature confirmation on orders of £450 or more.
Whatnot asks sellers to ship within two business days and keep photos of the item and packaging for a claim. Use the platform's tracked service instead of an untracked stamp.
Kit for this step
A ten-minute habit for every parcel
Photograph the item and its flaws. Film the pack and seal. Weigh the parcel and photograph the reading next to the label. Drop it off and keep the receipt.
Save the files in a folder named by order number for 60 days. If no claim comes in, delete them.
Checklist
Run through it before each one goes out.
- 1Photograph the item, flaws and any serial number
- 2Film packing and sealing in one take
- 3Weigh the sealed parcel and photograph the reading
- 4Use the platform's tracked label or Click & Drop
- 5Add signature on eBay orders of £450 or more
- 6Keep every message and payment inside the app
- 7Report fake courier texts to 7726
Setups
Complete kits for one kind of seller, costed and laid out.
Questions
What should I do if a Vinted buyer says the parcel was empty?
Reply in the app with your packing video and the weight photo, then contact Vinted support. Don't refund outside Vinted.
Does eBay protect sellers from false claims?
eBay's seller protections cover buyers who make false not as described claims, if your listing was accurate. Report the buyer through the request.
A buyer wants to pay me by bank transfer. Is that safe?
No. eBay bans deals outside eBay, and Vinted says payments outside its Buy now button lose its protection.
I got a text asking me to pay a parcel fee. Is it real?
Royal Mail says it does not ask for payment by text with a link. Forward the text to 7726 and delete it.
Do I need to film every parcel?
Film anything you would struggle to lose. Phones, cards and designer items first. For cheap clothes, a weight photo may do.
Do Whatnot sellers lose money to chargebacks?
Whatnot says it handles bank disputes itself. Keep your shipping and packing evidence in case it asks.