$640 Gone in a Click: Portsmouth Woman Reports eBay Impersonation Scam

A local woman is warning others after she says scammers posing as eBay support drained hundreds of dollars from her bank account — and now police are urging residents to stay alert for online fraud. The Portsmouth resident contacted police after discovering $640 had been taken from her Chime account by someone she believed was connected to eBay. According to the report, the victim said she interacted with what appeared to be an official eBay-related site listed as “verify” and was directed to a webpage labeled ebayverify.live. Shortly afterward, money was removed from her account. When she contacted Chime to dispute the charges, she was told the transactions appeared to be authorized — leaving her without immediate reimbursement. Officers took information for a report and referred the victim to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office for further assistance. 🚩 How These Scams Work Scammers often create look-alike websites and fake “verification” pages that mimic trusted companies like eBay, Amazon, or PayPal. Once victims enter login or banking information, criminals can quickly drain accounts. These fake sites often: Use official logos and branding • Include words likeverify, secure, or support • Appear in emails or texts claiming there’s a “problem” with your account • Pressure you to act fast In this case, the site ebayverify.live was not an official eBay domain. 🛡️ Scam-Spotting Tips Everyone Should Know To protect yourself: ✅ Always check the web address carefully. Real eBay support pages end in ebay.com — not .live, .net, or similar. ✅ Never click links from unsolicited emails or texts. Go directly to the company’s website instead. ✅ Don’t give banking info or one-time codes to anyone who contacts you first. ✅ Turn on two-factor authentication for shopping and banking apps. ✅ Monitor accounts daily and set up transaction alerts. ✅ If something feels rushed or threatening (“Your account will be locked!”), slow down — that’s a classic scam tactic. 📞 What To Do If You’re Scammed If you believe you’ve been targeted: Contact your bank immediately • File a report with local law enforcement • Report the scam to the Ohio Attorney General at www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov • Consider freezing your credit with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion Scammers are getting more sophisticated — but a few careful steps can stop them cold. If it sounds too urgent, too official, or too convenient… it probably is.

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