The time for that due diligence is before you bid, not after you win, when the seller is expecting payment, not questions.

Asking for the numbers first will save you time, too, since a lack of reply will be your signal to move on to another seller.

Look at it from the seller's perspective: You won the auction, he's got fees to pay, he's waiting for your payment, but now you suddenly want serial numbers to check? That's not part of the payment process, nor would he have any idea how you're planning to "check" those numbers anyway.

Your question is fair (and in fact I, as a seller, routinely show the serial numbers in my auctions where applicable anyway, since it helps avoid return-switcheroos later on), but your timing is off. You need to be asking it while the auction is running, not afterwards.

That's not true. A "warrant" is not required. Ebay states a subpoena is required of certain information concerning a user's personal information and sales information.

Ebay does not require a subpoena from law enforcement for investigatory purposes.

Ebay just doesn't respond to law enforcement. They pick and chose, and heavy emphasis on IGNORE. The department that handles involvement with LE only has a couple of people - which were sent to SLC to deal with (stolen items!!) other matters.

Ebay does not provide information on how to contact them.

There IS a page law enforcement can read and use to establish contact with Ebay. It has been a complaint made by law enforcement for years that Ebay is non responsive.

Until and unless law enforcement agencies start complaining loudly in Washington DC (as do the site users and victims), nothing will be done.

Ask for serial numbers before purchase. Do not bid if they are not provided.

I know about a case where ebay was practically handed the evidence on a silver platter and they did very little to track or stop this particular scammer. When LE got involved ebay was non responsive and to this day has not provided all the records they have on this big scammer. Non responsive for sure. Right Caped?

Several posters have indicated that the situation is buyer beware and indicate that is the way it should be. There are many sellers who sell stolen goods and have no interest in seeing this ideal fence fixed.

Serial numbers are the best way to identify stolen items. I ask if the seller will provide them before I bid. The equipment I buy is specialized and it takes me minutes to contact the original vendor to find out if it has been reported as stolen. If a Vendor will not agree to either, provide me the serial number before I bid or if I am the sucessful winner to provide it to me after I win but before I pay, I do not Bid.

I am frustrated that over 1/2 of the items I am seeing listed and would like to buy appear to be stolen. It is also concerning that my fellow professionals are having their equipment stolen and Ebay is serving as a fence. It is also a poor thing for society to provide oppurtunities for rewards for bad behavior.

What are the problems with requiring that in the invoice for any item over $200 the seller must include the serial number or an explanation of why it is not included.

Returning items to their original owner is a matter for law enforcement, not something that Pay Pal can order on their own. Who is to determine WHO the legal owner is or if the claim of it being stolen in is valid?

Just something to think about.


Ebay makes it very easy to fence stolen goods. It's been this way since the beginning of the site. Ebay doesn't do anything to make sure that stolen items are not listed.

Ebay is not law enforcement - there is only so much they can do. Making it easier to report stolen goods to them, making it easier for law enforcement to contact them, and increasing their response time and the knowledge of those that are handling the reports ARE things that Ebay can do to make this situation better.

Alas, they are not doing any of those things, however. Ebay's priorities do not include improving in this area sadly.

I never list a serial number in an auction on ebay. Think about it. The number could be collected by anyone and then they list the item for sale on Craigs List or other place... with the Serial number and stolen picture they collected in an ebay auction. It happens.

I always provide the serial number if asked by a potential buyer via ebay messages.

It is best to make your inquiry short and not make an issue of "Fraud" or stolen items in the message when you ask for a serial number. You might scare a seller if you give a story as to why you want the number and complain about other sellers not give the number... and the seller will not reply because they think you are weird. Ha!

I would just say your business insurance requires that the serial number be verified BEFORE you buy a used business item and would they please provide the serial number for this item BEFORE you bid. If they don't reply, then move on.

I think if you run across a stolen item, you should leave it in the hands of the COMPANY that made the item. They all have a fraud prevention department and they can get quicker action than anyone. They will contact the original owner and the police department that took the original theft report.

In fact, ebay usually cooperates with law enforcement and with a company if they think they think the company will come after ebay for selling stolen items. Private individuals do not have many legs to stand on with ebay since they had a lot of layoffs in their ebay security department.

Click on the link over to the far right of this page for the ebay successes in catching scammers. They are all high dollar amounts...

If there was an insurance claim filed and paid, the item belongs to the insurance company.

Just exactly how are you determining that an item is stolen based on the serial number alone? Do you have a contact in law enforcement abusing their powers?