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Encouraging illegal activity

If you intend to sell on one or more of eBay's international sites, you will need to accept, and we encourage you to carefully review, the User Agreement, policies, and other requirements of that site. You can continue to reach out to the relevant customer service teams on the respective eBay site of your listing or transaction, as may be applicable to the nature of your query.

Policy overview

For a safer buying and selling experience on eBay, we don't allow selling or linking to items that encourage, promote, facilitate, or instruct others to engage in illegal activity.

We also don't allow buyers to ask sellers to break any laws. For example, buyers can't ask sellers to falsify customs declarations or have an item marked as "gift" in order to avoid customs fees.

If you're a seller, make sure your listing follows these guidelines. If it doesn't, it may be removed, and you may be subject to a range of other actions, including limits of your buying and selling privileges and suspension of your account.

What are the guidelines?

Not allowed

Not allowed

Here are some examples of information, items, and activities that aren't allowed on eBay:

  • Examples of information

    • Codes, services, and items that allow cell phone or smartphone unlocking

    • Kill switch-activated electronic devices, including smartphones and tablets

    • Instructions on how to use or inject steroids (eBook, website, and so forth)

    • Lockpicking DVDs or DVDs that provide information on how to pick locks

    • A link to a website that provides information on how to hijack an airplane

    • An eBook describing how to create methamphetamine

    • Other sources of information similar to those listed here

  • Examples of items

    • Blank retail "rain checks" or blank store coupons where the buyer can fill in the item and amount the coupon is worth

    • Products designed to fake the results of a urine or drug test

    • Reflective spray paint or license plate covers or diffusers

    • Other items similar to those listed here

  • Examples of activities

    • Basing Feedback ratings on another member's decision not to engage in illegal activity may be considered Feedback extortion.

    • Falsifying customs declarations or having an item marked as "gift" in order to avoid customs fees

    • Winning an item and requesting that the seller falsify the customs or taxation documents related to the item

When we receive a report that a buyer asked a seller to falsify customs documents, we only review the report if the seller's listing description clearly specifies who is responsible for paying the customs fees, duties, import taxes, and any related charges. Sellers who sell internationally should follow our customs requirements.

Note: We may also remove listings as requested by law enforcement agencies.

 

Reporting a violation

If you find a listing that encourages illegal activity, you can report it.

If you sold an item and your buyer asks you to commit customs fraud, you can report it.

 

Since encouraging illegal activity may be prohibited by law, we urge you to follow all laws and regulations. You're not allowed to use eBay to encourage other members to engage in illegal activity.

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