Ebay Investigation Report

Report generated: Dec 20, 2025

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eBay Listing: Apple iPhone 4s – topsmartphone (ebay.fr)

https://www.ebay.fr/itm/146929336120

Geo: France

Website:

Category: Ebay

Recommendation

Caution

Overall Summary

Suspicious

Why we think so?

This eBay listing, managed by seller 'topsmartphone,' offers an Apple iPhone 4s (8GB, black, unlocked) with a 6-month warranty, located in Cormery, France. The seller has made 573 total sales of this model and currently has no units left in stock. Payment options are standard (PayPal, credit cards), but returns are not accepted. The seller store appears minimal, with only one other unrelated item for sale. While the listing claims a perfect 5.0 rating from 6 reviews, external sources and eBay community reports urge significant caution: the 'topsmartphone' account pattern matches known risks for high-volume, low-priced electronics on eBay—such as inconsistent or possibly fake feedback and potential for counterfeit products. Community threads and investigative YouTube reviews also warn that descriptions and high feedback counts can disguise problematic or non-genuine phones. Overall, although no outright fraud is proven with this specific listing, there are multiple warning signs, and buyers should scrutinize any seller with these characteristics—especially when return policies are strict and feedback history lacks detail.

Confidence Score Our overall confidence rating for this entity based on public signals, activity, and risk checks.

38%

Risk Insights

⚠️

High-Volume, Low Detail Seller

573+ phones sold with just 6 reviews posted.
No detailed reputation or transaction breakdown available.
Inventory limited to only one unrelated other item for sale.

🚫

Returns Not Accepted

Refusal of returns is a key concern for buyer security.
Resale phones often have hidden issues not noticed until after delivery.

🔍

Matches Patterns of Risky eBay Smartphone Sellers

Community and investigative reports cite similar sellers as major sources of counterfeit or misrepresented devices.
Review structure and inventory patterns mirror accounts frequently flagged as scams.

Category Scores

Red Flags & Warnings

Community and YouTube reviews warn that high-volume eBay phone accounts with generic names, quick sales, and sparse feedback history often sell non-genuine or refurbished items as new.
The minimal presence of seller information—no detailed ratings, only one other (unrelated) item listed, and limited feedback comments—suggests lower trustworthiness.
No returns are accepted for this purchase; this limits recourse if issues arise.

Detailed Checks & Insights

0-100 Scale

Seller identity matches listing

Score: 80

Passed

Reason: The listing claims 'topsmartphone' as the seller and links to that eBay store. The feedback and profile are attached to that name.

Seller reputation and trading history

Score: 35

Failed

Reason: The profile has only one unrelated item for sale, no seller ratings breakdown, few reviews considering the number of sales, and matches community warnings for risky sellers.

Review authenticity and purchaser satisfaction

Score: 30

Failed

Reason: Six visible reviews for over 570 sales is far below normal, possibly indicating review suppression, manipulation, or lack of real buyer engagement.

Product listing accuracy & images

Score: 70

Passed

Reason: The product images generally match a real Apple iPhone 4s and specs listed are standard for this device.

Price consistency with market value

Score: 65

Passed

Reason: The iPhone 4s is a legacy device with used and refurbished prices between 30–50 EUR. The listing's low price, combined with volume, matches the lower end of market range.

Returns & buyer protections offered

Score: 30

Failed

Reason: The listing disallows returns, which reduces buyer protection and is a notable concern for rare/vintage electronics like old iPhones.

Legal and business compliance signals

Score: 60

Passed

Reason: Standard French/EU payment methods offered, proper product category (mobility/phones), and VAT status not flagged.

Your Next Steps

1

Read through all available negative and neutral feedback for the seller—watch for mentions of counterfeit items, blocked returns, or unresponsive support.
2

If you proceed, verify the IMEI and serial number upon receiving the phone using trusted manufacturer databases.
3

Photograph and document the unboxing and the condition of the device on arrival.
4

Prefer buying from established refurbishers or sellers with detailed long-term feedback and return guarantees.

Evidence & Citations

eBay Community: Fake Sellers Discussion
Includes examples of suspicious feedback patterns and advice on spotting eBay phone scams.
eBay Seller Profile: topsmartphone
Displays sparse inventory and minimal seller information for 'topsmartphone.'
YouTube: eBay Phone Scam Investigations
Video review discussing common tactics and patterns with suspicious eBay smartphone sellers.