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Investigation & Evidence Report

Generated on Jan 8, 2026

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eBay Seller Analysis – shillp-12 (Apple iPhone 16 Pro Listing)

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/376651377753
Geo: unknown
Website: Site icon
Category: Ebay
Recommendation
Avoid
Overall Summary
Suspicious
  Why we think so? 

This eBay listing offers an Apple iPhone 16 Pro (512GB, Black Titanium, Unlocked) for £600.02. The seller "shillp-12" has a feedback score of 0, no public reviews, and the store appears brand new or dormant. The item is marked as used, in poor cosmetic condition, but includes original box and charger. The price is significantly under the typical rates for refurbished iPhone 16 Pro models on established platforms, which run ~$765+ USD. Notably, the seller accepts no returns and provides almost no identifying details or customer assurance. These are strong red flags for a high-value phone listing. There is no specific history of this seller's scams or counterfeit products, but general eBay patterns highlight how brand-new, zero-feedback accounts and vague listings are risk factors. If you buy from this listing, you will depend entirely on eBay's Money Back Guarantee for protection, as seller-side integrity is unproven here.

Confidence Score Our overall confidence rating for this entity based on public signals, activity, and risk checks.
15%

Risk Insights

🚫

Zero Feedback, No Returns

  • Seller has no sales track record or reviews.
  • Refuses any returns, leaving buyer unprotected if issues arise.
  • High-value phone at unusually low price is strongly suspicious.
⚠️

Extreme Price vs. Market

  • Price is at least 20% below reputable refurbished sources.
  • Gap is so large it typically signals risk of counterfeit or scam.
  • Official unlocked iPhones at this price point are essentially unheard of.
🛡️

Rely on eBay Buyer Protection

  • eBay Money Back Guarantee is the only recourse for buyers.
  • No seller-side policy for support, refunds, or post-sale help.
  • Buyer must act quickly if anything seems off.

Category Scores

Red Flags & Warnings

  • Zero feedback and an empty store strongly suggest the seller is new, unproven, or possibly using a disposable account.
  • Refusing all returns reduces buyer recourse and is highly unusual for expensive electronics.
  • Deeply discounted pricing for an in-demand model is a well-known tactic in high-risk or fraudulent listings.

Detailed Checks & Insights

0-100 Scale

Seller identity traceability

Score: 10
Failed

"Legitimate eBay electronics sellers generally have at least some historic feedback or a presence outside of eBay. This seller's total absence of traceable activity greatly increases risk."

Reason: Seller has no feedback, no storefront branding, and no external reputation or business identity—making it impossible to validate their integrity.

Seller reputation and history

Score: 50
Failed

"Buyers face higher fraud risks with new or dormant accounts, especially for high-priced items. Community best practice is to avoid zero-feedback sellers for valuable electronics."

Reason: No sales or reviews are visible for this account. The feedback score is zero, so there is no data to support reliability or service standards.

Listing consistency with product and brand details

Score: 70
Passed

"While cosmetic condition is marked 'poor,' the conformance to iPhone 16 Pro details is accurate—though not sufficient to confirm authenticity."

Reason: Listing details match typical specs for an iPhone 16 Pro and include appropriate storage, color, and box/charger accessories.

Product pricing and market comparison

Score: 15
Failed

"High-demand products at unusually low prices often signal counterfeit or bait-and-switch tactics. The gap here is significant."

Reason: Listing price (£600.02) is far below standard prices for even refurbished iPhone 16 Pro listings ($765+), creating a strong mismatch and elevated risk.

Review and feedback authenticity

Score: 10
Failed

"Buyers have no third-party experiences to reference for this seller. This is typical of either a brand-new account or one designed to avoid past negative feedback."

Reason: No reviews—positive or negative—exist for this seller, so no assessment of review authenticity is possible.

Return, refund, and buyer protection

Score: 15
Failed

"With no return policy, the only safety net is eBay's own guarantee. This is a major red flag, especially for phones where buyers expect at least a basic return window."

Reason: Seller accepts no returns at all, contrary to industry best practice for expensive gadgets.

Legal and compliance risks

Score: 25
Failed

"Legal recourse may be possible via eBay, but buyer exposure is otherwise high."

Reason: Listing does not contain explicit illegal claims or copyright violations, but the combination of anonymity, low price, and lack of returns creates significant consumer vulnerability.

Business legitimacy and commercial intent

Score: 10
Failed

"Lack of commercial transparency is uncommon for established sellers of high-ticket electronics."

Reason: Nothing ties this seller to a real business. No branding, external site, or commercial info is present.

Your Next Steps

  • 1

    Do NOT purchase from this listing unless you are prepared to file a claim instantly if anything goes wrong.

  • 2

    If already purchased and suspicious, immediately document your order and correspondence. File an eBay 'Not as Described' or 'Counterfeit' case if necessary.

  • 3

    Report the listing as suspicious or potentially counterfeit using eBay's built-in 'Report item' feature.

  • 4

    Look for sellers with an established positive feedback record, clear return policies, and price ranges consistent with market rates.

Evidence & Citations

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