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Sat Mar 7 2026 16:40:54

How Did eBay Get My Social Security Number?

By: Reader

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Dear Ina,
You wrote about the fact eBay wants your SSN number to sell. It had to do with the new IRS $600 in sales limit. 

Now, I do know that was never fully implemented, and last year was supposed to be sales of $2500. Around $400, they kept messaging me, one a week, about needing it. Well, I did not want to provide. My SSN had already been compromised the previous year and I did not want it anywhere else. 

eBay refuses to give the $6 they owe with the last payout. The story is longer but let me cut to the chase. I went through the menu clicks to see what I needed to do if I did want to provide my SSN. Why in the world does it look like they already have my SSN and just want me to verify?! I NEVER gave it to them. How is that? 
B.



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Perminate Link for How Did eBay Get My Social Security Number?   How Did eBay Get My Social Security Number?

by: etectra This user has validated their user name.

Sat Mar 7 22:13:25 2026

Your social security number was required as part of the transition from the payment processor PayPal to Adyen as part of eBay's Managed Payments.

You may need to protect yourself further!

You should only add your bank account for sales deposits manually using your bank account and routing number. After the account is verified by eBay depositing two micro deposits and then withdrawing them you need to call you bank and tell them to block eBay from withdrawing any further funds from your bank account.

If you signed up by giving eBay your bank login user name and password you need to sign up using another bank account using the procedure above. You cannot remove a bank account unless its replaced with another one or while transactions. Use a free online bank such as from Discover or CapitolOne and not your regular bank where you have your checking or savings. As funds are deposited into these free online bank accounts move the money into your regular bank accounts.

eBay will require you to give them a backup form of payment in the form of a credit card. Create a virtual credit card from within one of your credit card's online account and use that. Once approved remove your regular credit card and block eBay form charging anything to the virtual card.

This protects you from eBay charging amounts to your bank or credit card due to billing you for services you did not order, double billing and buyer scams. eBay will be forced to deduct the funds from within your eBay account. At this time you can cancel any sales you've not shipped and withdraw your items from eBay. Once they get your money from your bank or credit card it will be hard to get it back so this protects you from worse case scenarios.

If eBay has your credit card on file simply cancelling the card will not prevent them from charging the card as the new card issued to you will be tied to the same account. You must instruct the credit card company to issue a new card on a new account!

Perminate Link for How Did eBay Get My Social Security Number?   How Did eBay Get My Social Security Number?

by: cvsharkey This user has validated their user name.

Mon Mar 9 12:52:21 2026

It's a matter of once they have it--that's forever. And you can not change your soc sec like you can a password. If you didn't give it to them, then did our government do so? You have to know that Musk already ha it....

Perminate Link for How Did eBay Get My Social Security Number?   How Did eBay Get My Social Security Number?

by: Snapped This user has validated their user name.

Tue Mar 10 14:08:33 2026

“ Why in the world does it look like they already have my SSN and just want me to verify?! “

What did they say when you asked them that?  

Uh, you did ask already  - right?!



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