For eBay, Etsy, Depop, Vinted, Amazon and Shopify sellers · checked 23 October 2026
Buyer's "damaged item" photo looks wrong? Check it before you refund.
Some buyers now make or edit damage photos with AI to get a refund and keep the item. This check reads the hidden data inside the photo for AI tools, editing apps and dates that don't fit, then gives you a polite reply asking for proof and the statement for the marketplace. The photo never leaves your device.
What the file says
These are facts found in the file, not a verdict. No tool can prove a photo is real or fake: AI pictures often have their data removed, and phones, messaging apps and marketplaces remove it too. Never accuse a buyer on this alone; ask for proof.
Reply to the buyer (free)
Statement for the marketplace
If the buyer opens a case or claim, send this with the buyer's photo, your listing photos, proof of dispatch and your messages.
What the check looks for
| Sign | What it means | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| An AI tool named in the file (DALL-E, Midjourney, Firefly, Stable Diffusion, Gemini...) or an "AI-generated" label | The picture was made or changed by AI | Red flag |
| AI settings in the file (prompt, seed, sampler) | Made with an AI image tool | Red flag |
| Camera date before the delivery date | The photo can't show damage on arrival, unless the phone's clock is wrong | Red flag |
| Saved by an editing app (Photoshop, Snapseed, Canva, Picsart...) | Changed after it was taken; could be a harmless crop | Check |
| A default AI picture size (1024 × 1024, 1536 × 1024...) with no camera details | Typical of AI images, rare for phone photos | Check |
| A PNG with no camera details | Usually a screenshot, an edit or an AI image | Check |
| No camera details or date at all | Often removed by messaging apps and marketplaces; means little alone | Check |
| Content Credentials (C2PA) | The file records which app or camera made it; open it at contentcredentials.org/verify | Info |
Can this prove a photo is AI-made?
No, and nothing can for certain. It reports facts in the file. A file with no warning signs can still be fake, and a file saved by an editing app can be genuine. Use it to decide whether to ask for more proof, never as the only reason to refuse a refund.
What's the safest way to handle a suspicious damage claim?
Ask for a short video of the item with the packaging and label, and the original photo files, and offer a return through the platform. Refund when the item is back. A buyer with real damage can do all of that easily. Keep every message on the platform.
What else should I check?
Compare the photo with your own listing photos: the background, lighting, pattern, serial number or flaw that only your item has. Search the image with Google Lens or TinEye to see if it was copied from the web. Check whether the buyer has made similar claims before.
Is my buyer's photo uploaded anywhere?
No. The check runs in your browser. The photo, the order details and the text you type stay on your device.
Is this legal advice?
No. It's information and message templates. Each marketplace has its own rules and decides its own cases; check the current rules on your case.
Why now: sellers on eBay, Depop and Etsy have reported buyers using AI-made damage photos since early 2026, and detection firms report that a significant share of refund photos they review are AI-made or AI-edited.