Lately on virtually every anvil against which I have bid (and have been outbid) I have received a bogus second chance purchase offer.

Essentially the scam reads as if the offer is coming directly from the seller, rather than through eBay.  In it it says eBay's policy is if the first buyer should default on their purchase for any reason the next highest bidder is automatically offered it at their last bid.  This simply isn't true.  A seller must decided whether or not to issue a second chance offer - and it only comes from eBay with the response back to eBay.  Also it usually requests a money order or cashier's check, rather than PayPal.

Should you receive any second chance offer log directly into your eBay account, My eBay and My Messages.  Do not try to log into eBay via any link in the e-mail.  If it is a legitimate offer there will be a duplicate copy of the message there.  If not it is bogus.

Forward any bogus offer to spoof @ eBay (dot) com, and, if your system permits it, also report it as spam.

Cannot confirm it, but have been told by several reliable sources one seller is copying pictures from anvil listings and then listing the anvil as if they owned it.  Beware of a seller who makes their feedback private and/or will only accept a cashier's check or money order.  If you are leary, ask for additional pictures to verify they actually have the anvil which is offered.