| Countless people have been scammed and | | | | bidding fraud. This type of fraud is run either with |
| defrauded on ebay . ebay is a fun place to bid on | | | | two separate ebay accounts ' with one person in |
| items and to sell items ' but you must know how | | | | control of both of them, or with two friends with |
| to recognize a fraud, and how to avoid them, or | | | | separate ebay accounts. A very small bid is |
| you quickly join the ranks of those who have lost | | | | placed on your item, using one account. This is |
| their money to ebay frauds. Of course, if you are | | | | followed by a very high bid, from the other ebay |
| scammed, there are some actions you can take | | | | account. Right before the bidding ends, the high |
| the correct the situation ' but in many cases, the | | | | bid is cancelled or withdrawn, leaving the low bid |
| scammer does indeed get away! The best option | | | | as the winning bid. This bid can only be avoided by |
| is to avoid being scammed. | | | | setting a reserve price ' the lowest bid that can |
| You can easily avoid many frauds with the | | | | be placed is the same as the reserve price that |
| payment method that you use ' whether you are | | | | you set. |
| a buyer or a seller. ebay owns Paypal, and in | | | | If you are an ebay seller, you can further protect |
| most cases, Paypal is the payment method you | | | | your auctions by placing a notice on your auctions |
| should use. First, as a buyer, if you are scammed | | | | page, declaring that you have the right to back |
| or less than satisfied with the item when it | | | | out of the sale if you suspect potential fraud. As |
| arrives, you can dispute the charge easily, and | | | | both a buyer and a seller, also beware of spoofed |
| demand a refund. The seller must reply and show | | | | emails. These emails appear to be from ebay . |
| proof that the item was shipped, and that it | | | | The email may claim that you need to verify |
| arrived in the condition that you expected, or | | | | your information, and ask you to login to your |
| Paypal will return your funds to your account. | | | | ebay account, using the link provided. If you follow |
| As a seller, you can protect yourself by only | | | | that link, the site looks exactly like ebay, but it is |
| accepting Paypal . This will eliminate the chances | | | | actually a fraud to get your ebay login details, as |
| of receiving a bad check or having the buyer | | | | well as your credit card details! ebay will never |
| dispute a credit card charge. Instead, they must | | | | ask you to do this. If you suspect a spoofed |
| dispute the charge through paypal, and you of | | | | email, report it to ebay immediately! |
| course will be able to prove that you shipped the | | | | Don't let scammers ruin your ebay fun! Just use |
| product. You cannot, however, prove that the | | | | good common sense, and a reasonable amount of |
| product arrived in the condition that was | | | | caution, and everything should run smoothly. |
| expected. In this case, you should demand that | | | | Report suspicious activity to ebay, and if a deal |
| the product be returned to you before the refund | | | | doesn't feel right, simply back away from it and |
| is issued. | | | | move on to the next auction. |
| Another common fraud that buyers use is the | | | | |