Avoiding EBay Scams: Safe Online Purchases

Time is running out. Should you bid on this item, or wait and see if a better deal comes along? Perhaps an even more stressful question is, "How can you be assured that you're not being scammed?" Anyone that has used eBay has been confronted with these questions. After all, the transactions that take place can involve a lot of money. EBay does have measures in place to help deal with fraudulent auctions, and there are ways that you can help protect yourself.

In general, it is always a good idea to learn as much as you can about the seller offering the auction. One of the easiest ways to check out a seller's background is to view their feedback statistics. A high percentage of positive feedback is a good sign that the seller will provide good customer service throughout the transaction. In addition, you can read feedback comments to investigate whether or not this seller is the type of person you would like to do business with. If you feel wary about doing business with someone you have never talked with before, ask questions.

Asking questions can increase product knowledge and give insight about the seller's personality; but be aware. An invitation to send e-mail messages directly to the seller at their personal e-mail address (outside of eBay) is one sign of danger. These invitations could indicate that the item in question is for sale under a hijacked account. EBay's security features do a good job of coping with this threat. Two passwords are required for full access to eBay. One password will allow the user to access the eBay service. The other password will allow the account owner to change personal information such as their e-mail address. If the account hijacker only has the login password, they will not be able to change the e-mail address and the messages that you send through eBay will go to the rightful owner of the account, thus exposing the scam artist. When in doubt, send your messages through eBay. Heeding this advice could save you and the rightful account owner a lot of difficulty. After becoming comfortable with the seller, choosing a payment method is an important factor in any major purchase.

EBay offers many payment options, and some methods are less risky than others. Select a payment option that traces fund transfers and allows you to recover if something goes wrong. PayPal offers a way to transfer money directly from a bank account to a seller. This method is regarded as being safe because the seller will not see a credit card number and the payments are automatically tracked. In addition, some eBay items qualify for up to $1,000 dollars in free coverage when PayPal is used. Credit cards are also relatively safe to use, but the buyer's liability is often dependant upon the credit card company's policies. It is much more difficult to recover funds when checks, money orders, or bank transfers are used, but these methods of payment are accepted by eBay. Escrow companies may be appealing because they will hold the payment until the item is approved, but be sure to explore any escrow services before using them. Some scam artists have created nonexistent escrow services in order to cheat their victims. Two forms of payment are not approved by eBay and should be avoided: cash and instant cash wire transfers.

In the event that you do not receive the item you paid for or the item you paid for differs from the item description, you are not out of luck. Many items are covered up to $200 and some sellers offer return policies. The seller faces steep penalties if they do not uphold their end of the bargain. The consequences of being a deadbeat seller include loss of eBay privileges and referral to law enforcement. In the fight against swindlers, word of mouth is one of the most powerful tools that eBay employs.

No one likes to be scammed. Recognizing this fact, EBay created a forum where people can share their experiences with fraudulent auctions. It is called Safe Harbor. If you suspect that someone might be trying to scam you, this is a helpful resource to check. A search option makes it easy to find what you are looking for. In a related section of the website, the Security Center is a good place to learn more about how you are protected through buyer protection programs.

In the end, employing a skeptical approach is good. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is. Find out about the seller, verify that the seller is the rightful owner of the account, choose a safe payment method, inquire about return policies, and investigate the protections that eBay offers. With good judgment, safe online purchasing is possible.