5 Steps to Prevent eBay Fraud

A recent article by Consumer Reports magazine discussed several simple steps auction buyers can take to protect themselves from fraud on eBay. There’s nothing earth-shattering or new here, but these are good, common-sense measures to protect yourself online and review for the occasional self-analysis.

Check Feedback- The most important eBay fraud prevention measure is to check the seller’s feedback. Look for sellers that have an established reputation and feedback score that is at lease 99% positive. Take a few minutes to read some of the comments left by other bidders and any comments the seller has left for other users. Comments left by the sellers can be real eye openers. Are they professional? Evaluate the new “Detailed Seller Ratings.”
Avoid Shady Sellers- Go beyond the screen name to confirm the seller’s email address and physical location. Use the “Contact Seller” feature to ask a question or request additional pictures. Check the shipping and handling charges and make sure you agree with any terms and conditions included in the listing. Determine the seller’s accepted payment methods. Review the return policy and visit the sellers “About Me” page for any other pertinent information. Consider whether the seller is new, has changed identities recently, or has suddenly jumped into selling high-ticket items contrary to their previous eBay history (as gleaned from the feedback).
Comparison Shop- Reference online shopping sites such as Froogle or Yahoo! Shopping to see if you are bidding the appropriate amount. Consult an appraiser or online price guides for older collectibles. Request the seller provide some proof of authenticity or condition for high-priced antiques.
Read Between the Lines - Read the item’s description carefully. What does it say? What does it not say? Look for terms like “inspired by,” indicating that the product is a knock-off. Is there a picture? Beware of stock images for used items. Insist on actual photos of the item up for auction. Don’t be afraid to click the “Contact Seller” button to ask for clarification of anything unclear or missing form the auction listing’s description.
Don’t Bite on Phishing Schemes- Email messages that appear to be from eBay and ask for sensitive information or require you to log-on are designed to provide hackers the information they need to hack into your eBay account. I receive dozens of eBay phishing emails per week and some of them can be quite convincing - especially when a new variant starts making its rounds through cyberspace. Don’t click on any link and don’t reply. To confirm the authenticity from an email that appears to originate from the auction site, type eBay’s URL directly into your browser and login to My eBay. Any communications sent by or through eBay will be available in the message center of My eBay. Forward and suspected fraudulent emails to spam@ebay.com.

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