by Danielle Dames

Created on: January 24, 2009   Last Updated: March 13, 2011

A scammer is someone who intentionally does the wrong thing. Unfortunately in the world of online auctions, protected by the anonymity of a silicone veil, scamming it is all too common. eBay is no exception.

SCAMMER SELLERS

eBay Scammers sell fraudulent goods (fakes), misrepresent items or never sending them. Intentionally. This is different to simply poor or bad sellers, who don't have the intention of doing the wrong thing, yet do so out of laziness, disinterest or poor selling skills (taking a long time to send an item, sending it in poor packaging, not communicating well etc).

Here's what to look out for:

NEGATIVE FEEDBACK

Check the seller's feedback go in and read every negative and neutral. If you are going to lay down some serious cash, it will be worth it. Make sure the feedback is recent, or even click on completed listings' to see all that seller's sales from the last month.

LOW OR NO FEEDBACK

Scammers will open a new account when their feedback percentage gets too low on their old account.

MISLEADING DESCRIPTION

Also, be aware of ways around the system if they have used the word style' be warned. They are already telling you it is fake.

Gucci style, means in the style of, but not actually Gucci'. This is an accepted and legal way to represent an item. If it is listed as style' and you purchase the item thinking it is real, you will have no recourse. Careful with this one - this seller would not actually be considered a scammer. They have followed the rules. Remember it is your duty to read the listing thoroughly.

PRESENTATION

Suspect presentation, including spelling and grammar, but in particular having just the website's information and no additional personal information written by the seller should set some alarms ringing.

AMAZING PRICE

The biggest teller is it too good to be true? If you are looking at a brand new Hermes bag that retails for over $10,000 and it says Buy it Now' for $1500 stop, take a breath.

SHORT LISTINGS

EBay auctions can be 1, 3, 5, 7 or 10 days. If the item is listed for 1 or 3 days the seller might be trying to offload an item before prospective buyers can do enough investigation. This is common in hi-jacked accounts, but also where the seller of goods won't stand up to scrutiny.

NEW ACCOUNTS, REGARDLESS OF FEEDBACK

They may have lots of feedback, but are still only a very new account. If they are less than a month old, they will have the shiny new' symbol next to their name. Lots of feedback in brand new accounts suggest

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