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 a seller who is not as new as they seem - they may have closed down other accounts and started all over again, fresh.
POOR COMMUNICATION
Communicate with the seller. You really can tell a lot about a seller by the way they reply to your email. Communication is essential. It will really help you weed the bad from the good. Ask the seller where they bought the item. Ask them if they have a receipt. Ask them if they are willing to guarantee it's authenticity. If they baulk, look elsewhere.
SUSPICIOUS LOCATION
If the seller is registered in one location, but the item will be shipped from elsewhere, beware. If the item is designer and coming out of Asia, sadly, the same applies. You can pick up some real bargains in Asia and no, not all Asian items are poor quality, but it is a sad fact that a great percentage of designer fakes originate in Asia.
UNTRACEABLE PAYMENT OPTIONS
If the seller demands Moneygram, Western Union or another form of untraceable cash payment, stop.
Likewise, if the seller changes the payment terms after the sale, duck for cover. In this instance you have the right to not complete the transaction they have broken the original agreement. This is not acceptable.
PRIVATE EMAILS
If the seller insists on communicating through private channels, look elsewhere.
By communicating through eBay's message service you will have a record of communication, in the case of any unfortunate event.
Not all sellers who list for 1 or 3 days, or with prices well under retail are scammers, some genuinely just need a quick sale. Just as not all sellers who don't have 100% feedback are scammers. Some of the best bargains can actually come from purchasing from a seller that others have mistakenly red-flagged as a scammer.
These are simple warning flags only.
• Do your research.
• Use your head.
• And listen to your gut. If in doubt, don't do the transaction. Simple.
EBay is a worldwide market, and that once' off item will show up again. Buyer beware.
PHISHING
Phishers hi-jack eBay accounts. They then adopt those accounts (and all that positive feedback) as their own, usually for a very short, but devastating period of time. You can minimize the risk of having your account hi-jacked by never clicking on links. Always enter your eBay account through - and only through - the direct web address. Do not answer emails requesting you to confirm' your details .
If you receive such an email you should notify eBay immediately.
You can avoid buying from a hi-jacked account by delving into the feedback.
Are they offering the same type or status of product that they usually sell? Is the feedback current?
Hi-jacked accounts are usually uncovered very quickly, most often by the original owner (if you're account is hi-jacked you won't b able to log in they will have changed your password) so the turn around for the hi-jackers needs to be fast.
The auctions tend to be short, so they have time to close the deal before they get caught. They tend to sell high ticket items, which often don't match the account's previous feedback.
SHILL BIDDING
Another scammer seller technique is one so often utilized that it has its own term shill bidding'. This is where a seller may use a friend or relative, or a second account to artificially raise the price or the desirability of the item they are selling.
That is, they make dummy bids.
Nothing new in house auctions, but it is actually against eBay policy, and considered scamming. The seller lists an item, then using another eBay ID, makes bids on that item. This will make it seem as if there is a lot of interest in an item, when there is not.
Shill bidding plays on people's emotion - everybody wants what other people desire. It's human nature. And its part of the thrill of an auction beating someone else to it.
How to spot this scam this used to be easier, when you used to be able to see the eBay identity (and feedback) of the other bidders. Now the best way to spot it is to keep an eye on the auction and look for numerous consecutive bids of small increments (rather than one large proxy bid) which push up the price and raise the bids' number, without over-committing the fake bidder. It is hard to tell. Frankly, shill bidding seems rampant. The best way to not pay too much, is to know how much you should expect to pay. Keep an eye on multiple listings of this type don't just bid on the first item you see - get to know your market.
EXCEPTIONS
Granted, sometimes genuine sellers are sometimes guilty of any one (or more) of the above but an explanation never hurts. I had one of my most pleasant and easy eBay transactions with an old-new' account holder they explained they had started the new account because of a breakup with their business partner and joint account holder of their old account.
They offered the other ID so I could check for consistency in the old feedback. I made a bargain purchase, delivered by express post and even gift wrapped with a thank you note.
As mentioned, none of these warning signals should totally discount that seller as a scammer; they are flags only, waving to say take notice slow down'. You may very well get the best bargains buying from sellers that other buyers automatically avoid. The key is research and communication. Don't just go on one warning signal. Does it all add up?
SCAMMER BUYERS
Though not as common, scammer buyers - like scammer sellers - have the intention of doing the wrong thing. Trying to buy an item without paying for it, receiving the item, then claiming it never came when it did , or that it arrived damaged (when it did not). Again, it's the intention.
Protect your account:
• NEVER ANSWER EMAILS from your own email address. Log into your eBay account first.
• NEVER click on links in an email, leading you to your eBay account. Log in directly through eBay.
• Change your password
PROTECT YOUR SALES
• Always take the receipt from the Postal cashier. If should contain the date and amount paid for postage, the package weight and postcode you are sending to. If it does not, request a proof of postage.
• Block any user IDs you have had issues with in the past.
• Block any user IDs with 0 feedback you can do this in your account pages.
Simply let the buyers know they need to contact you via email before bidding, and you can unblock that user ID on request.
Remember to state this clearly in your listing last minute honest bidders with zero feedback (and there is plenty of honest ones out there!) would otherwise get a rude shock if they go to bid 30 seconds to go that they have been blocked let them know boldly in the listing, and give them the chance to contact you.
• Offer registered post and/or insurance. It should be up to the buyer whether they choose it, but it should be made available.
• Communicate with your buyer
• Be clear about your expectations on communication, payment time and method IN your listing.
Such as: buyer should make contact within 48 hours, payment should be made within 7 days via
Make effort to resolve issues, but be timely with your complaints if need be.
PROTECT YOUR PURCHASES
• Use a traceable form of payment
• Communicate with the seller
• Check their feedback
• Check the feedback is current
• Check the feedback is for selling, not just buying
• Check the types of items the seller usually sells against what you want to buy look for consistency. Someone selling a 10,000 diamond ring, when they usually sell $5 batteries.
• Look at the photos look for real photos, not stock (professional) photos. Look for receipts in the photos or the original boxes. Look for lots of photos request more if need be. A genuine seller should be happy to do this if the item is of any real value.
I have seen a seller selling his girlfriends never worn' boots for her. Apparently, she needed to make room in the closet for another new pair. When checking that sellers completed listings I saw the same story being reused for various other sizes of unworn shoes. So either his girlfriend's feet are constantly changing size or something else it going on. The price was also 90% off the retail of these designer boots. The photos were in very poor light.
I cannot say that this person was obviously fraudulent or that the items were fakes, all I can say is that flags started flying. I chose not to bid. Remember, as the buyer it is your choice.
A worldwide market should provide a world-class shopping experience for buyers and sellers alike. Armed with knowledge, you can embrace it.