Safe Trading on eBay: Avoiding Fraud for Buyers & Sellers

Turn on CNN or Fox News, read a column on thenot going to fall victim to a phishing scam.A high
Internet or play your favorite all news radio station anpercentage of online and eBay fraud is eliminated
you'll become acutely aware of the "so-called" fraudsimply by understanding phishing and knowing how to
online - specifically related to eBay.Definition of Fraud:deal with it.Fraud Tip #2. Only Buy From Sellers With
"In a broad strokes definition, fraud is a deliberatean Established Feedback ScoreLove or hate eBay's
misrepresentation which causes another person tofeedback system, but is has its purpose. By doing your
suffer damages, usually monetary losses."Like many, Idue diligence you can weed out potentially fraudulent
have had negative experiences one eBay. However,eBay sellers simply by reviewing their feedback score.
I've also had negative experiences with unscrupulousPay particular attention to the last 90 days and be
people in the real world. The truth is that eBay is just asure read all the comments posted on the first 3
microcosm of real-life society where 99.9% of peoplepages. A sellers feedback score will is increasingly
are good nature.Have you had a bad experience onimportant if you are purchasing a high ticket item. Fraud
eBay? I spoke with someone recently who said that aon eBay can be dramatically reduced by following this
"fraudulent experience on eBay" ruined their desires toFraud Tip.Fraud Tip #3. Do Not Pay With Western
use eBay as a sales platform." That seems just a bitUnionThe chance of Fraud on eBay has been reduced
immature, don't you think? Just a few weeks ago mythrough eBay's own internal policing of buyer payment
nine year old daughter left her board shorts on aoptions. If you are going to pay for an item you
lounge chair while swimming in the pool (at a nationallypurchase on eBay - always use PayPal as you are
recognized vacation resort). When she returned, hercovered by PayPal's buyer protection program. Here is
shorts were gone. Someone stole her shorts. FraudeBay's latest "Safe Payments Policy:"Permitted on
and theft. How should my nine year old respond?eBay.com: Sellers may offer to accept PayPal, credit
Should she never swim in a public pool again?Ofcards including Mastercard/Visa /Amex/Discover, debit
course not. But, she can learn a valuable life lesson ofcards and bank electronic payments online for eBay
how to protect herself and her property. And to thatpurchases. Sellers may also offer to accept
we discover the purpose of this article. How can webank-to-bank transfers, often known as bank wire
protect ourselves from potential fraud on eBay?Fraudtransfers or bank cash transfers. Sellers may accept
on eBay, while small in proportion to the number ofCOD (cash on delivery) or cash for in person
transactions that take place, is a real issue for thetransactions. Sellers may offer to accept payment
unsuspecting eBay member. Follow the following pointsthrough Certapay and Propay. Sellers may offer to
to reduce the potential of fraud on eBay in your onlineaccept personal checks, money orders, cashier's
trading adventures. Fraud Tip #1: Understand PhishingAchecks, certified checks and other negotiable
new word to the Websters' Dictionary for 2005, thisinstruments. Not permitted on eBay.com: Sellers may
has become #1 of the top areas of Fraud Alert in thenot solicit buyers to mail cash. Sellers may not ask
history of the internet. Here is the definition frombuyers to send cash through instant cash transfer
dictionary.com: "A method of identity theft carried outservices (non-bank, point-to-point cash transfers) such
through the creation of a website that seems toas Western Union or Moneygram. Sellers may not ask
represent a legitimate company. The visitors to the site,buyers to pay with Stormpay. Finally, sellers may not
thinking they are buying something from a realrequest payment through online payment methods not
business, submit their personal information to the site.specifically permitted in this policy." With regards to
The criminals then use the personal information forcash payments on eBay, "The U.S. Postal Service tells
their own purposes, or sell the information to otherus it's unsafe, and now eBay is telling everyone that it
criminal parties." In specific terms, it may relate to youris unsafe," said Matt Halprin, eBay's global policy VP.
eBay membership, PayPal account, bank account,"So if a seller solicits or encourages offers to accept
credit card, or other account where you need an ID,cash, [they are] encouraging unsafe payment methods
password and/or personal information. Fraud on eBayand we do remove that seller's listing."eBay Fraud,
can occur when you receive a phishing email thatwhich accounts for only a small fraction of one
sounds 100% legitimate. It might come from: support@...percent of all transactions can be significantly be
And looks like this: "Dear eBay member, You havereduced by your use of PayPal.Fraud Tip #4.
received this warning because we have strong reasonPreventative Measures - Tips For Your ProtectionThe
to believe that your eBay account had been recentlyIFCC ( Internet Fraud Complaint Center) has an
compromised and it could be used by a third partyexcellent website that includes a tips page where you
without your authorization. In order to prevent anywill read about Internet Auction Fraud, Non-Delivery of
fraudulent activity from occurring we are required toMerchandise, Credit Card Fraud, Investment Fraud,
open an investigation into this matter. To speed up thisNigerian Letter Scam, and Business Fraud.In a perfect
process, you are required to verify your eBay accountworld, everyone would be honest and trustworthy, but,
by following the link below."a. Here's what happens:unfortunately, there are those who will try to take
when you click on the link listed, you are taken to aadvantage of others. The Internet provides
web page that looks exactly the same as the sign-intremendous opportunity - like anything else, use it
page -- for example, you are sure you are at thewisely.Adam Ginsberg - Entrepreneur, Author,
eBay sign-in page. You are asked for personalSpeakerAdam Ginsberg is internationally known as a
information, including ID and password, etc.How tosmall business and online expert and highly sought
protect yourself? You need to know that eBay,after speaker and trainer. Adam has published the #1
PayPal or any other secure site will NEVER ask forbest sellers "How to Buy, Sell & Profit on eBay".as well
your personal, identifying information in an email. Whatas "The Automatic Money Machine on eBay".
should you do? Delete the email and tell yourself you're