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