| You can find just about anything on eBay these day's | | | | for payment in another way. |
| a random browse brings CDs, clothing, cars, and skin | | | | 3. Shipping and Receiving Scoundrels. Whether you're |
| to your computer screen. That's right, I said skin. One | | | | the buyer or seller, you should be cautious about the |
| man recently auctioned patches of his body to | | | | exchange of money and goods. Users can easily take |
| advertising companies, who tattooed their logos on to | | | | your money or item and disappear without sending |
| him. EBay isn't the only site for surfers bit by the | | | | you what you're due. |
| auction bug. There are literally hundreds of sites on the | | | | In most conditions, it is the buyer's responsibility to send |
| web where you can sell your useless crap and use | | | | payment first. If you're using a personal check to pay |
| the money to buy someone elses useless crap. It's a | | | | for an item, date the check two weeks from the day |
| flea market if I ever saw one-just online. And hey, it's | | | | you send it. That way, if the seller never sends the |
| not all junk. You can find some great deals on auctions | | | | item, you can cancel your check before its cashed. |
| sites. | | | | The best choice, especially for larger items, is to use |
| One problem: People are getting scammed, which | | | | an escrow service. These companies act as a |
| turns them off to these types of sites altogether. Of | | | | go-between for buyers and sellers. |
| course, security is bound to be an issue whenever the | | | | Check with the Better Business Bureau or Consumer |
| Internet and money are involved, but with online | | | | Reports before selecting a service to make sure they |
| auctions, individuals are in control, not corporations who | | | | aren't scamming both buyer and seller by disappearing |
| are more trustworthy with business transactions. 99 | | | | with the item and the money, both at once. |
| times out of 100, the relationship between auctioneer | | | | 4. Check Bouncers. As with stolen credit cards, buyers |
| and buyer will go smoothly, but just in case, here's the | | | | can easily scam sellers by sending them checks that |
| top five ways users will scam you. Don't become that | | | | are no good. You receive the payment and mail the |
| minority who walks away from a deal having lost both | | | | item, but when you go to cash the check, you find out |
| money and item. | | | | that it is worthless. Don't shoot yourself in the foot-use |
| 1. Phony Users. I don't know what the reason is behind | | | | a third party service instead. |
| it, but some users will bid on items when they never | | | | Third party payment services, the most popular of |
| have any intention of purchasing it. Your auction will be | | | | which is paypal, allow people to create free online |
| over, and the user will cancel his auction membership | | | | accounts to transfer money. Using a bank account or |
| and disappear-and there's not much you can do to | | | | credit card, you can send and receive money almost |
| stop him. Most auction sites charge a fee to sell items, | | | | instantly, which prevents users from stealing your stuff. |
| so not only do you still have the unwanted item on | | | | This is the best option for payment after an online |
| your hands, but you also have lost money trying to sell | | | | auction. |
| it. | | | | 5. Identity Thieves. As with any online service, you |
| One way to prevent this from happening is to closely | | | | need to be very careful with your personal information |
| keep track of you auction. When the auction closes, | | | | to prevent identity theft. These crooks are getting very |
| take note of the second and third runners up. That | | | | sneaky, often the e-mails or messages you receive |
| way, if the winner bails on you, you can contact the | | | | from them look and sound very official. As people are |
| others to see if they are still interested in purchasing | | | | getting more web-savvy, so are cyber criminals. |
| the item from you. At some sites, you also have the | | | | Use a well-known auction site that you trust. These |
| option of only accepting bids from confirmed | | | | sites should never ask for information like your social |
| users-these are bidders who have either won and | | | | security number. Most of the time they won't be the |
| paid for items in the past or who have their own | | | | ones trying to scam you. Other users will use their |
| auctioneer's account set up with the site. Check the | | | | company name to send e-mails demanding such |
| guidelines, because every site is a little different on their | | | | information. If you get something in your inbox that |
| definition of "confirmed buyer." | | | | looks fishy, forward it to the company or give them a |
| 2. Stolen Credit Cards. If you own a business and | | | | call, and professionals there can tell you if it's legit. |
| choose to accept credit cards, be careful about how | | | | These sites will also never ask for your user name |
| you do this online. When a user pays with a stolen | | | | and password in an e-mail, so beware of claims that |
| credit card, it may take a few days for the rightful | | | | this information is needed. |
| owner to realize it's one. Guess what? You won't get | | | | Use common sense. The information you share online |
| the money for your item, which is already in the mail-as | | | | should be limited and you should always take |
| good as gone. | | | | preventative measures to protect yourself. Sites are |
| Credit card payments are tricky, and I don't | | | | only as secure as their users, so if you get scammed, |
| recommend using them unless you own a business | | | | most times you only have yourself to blame. Before |
| with an online website that has credit card payments | | | | signing up with any auction site, check their policies. |
| available. If not, call the credit card company. The | | | | Knowledge is the key to keeping your online |
| name and address that the user provided for shipping | | | | transactions protected so that you can buy and sell all |
| should be the same name and address on the card. | | | | the personal property, goods and services you want. |
| Companies are glad to check their records for you-it | | | | Before long, that green and orange polka-dotted couch |
| saves them time and money when their cards are | | | | will be yours. |
| stolen. If it doesn't match up, decline the card and ask | | | | |