Most of the information you need to know about fraud is on ebay forums, but the FRAUD INFO is NOT ORGANIZED into one clear, concise file and EBAYERS ARE NOT WARNED UPFRONT OF THE TACTICS OF SCAMMERS IN EVERY AUCTION AD AND THEY ARE NOT TOLD IN EVERY AUCTION AD SPECIFICALLY WHERE TO GO for this data which always updates as scammers evolve. For new ebayers, it's a shock to their system to fall for a scammer. For a lot of semi-experienced ebayers, they get lulled into a sense of security, bidding and buying within hundreds of transactions without encountering outright scams and then suddenly by an accidental single wrong choice OR by luck OR design of the scammer, they've been scammed and are shocked. Many ebayers know what type of sellers' auctions to avoid so that they don't run into the scammers or bad sellers, but someone new to or who hasn't been ripped off yet on ebay will not know this. Even for "experienced" ebayers, they can and do get ripped off, too. As one ebay poster posted, "..but, we do need something to let buyers manage bad deals more easily. I for one have almost stopped buying on eBay because of all the bad dealings we have had in the past year+...and I do know a bit more then the average user and still got taken and have onepurchase for over $200...but at least I knew how to get my money back w/o any hassles...that time.

Second, you are buying from INDIVIDUAL sellers or INDIVIDUAL businesses which are SEPARATE FROM EBAY who set their own terms and WHO ARE NOT UNDER THE DIRECT CONTROL OF EBAY. If you have a problem with a seller or item, EBAY DOES VERY LITTLE TO HELP YOU. Why doesn't ebay just not allow these type of sellers or scammers? (you'll have to look at my opinion at the end of the website).

So basically, your chances of running into a legitimate seller are VERY LOW. If you add misrepresentation (which i talk about later), the chances of finding a legitimate HONEST seller are EVEN LOWER. Even if you think about the number of LEGITIMATE HONEST auction deals out there for high $$$ items like game stations, computers, etc., the NUMBER OF LEGITIMATE HONEST HIGH $$$ auction deals IS TOO LOW considering the many number of ebay members you have to compete with looking for them. Basically, not everybody who's willing to pay 40%-70% of retail is going home with an item from those type of auctions. There are just too many buyers for too few of those types of items that ARE sold legitimately & honestly. How many times would you or anyone in your family or circle of friends sell off a LIKE NEW state of the art laptop computer (retail value $2500) for under or about $1000?? Once i can understand. More than once and I think you're lying or are a professional REFURBISH reseller who is technically computer proficient. Refurbish resellers are fine as long as you're told it's refurbished sight unseen before you receive it. But a lot of the auctions say "new" or "like new" and most people assume that means as "never opened like I bought it from the big box dependable retailer." And even for good refurbish resellers, it's very hard for even them to get their hands on "state-of-the-art" OR some of the best branded/bet model computers regularly.

But, the FIRST thing to worry about is WARRANTY. Most companies will not honor any warranty since it has been transferred from the original owner to the new owner on ebay, so right there BEFORE YOU EVEN BID, you're taking a BIG FINANCIAL HIT. There's no reason that the computer must work weeks or months or years after you buy it since you bought it at an AUCTION and NOT AN AUTHORIZED RETAILER.

AVOID EBAY:

i understand how you feel. i bought a printer from a high feedback seller with 0 negs/neutrals and nowhere on her auction ad did she say the printer might not work. I could have just went to outpost.com and paid $40 more and gotten a printer in PERFECT condition WITHOUT ALL THE HASSLE, with full refund for ANY reason, FULL WARRANTY, FAST reasonable cost SHIPPING by Airborne, GREAT EXCELLENT SERVICE. This is how you have to think when you're on ebay. If you can get it anywhere else more reputable on or off the web, go there first before you ever set foot on ebay. Remember, once you're ripped off, ebay won't give you back all of your money including shipping fees but a large reliable reputable company will because a reputable company cares about its community and business reputation. Ebay doesn't care as long as they keep making money.

--------Most times at large or reputable retailers, it will be same or lower or a little bit higher cost, but no matter what, your chances at these large or reputable retailers outside of ebay are extremely low for getting ripped off !

If it's a common item outside like a printer, computer, electronics, game station, etc..:

• save enough money to get that item or
• change to an alternate cheaper brand or
• try pawn brokers or
• outlet malls for designer items or
• look for sales or coupons at major magazines or newspapers or online. There are MANY online coupon sites. Just type the company name, then "online coupon" in Google and it will take you to sites that give you the codes. Retailers love you using these coupons.
• try repossession companies (for cars) or
• try government auctions by calling the local governments for auction times and locations(sometimes you can get great deals from the government legally swiping the stuff from the drug dealers or other criminals) or
• try

  http://www.craigslist.org---BUY LOCAL

  where you can actually go to the nearby seller's house and check out the items ALTHOUGH THERE ARE DANGERS here with expensive items like cars (Look at "Violence" section but at least craigslist is UPFRONT listing scams). Other than not buying 4 digit expensive items, Craigslist is GREAT!! I've bought WORKABLE, LIKE NEW computer printers for $10 and a REFURBISHED BUT LIKE NEW 6 GB Computer with printer for $140 with all the correct included software/software manuals and sometimes if you call by phone and ask and maybe pay a little more, the seller will bring it over to your house THE SAME DAY. I've had a whole room furnished with almost new looking art deco-like furniture including the bed from craigslist, all for under $150!!! No paying for overcharged s/h, s/h disputes, or worrying if the item gets to you damaged!! No waiting until auction ends and worrying about your feedback and fretting about payment without receiving anything or receiving damaged goods. Because the "seller" or nice person giving away or selling the item and you will meet personally, they have no reason to lie. And even if they do, you have all day to inspect the item IN THE FLESH (and not just on a computer screen) before buying it. You don't have to worry about the seller's shipping deficiencies nor worry about certain Post Office people stealing your item or leaving your item with some stranger in or next door to your house.YOU'LL NEVER GET THIS KIND OF DEAL ON EBAY!!
• try buying from a lower cost of living area for better deals. If you live in a high cost of living area like California, get hold of the yellow pages phone directory or go thru any yellow pages phone directory on the Internet for a low cost of living area like Alabama, Arkansas, Michigan, etc. You may not know if the businesses are good or not but they're a better shot than going thru the scam sellers on ebay. Author Kimberly Causey has a book about shopping for furniture in North Carolina which knocks the socks off of prices with great quality with the rare and expensive brands you can't find in California and other states. Then there's the nice european company called IKEA. IKEA is also known as a low cost furniture store with great styles in furniture.
• try and buy from a Costco or Price Club where they usually have great deals on items especially electronics and other appliances. They have day passes or you could go with a friend who has a card or buy a card membership yourself.
• try web price comparison and/or opinion sites like:
  www.epinions.com
  www.bargainshare.com
  http://www.planetfeedback.com/consumer/
  http://www.frugalvillage.com/

• view Michael Finney, an excellent consumer activist on KGO-TV and KGO-AM Radio which i use for consumer info or to spot scams and to spot bargains for electronics and computers or computer-related stuff or
• you can decide to just do without it. It may be rare and one-of-a-kind, but do you really want to take a big risk losing your money? or
• wait until the price goes down later (which always happens in computers, electronics, video game stuff) or

• BUY ONLINE AT LARGE, WELL-KNOWN REPUTABLE STORES

  --keep searching on the web at reputable sites like Amazon(stay with the items that Amazon or Amazon's well-known store affiliates sells and not the private sellers), Barnes & Noble, Office Depot, Outpost, Bed Bath & Beyond, Walgreen's, Target, Nordstrom's, Petsmart,etc.--basically the stores EVERYONE deals with or that you know is well known locally. If you're not sure of their webaddress since there are ALOT OF FAKE WEBSITES OUT THERE, go to the store and lots of times, their website will be listed on the shopping bag or on advertisements (even tv commericials/newspapers/magazines) or use your local phonebook to call up the store's central technical/website/administration dept for the correct web address URL. OR
• ask friends/family/relatives/co-workers/neighbors for advice.

  sidenote: Most rebates by computer or computer-related companies are fraud since the company doesn't want to really give you back your money and keeps putting up loopholes so just try and get a deal without regard to their false rebates

  ---

  
  Also, there are other search engines besides Google. If you can't find what you want on Google, look at other search engines like:
  • www.local2me.com which is a search engine that's local to your area once you register
  • technorati.com searches blogs for info
  • alltheweb.com AND Vivisimo.com AND ilor.com AND mamma.com AND ixquick.com AND looksmart.com
  • hotbot.com AND euroseek.com AND altavista.com AND feedster.com

  I list more alternatives at the end of my website.

  YOU AS A FRAUD AND FIELD EXPERT: Unless you're an expert in spotting ALL the scams, an expert in computers or whatever field you're looking in, you'll get ripped off. I was aware of scams on ebay but never really looked into them since I stayed in the video field (no scammers at the time) and never dealt with any sellers except U.S. or U.K. until I got ripped off by this scammer in the UK who got a bunch of us to WU him $$ for a somewhat rare video using BIN.

  WHICH FIELDS DO SCAMMERS INHABIT?? The worst fields are the HCD(high consumer demand) fields and a few more fields:

  • property(land and/or buildings)
  • cars/automotive--- According to a poster, "In 2003, in one month a group of hard-working eBayers searched out and reported over 5000 auctions and about 900 stolen accounts in ATVs and motorcycles alone"
  • electronics
  • Music instruments
  • gamestations(Playstations, XBoxes)
  • Popular Ticket Events
  • computer parts
  • computers
  • laptop computers
  • gift cards (especially from large retailers)
  • magazine subscriptions:

    as one ebayer posted:

    I did a Buy It Now back in December for a 3 year magazine subscription for what I thought was a good price. The first problem was that when the seller contacted me the good price had DOUBLED because the seller cleverly hid a shipping charge that was now added on to the BIN price.

    I thought that was pretty sneaky of them since when does a subscription have a shipping charge.

    That's like ordering a twenty dollar steak at your favorite restaraunt and getting a bill for $40 because they added $20 on to the price for cooking it.

    Anyway I went ahead and paid the seller their new price as even with their bogus shipping charge the magazine was still an ok deal.

    So for the last three months I've been waiting for the magazine subscription to start and finally the other day I get my first issue.

    BUT WAIT.........

    I take a look at the mailing label and it says my subscription is for only 1 year even though the auction was for 3 years and I sent payment for 3 years.

    I say to myself no problem as the seller probably made an honest mistake and I'm sure once I email them they wil correct their error.

    BOY WAS I WRONG

    The seller emails me back saying that it wasn't a mistake that they only sent in enough money to the publisher for a 1 year subscription. They tell me that in a year from know they will send in a second payment for another year and that in the year 2007 they will send in the money for my third year.

    WHAT A SCAM THEY ARE RUNNING

    Like I'm supposed to trust them that they will still be around then.

    And as some of you seasoned ebayers already know Ebay and Paypal have both told me to take a hike as it's past the 30 day deadline to file a complaint.

    So my only recourse thru ebay is to leave the seller negative feedback which I'm quite sure I'll get in return and I'm also quite sure that if I leave neg fb I will never see my subscription extended in 2006 & 2007.

    So does anybody have any suggestions?

    And just to be clear none of this was ever disclosed in the auction or I would never had bid.

  • rare art stuff
  • ANY ITEM OR ANY APPLIANCE THAT REQUIRES AN INTERNAL MECHANISM TO WORK. Also do you know that many manufacturers of high end items (Cannon, Sony, etc.) will NOT honor warranties on items purchased outside of retail sellers??
  • autographed items
  • travel tickets or hotel or package bookings
  • mobile phones
  • computer printers
  • ink cartridges
  • designer items-- For example, 98.9% of the rolex watches being sold on Ebay are fakes. As one poster stated, "98% of the designer label items that are sold on eBay are FAKE."
  • anything else that's hundreds or thousands of $$$
  • plasma tv's--------from complaints.com:

    "I found a Sony 50" Plasma TV on ebay (after their site had specially promoted plasma TVs). I had to register with seller to buy the TV / take part in auction. I checked out sellers feedback and it was 100% positive, this filled me with confidence. I was told to Western Union the money to the seller in Europe (i was in UK) and he would then check it was their and then UPS me the TV. When I recived the TV annd was happy with it I would then release money Control Transfer Number and transaction would be complete. Doe to 100% positive feedback and cheap price of TV I went ahead.

    TV was never sent but money was collected.. I then put my detective head on and found many, many such scams on ebay for the same product. I mailed the sellers to warn them off ebay and complained to ebay. After further research conducted by mailing the people who had given these sellers such glorious feedback it became apparent that the sellers had hijacked the accounts of innocent ebayers and used them to commit fraud. It was also then apparent that either no ID or false ID was being used to collect the money via Western Union.

    I invovled the police and they said that after speaking to ebay and western union that this had beeen happening alot for many weeks for the same product. Why was I not warned by ebay or western union.

  BUT THIS DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY WON'T ENTER OTHER FIELDS!!! As I mentioned, they went into the video field which is a field I usually bought at before and in the early years I was in the video field, it was common for bootleg videos. But outright scammers who took my money without sending me the goods never happened until a couple of years later which ended my life as a high $$$ ebay buyer.

  Right now with the crackdown by honest ebayers on the worst fields against the scammers, the scammers will move onto other fields. Lately, they've been seen trying to scam on high $$$ rare items which ebayers will more willingly bid on since rare items can't be found anywhere else on or off the web including stealing legitimate sellers' website content and photos (which can be done by just rightclicking on the image under "Save as" on the images/content or linking directly to an image's hosting website or other way of copying/saving.)
  ------- I don't even enter the above categories since I got burned by a seller selling her junk printer(seller mentioned above) who had perfect feedback while I bid and we were emailing back and forth i needed it for my school needs and never once did she say it was just broken junk that was DOA.

  For real estate, cars/automotive, electronics, gamestations, plasma tv's, computers, laptops, ANY ITEM OR ANY APPLIANCE THAT REQUIRES AN INTERNAL MECHANISM TO WORK, gift cards, autographed items, music instruments, travel tickets or hotel or package bookings, musical instruments, mobile phones, printers, ink cartridges, popular ticket events, designer items, items that are hundreds or thousands of $$$. NEVER BID ON THESE ITEMS ON EBAY EVEN IF THE FEEDBACK OF THE SELLER IS EXCELLENT. Because these fields are so rampant in MISREPRESENTATION if not outright fraud, it's better to STAY AWAY FROM THESE FIELDS.

  Here's an excerpt from an ebay user regarding the automotive section:

  I recently got scammed this past saturday by the freaking western union scam (I'M A ROOKIE AT EBay). Since then I have been on EBay looking at other Motorcycles but now aware of what's going on. THE MOTORCYCLE bidding area is FULL of scammers.. Its UNREAL, out of 15 sellers I contacted 12 were all fake. ALL wanted to use Western Union and the sellers & items are all located overseas.. IS ANYTHING A REAL ITEM ON EBAY ANYMORE. My god, damn near everything I look at is a scam.. What the hell is EBay doing to try and clear this up. I don't even want to use ebay anymore.. Rather go to a local dealer or mall, its crazy. And yes more then half the sellers had GREAT feedback and history of selling, probably all hijacked EBay accounts.. Something REALLY needs to be done. As far as I'm concerned EBay is at fault for not trying to handle this situation, its getting out of hand. Class action law suits are not to far off. Anyone trying to get together and form a suit let me know I want in. EBAY is RIDICUlOUS in its current state. Something better has to be put in place to make bidding more secure for the buyer and seller alike.

  Sidenote I used to buy compatible ink cartridges on ebay, also. I bought a lot with lures of buy 6 for the price of 4 and free shipping, etc. BIG MISTAKE!! I didn't realize until i had to change cartridges weeks later that the hardened "ink" would not work. Compatible ink cartridges are also in high demand by consumers. Again, there are many reputable remanufacturers online, some with high quality standards. I now buy my cartridges online instead of on ebay. Companies outside of ebay want your continued loyalty to keep buying their products, so they stand behind their product and if I have a problem, they won't continue fighting saying I have "less of a right" to a refund compared with getting into a dispute with an ebay seller with negative feedback ramifications and more hassle.

  Go to any search engine and you'll see scams galore such as:

  • Ebay slammed over levels of Fraud-Dec 16,2005
  • http://www.geocities.com/ebayoyvey/ebaynew.html
  • http://www.remodern.com/caught.html
  • Is Ebay Worse than Sears? on slashdot.org
  • ebay Fraud Vigilantes on slashdot.org
  • http://www.empiresecurity.com/displayarticle213.html
  • http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abn/y03/m04/i21/s01
  • http://www.ebayersthatsuck.com
  • http://www.ebaydeadbeats.com
  • http://www.liquidationscam.org
  • http://www.thevincent.com/scammers.html
  • http://www.angelfire.com/mac/ton_de_lay_o/ebay_scams.html
  • http://www.jimshanklin.com/Guestbook/Guestbook.htm
  • http://www.truetex.com/ebayfraud.htm

  SOME SITES TO SURF TO STAY AWARE OF SCAMS:

  ID THEFT & PREVAILING SCAMS
  PERSUASION SCAMS
  ID THEFT & PREVAILING SCAMS

  Next Page

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  abbreviations for many ebay terms

  Index page

  Updates page-contains any major updates after 6/8/04