I'm new to Ebay, What Scams Are Out There?
I have been looking at the possibility of doing some Ebay
trading. And, since I have been on the Internet for a while, I
decided that I should see what Ebay scams, if any, was floating
about. Why? It is always good to be aware of the good, the bad,
and the ugly of any online venture. And since, I've seen all
sides - it's wise to have cautious optimism.
Wholesale List Scam
With this scam, the wholesaler gives you a photo of say, a
computer monitor or DVD - the buyer is under the assumption that
they are buying a monitor or DVD, right? Wrong? You may only be
buying a wholesale list. This is what they call a "bait and
switch". They are hoping that the individual is in a hurry or
cannot read English well, and they blindly buy. Rule of thumb:
read everything before buying.
Note: Wholesale List scams are very common for monitors,
laptops, camcorders, DVD players, flat screen televisions and
mp3 players; cutting-edge electronic devices.
Fake Money Order
The buyer sends the seller a fake money order, a bad check - and
the seller sends the item before the money order or check has
been successfully cashed. Seller is out the item and the money.
Credit Card Chargebacks
The buyer pays with a credit card through Paypal. Once the buyer
has received the item, the buyer initiates a chargeback. This is
where the novice come in, if you do not have proof that the item
was sent - you are out the money, the item, and you have to pay
a chargeback fee. Rule of thumb: Send your item through UPS, or
certified mail to protect yourself.
Fake Escrow Scam
The scammer says that they want to buy your item, but they want
to use an escrow service. The purpose of the escrow service is
to add a layer of protection for the buyer. They will hold on to
the money, and once the buyer has received the item from the
seller, the escrow service will release the money to the seller.
This is where the scam comes in - The buyer will request that
you use the escrow service that they, so they say, have used
with other transactions. The escrow service is a front - set up
by the buyer.
Email Ebay Scam The email Ebay scam - is an email that says it
has come from Ebay. The email will state that it looks like your
account has been compromised and they would like your to verify
the information,for your protection, of course. Never click the
link. Open a new Internet session and manually type the
information to get into your account.
Other email scams, include the fake payment received email. You
will receive a payment-received notice, that looks authentic,
but be aware, it could have been sent by the buyer. Never send
anything, until you have verified that the payment has been
received and the info received is valid.
To conclude, when you are looking at any new venture, it is
always good to do the research and be aware of what you may be
up against. It hard enough to start any business - and you
definitely don't want anyone running off with your hard earned
money. Being aware - can keep your business moving forward.