Tips to avoid scams on eBay

Consider the following stats related to eBay-related scams, as reported by Javelin Strategy & Research:

• Nearly 100 people in eBay become victims of identity fraud every five minutes;
• Total losses amount to $600,000;
• Around 11% of members fall for a typical spoof or phishing scam.

An article published on the December 2006 issue of Entrepreneur magazine gives the following tips to protect oneself online when buying or selling goods on eBay.

1. Your eBay & PayPal passwords should be different. Each should have eight characters, varying four letters and four numbers (e.g., 4j2o1m9s).

2. Never open any e-mail from eBay or PayPal from your regular e-mail account. Always go to "My eBay," scroll down the left side and click "My Messages." If the e-mail really is from eBay, it will be duplicated there. For "real" PayPal messages, log in to your Paypal account. Any important information will be in the top left-hand corner of your main PayPal page.

3. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Use your common sense when interacting online. Don't get caught up in the excitement of what seems like a great deal.

4. If you start a transaction on eBay, don't take it outside eBay. Always complete your transactions on eBay so you can take advantage of the protections eBay and PayPal provide, including PayPal’s Seller Protection Policy and numerous Buyer Protection options.

Check out the following online security resources provided by eBay.

• Security & resolution center: Portal page to report any eBay security issue;
• Spoof Tutorial: Tutorial on spoof emails, how to spot them and how to protect yourself.
• Trust & Safety Discussion board: eBay community forum to learn more about how to buy and sell safely online.
• PayPal Security Center: Online protection checklist, list of government agencies that provide assistance and more.

Other articles that might interest you:

• Fake PayPal email
• Don't be fooled by spoof PayPal emails

[tags]eBay scam, eBay identity fraud, buy sell eBay, eBay Philippines, PayPal Philippines[/tags]