The biggest form of online auction fraud is when a seller takes payment and then fails to deliver the promised item or the item is delivered but does not match the item description.

2) Why does it happen?

The buyer or seller is convinced by the counterparty that they, the counterparty, can be trusted - This is how 100% of all online auction Frauds or Scams operate

3) Who does it?

In our experience, anyone that you have not dealt with before or who does not have a significant amount of positive feedback has the potential to be a fraudster.

4) Why do they do it?

In all walks of life we have a certain element of the community that given the opportunity, will take advantage of other more trusting members. An online auction gives this type of individual the opportunity to pretend to be someone he or she is not because you cannot see them

5) Most common online auction Fraud scams and ways to spot them

• Wire Transfers overseas (especially Western Union) - seller insists that you pay by wire transfer and your payment is safe because money will not be released without a password or ID code. This is not true! If they insist on a wire transfer it is almost certainly a Scam!
• Will only provide you with a mobile, pager or voice messaging system.
• Landline number is always engaged or 'please leave a message'.
• Hotmail account or another third-party email address.
• High priced auctioned item from a member with zero feedback.
• Offers to complete the sale before the auction has finished - contact telephone number or email in the text of the auction.
• Requesting your banking details after the auction has closed and then setting up direct debits with your banking information. Always use a payment provider such as PPPay.com to avoid giving your banking information.
• Makes an excuse why they cannot use the Escrow Payment facilities.

  If you have any doubt or suspicions Contact us before doing anything!

The best ways to be sure about your transaction are :

1. Use sellers with good feedback and read the comments that others have left.
2. Ask for phone numbers and speak to the seller.
3. Use PPPay Escrow Payments
4. Pick up and pay for the goods in person.

If you receive an email that appears to be from eBid that requests sensitive personal information, be cautious. The email may be a "spoof" or "phishing" email. The people who send these fake emails hope that unsuspecting recipients will reply or click on a link contained in the email and then provide sensitive personal information such as passwords, your Mother's Maiden name, date or birth and debit and credit card information etc.

If you have any suspicions that you maybe the subject of a 'spoof' or 'phishing' email do not click on any link in the email. The purpose of spoof email is to lead you to a Web site and attempt to collect personal information and commit identity theft or other crimes. Please contact support via the helpdesk section immediately.

Spoof emails often include the use of the eBid logo and an eBid address in the "From" line (for example, "From: donotreply@ebid.net") The email may mimic common eBid emails, such as notifications of problems with your account, Ask Seller a Question emails or offers to become an eBid Seller+ member.