: Malware Identity Theft
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(461 Words)
Although there is no one surefire way to detect every eBay scam, certain clues may be warning signs. Consider the following red flags.
Offering a deal that is too good to be true
There are many great deals on eBay. Oftentimes you will get a better deal than you could in a store. However there are good deals and there are “too good” deals. If they offer a diamond necklace that should be in the thousands of dollars for in the hundreds, then you might have a problem. Of course, sometimes people start very low assuming that bidding will build it up, but you should definitely look for deals that just seem too extraordinary.
They want immediate payment in a way that provides no protections
Many sellers on eBay allow you to pay through Paypal. It is convenient for them, and buyers can get the protection of both Paypal and their bank or credit card. Someone who is running a scam often wants you to remit payment immediately. They may want you to send a money order or check that can be immediately cashed. If they take your money you will have no recourse.
No or bad feedback
Obviously everyone starts out with no feedback so this in itself is not the sign of a scam. You should however consider it in conjunction with the other items.
A lot of feedback with something small but then selling something big
Many would-be scammers know that people will be wary of them if they have no feedback. One ploy that they use is to sell a large amount of tiny items in a small amount of time. They then deliver on those items and garner a lot of positive reviews for those. Suddenly they now sell the large scam item. People will see their positive feedback and think that they are safe, when really they aren’t. Again, this is not a surefire sign because people do sell varying items, but you should be aware of it and examine their feedback. Also make sure that the feedback isn’t all from one source.
You also want to consider the type of item when looking for scams. Certain items such as autographed collectibles and designer clothing are easier to fake than others. When looking at a particular item, you can do research on it to see if you can spot from the pictures whether it is real or perhaps a knock-off. For instance, if you are looking to purchase a Coach bag, you can find details about the characteristics of real versus fake ones.
There are many scams on eBay, but you can lower your chances of being taken by one if you are careful. Be aware of the above factors when purchasing from this source.