BBB Tip of the Week: eBay scam warning signs

eBay scam warning signs: My husband and I enjoy playing board games and cards. I have noticed a significant difference in our approach. He likes to sit down and read the rules thoroughly first – even multipage booklets – while I am impatient to start having fun and just want to learn as I play.

Unfortunately, the “know as you go” approach can hurt you – especially when you’re bidding on an online auction site like eBay. I decided to take some time this week to educate myself, using a great article on the eBay guide section about online auction safety. Here is what I learned:

• Know the product: Is it authentic or a cheap knock-off? 

• Don’t use email addresses that are included in the text section of postings, and don’t click on unknown links. Send questions via the “Ask seller a question” option.

• Short-duration sales may raise a red flag. There are some good reasons to sell quickly, but this may also set you up for a hit-and-run seller.

• If the sale is supposedly in the U.S., make sure the bid amount is in American dollars. Why would someone in Texas convert your bid to euros?

• Are the photos stock pictures from the company website or original photos of the item? If you’ve seen the exact same picture in other auctions, this may be a red flag. Does the photo’s background look like a store where the person just went in and started taking pictures?

• Specify your category. Be aware that scammers often post items in obscure places. 

• Payment method can tip you off to a scam. Never wire money during these transactions. Familiarize yourself with PayPal’s safety link information.  

• There are fake eBay and PayPal sites that attempt to steal your login information. If a URL does not start with “https” (the “s” is the important part) it is not a secure site. And some second-chance offers featuring hot-links may be scams.

As the article notes, remember that when you bid in an online auction, you are doing business with total strangers. Most people are decent and honest, but some aren’t.

More info or to report scams: Visit the BBB at www.bbb.org. Call (509) 455-4200 or (800) 356-1007. Or sign up to receive our Scam Alerts at www.bbb.org/scam.

Holly Doering, BBB editor