On-line auction scammers exist
The Apple iPhone came out recently, and within hours the scam artists were up and running. The very next day, a fast check of iPhones on one of the major online auctions sites netted 10,701 listings. Considering what it costs, you really have to wonder about the auctions that offer an iPhone for a starting bid of one cent. Or the one that was auctioning off envelopes containing “chances” to win an iPhone.
One entrepreneur was even selling the bottles of water that were handed out while people waited in line. Somehow that inexpensive water might be a better deal than bidding on a fuzzy photo of what might or might not be a real iPhone.
Try as they might, the online auction companies can’t find and remove every scam listing that’s placed on their site. But there are things you can do to minimize your chances of paying for something you don’t get.
“ Check the seller’s history. If the seller has only auctioned off three items, that’s not much of a track record. Stick with listers who’ve been in business quite a while. Read the feedback comments from previous buyers. There’s always the chance of an unhappy bidder leaving a snide comment, but check the overall percentage rate of happy customers.
“ Get the seller’s name and address, in case of a problem later.
“ Know what you’re buying. Ask questions (and save those e-mails). Ask for better photos if you can’t see the item clearly. Long-time listers typically only show excellent photos.
“ Know when to stop. If the bidding on an item suddenly runs hot, don’t take that to mean that you have a lot of competitors wanting the same item. It could be the lister’s friends who are running up the bid price.
“ Don’t pay cash. Use Paypal or a similar service.
“ Think about what you’re buying. If the bid is for a first edition book that you know to be quite valuable, yet the seller has started the bidding at 99 cents, think twice.
Been scammed? Call the police in the seller’s area and make a report. Notify the auction site, then call the FTC at 877-382-4357.