1) What is online auction fraud?

The most common 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 who, when being 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.
• Fraudulent escrow services (what is escrow?) - Ssellers offering to use an escrow company that is not regulated.

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

6) How can I stop this happening to me?

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 (UK & Europe)
4. Pick up and pay for the goods in person.

7) Online Security - How do I know that an email is really from eBid?

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 recipient 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 Help 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.

8) Spam. How to spot and prevent it.

A spam email is a message that is unsolicited and sent to multiple recipients. Spam may have Commercial content but may also contain viruses or worms that may infect your computer.

1. Don't open spam attachments. If you believe an email is spam and contains an attachment, do not open it. You should also set your defaults setting to not show images in your incoming emails as images may alert the sender that you have opened the email.
2. Be careful with your primary email address. Your main email address should only be given to companies and people you absolutely trust. You can obtain free email addresses to use to register on websites you never intend to visit again.
3. Don't choose a guessable email address. An email address like John.Smith@hotmail.com or hamburger@hotmail.com is easily guessed by a spammer because they use simple names or commonly used words that can be found in the dictionary.
4. Read privacy policies on websites. A good privacy policy commits to never selling your email address.
5. Read the Help section for your email program and ISP guidelines on Spam. Your Internet Service Provider should be able to provide further information and Tools to help fight Spam.
6. Don't forward marketing emails. Forwarding Marketing emails will result in your contacts getting spammed.

9) Credit & debit card information.

Secure debit and credit card encryption.

1. All debit and credit card information entered is sent via secure encryption to our merchant providers.
2. eBid does not keep or hold any of your card information on file. This is for additional and added security.

10) Securing Your Account and Reporting Account Theft

If you suspect that an unauthorized party has accessed or has attempted to access your eBid account, take the following actions:

1. First, check with family members and others who may use your account to verify that they did not make any changes.
2. Secondly, if no family members or associates have changed your eBid information please contact eBid support immediately with all relevant information.
3. Note: Sensitive debit and credit card information submitted to eBid is not stored at or on eBid servers and cannot be accessed through your eBid account. The most common way for an eBid account to be compromised is by replying to a "spoof" or "phishing" email (see 7 above) designed to access members" passwords and other sensitive information. You should take steps to protect your identity if you provided information to a spoof Web site or replied to a spoofed email. This includes contacting eBid support through necessary channels. If you have given out sensitive information such as card or bank details you need to contact your card/bank provider immediately.

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