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Last Post Aug 19, 2009 10:49 AM by: afantiques
Replies: 50
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jenny_lake
Posts: 13

Red Flags For Bidders - introducing Version 3

Jan 25, 2006 4:27 PM
Here is a new link to the newly updated list of 13 Red Flags To Warn a Bidder of a Fraudulent Transaction, Version 3. If you have the old version bookmarked, please replace it with this link. For easy reference, it is hosted on the "me" page for user "red-flags."

Link

Permission is granted to anyone who wants to use, circulate, and publicize this information in any way which helps to prevent bidder fraud.

I can't adequately thank Silverstrad for not only providing valuable assistance in revising the contents, but also for her magnificent, time consuming, application of HTML to the list.

Belated thanks to arielmt2, who kindly applied the HTML to Version 2, and hosted it on his me page for the past year and a half.
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arielmt2
Posts: 1,412
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Red Flags For Bidders - introducing Version 3

Jan 25, 2006 7:08 PM
Special thanks goes to you, JL, for your research and preparation. I've updated the copy of the list on my about-me page, so anyone who's still passing around that URL will still get the latest version, as well as praise rightly directed to its author.

A shorter URL to the official list: members.ebay.com/aboutme/red-flags


There's no such things as a hero. Only ordinary people... asked extraordinary things... in terrible circumstances. And delivering.
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anniesringthings
Posts: 18
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Red Flags For Bidders - introducing Version 3

Feb 11, 2006 2:52 AM
I had an account hijacked once supposedly by use of a KEYSTROKE virus which meant I didn't have to even click on a link in the email to allow access--all I did was hit reply.

Now I hesitate to open emails and always check MY Messages before opening emails. However, I had a buyer complaint filed with paypal and PAYPAL never sent a message to me through My Messages which I would expect them to do being fully aware of the viruses and phish ing emails constantly sent out.

Any thoughts?
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ericle57
Posts: 6
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Red Flags For Bidders - introducing Version 3

Apr 3, 2006 10:06 AM
That's extremely helpful in light of the problems I'm now having. However, my quandary right now is:

The auction I participated in was deleted by eBay after I won and paid for the item (by wire transfer).

I can't contact the member, or leave feedback, or escalate my claim (item not as described, etc.), or do anything else.
Where can I find out information about who to contact in Germany, e.g., eBay.de contact info, law enforcement, consumer protection, etc.???
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the_biograph_girl
Posts: 4,961
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Red Flags For Bidders - introducing Version 3

Apr 3, 2006 3:06 PM
Ericle, you should really start a new thread to ask this question. Not everyone reads these tacked threads. We have a few regulars from Germany who post here and they may be able to help you.

Can you post the auction number? Did you pay by bank-to-bank transfer or did you use Moneygram or Western Union?

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ubid4sure
Posts: 1
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Red Flags For Bidders - introducing Version 3

Apr 25, 2006 9:24 PM
About Paypal email in your My Messages section:

Although eBay aquired PayPal some time ago and they are quite integrated with each other, PayPal and Ebay are separated sites. PayPal emails will not appear in your My Messages area. Only messages sent WITHIN eBay will appear.

Chill
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apostlethirteen
Posts: 12
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Red Flags For Bidders - introducing Version 3

Apr 26, 2006 8:37 AM
I can't help but be incongruent with some of the blatant fearmongering here.
Private auctions-I use private auctions when I sell a popular item that someone else might have at the same time or later. Heck, if I'm going to sell an item that someone else has, I'll even contact bidders on that item, and tell them that I have it cheaper. Or maybe I'l just look and see who didn't win a previous auction and send messages telling them that I have this item and they can bid.

Internet criminals- forget about China and who knows where, evreyone on the globe knows that most fraud is done in and by the USA.

Location- I live in Lithuania, everyone assumes that I am a fraudster.

Different paypal location, item location, etc.-I live in Lithuania, Lithuanians can't get an accept moey paypal account. I alsohappen to be a US citizen, ad my bank is in the US, where I have mail payments sent.

I think that there are "red flags", but I think some are just shades of paranoid.
While it's better to be safe than sorry, maybe online auctions aren't really for chicken littles and conspiracy delusionists.
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jims3235
Posts: 3
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Red Flags For Bidders - introducing Version 3

Apr 27, 2006 8:37 PM
Along with checking and double checking for scammers. Check out www.scamsonebay.com
Very informative site, with links to scamfinders site.
Be aware prior to bidding or contacting anyone
The deal that is too good to be true...is
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conquer_the_world
Posts: 51
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Red Flags For Bidders - introducing Version 3

Apr 30, 2006 9:22 AM
If you're contacting bidders from someone elses auctions, you can be reported for auction interference regardless of whether you're advertising your own auction or not.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Answer every question. Question every answer. Never question me!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Answer every question. Question every answer. Never question me! B-)
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merylthepearl
Posts: 4
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Red Flags For Bidders - introducing Version 3

Jun 10, 2006 8:42 PM
Although it's been a while since I have sold anything on eBay, I can tell you that there IS a legitimate use for private auctions. If there weren't , eBay wouldn't offer them as an option.

If you are selling a very valuable, one of a kind collector's item, you are likely to have a number of professional dealers among your bidders. It is neither in YOUR best interest... or THEIRS to have the bidding information available to the general public.

Private auctions prevents unscrupulous offsite wheeler-dealers from harassing serious bidders and from hijacking your auction.

If you have doubts about a private auction, or ANY auction, you shouldn't be bidding in it!
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jonrhon
Posts: 1
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Red Flags For Bidders - introducing Version 3

Jun 21, 2006 6:39 PM
i was scammed by someone in sweden. emails looked so legit. money was wired by western union now they are no longer ebay member. is there anything i can do?
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the_biograph_girl
Posts: 4,961
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Red Flags For Bidders - introducing Version 3

Jun 22, 2006 3:01 AM
is there anything i can do?

Unfortunately, no. Your scammer could have been halfway around the world, or across the street. It is unlikely that they were actually in Sweden. One of the reasons why scammers love WU is that it is untraceable.

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da_lizard_of_ozz
Posts: 12,884
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Red Flags For Bidders - introducing Version 3

Jul 22, 2006 5:31 AM
Heck, if I'm going to sell an item that someone else has, I'll even contact bidders on that item, and tell them that I have it cheaper.

That is in DIRECT VIOLATION of ebay's UA, which you agreed to follow. Your account could be suspended for doing that.


Remember, it takes a lifetime to maintain a good reputation, and just a few minutes to destroy it.



When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace - Jimi Hendrix

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whizzer_of_oz_too
Posts: 162
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Red Flags For Bidders - introducing Version 3

Jul 27, 2006 9:47 PM
Internet criminals- forget about China and who knows where, evreyone on the globe knows that most fraud is done in and by the USA.

Except the clutch of Desperate House Bordies who pemanently reside on the IT forum. They think all sellers from the USA are 99.999% pure like Ivory Snow.

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extreme_redeye
Posts: 936
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Red Flags For Bidders - introducing Version 3

Jul 30, 2006 3:57 AM
Most fraud on eBay is coming from China, Nigeria and Romania.

Sure, there are home-grown crims in all other countries, but for sheer numbers you can't beat those three.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

redeye in Oz B-)
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