Official Auctions?

On the Internet, the rule of thumb is as follows: If a site looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and sounds like a duck, users should never take for granted that it's a duck. Most Web sites are what they seem, but if you're unfamiliar with a site, be cautious.

The site DEAauctions.com is one such example. It inspired a reader to e-mail me and complain that the site was trying to pass itself off as an official government Web site. He asked whether the site was breaking any laws by claiming on its front page to be the "official auction site of the United States of America." I sent an e-mail inquiry and was told by an individual who responded on behalf the company that the site is the "official site for both police auctions and government auctions throughout the United States."

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration and a number of other federal agencies I spoke with, such as the Internal Revenue Service and Federal Bureau of Investigation, this site is not breaking any laws by making such claims. While it is illegal to impersonate a federal agency online, this Web site is not trying to impersonate an official federal agency Web site, even though it prominently features official government seals for eight federal agencies. Apparently, claiming to be an official site for such federal and state auctions is on a par with a soap company saying claiming that its product is the "best."

DEAauctions.com, which says it's based in Spring, Texas, turns out to be an information-only resource for deal hunters seeking tips and details on upcoming auctions of government-seized real estate, cars, boats, electronics, apparel, and jewelry. It offers a collection of electronic books, links to auctions, and community tools for people interested these auctions. DEAauctions.com charges $50 for a one-year membership.

I did notice one troubling thing about the site: I spotted a Better Business Bureau Reliability Program seal on the site, meant to indicate the Web site is a BBB member and a trustworthy company. When I checked, however, I found that the company is not a BBB member, according to Deana Turner, spokesperson for the BBB of metropolitan Houston.

"This Web site is definitely using the BBB seal in an unauthorized manner. And we will be contacting them to remove our seal," Turner says.

I e-mailed DEAauctions.com asking the company to explain why it displayed a BBB logo when it is not a member. A customer service agent replied, confirming that the company is not a BBB member. He said the site was "not displaying the actual BBB logo for membership but [is] providing [an] advertisement for the BBB."

According to the BBB's Turner, however, "that's not an acceptable excuse." The only people who are allowed to use the logo are members of the BBB. "We do consider that trademark infringement," she says.

Teresa Huettner, who is the program manager for general order merchandise with Customs Border Protection, didn't have a lot of encouraging things to say about sites like DEAauctions.com that charge money for information on government auctions.

Information sites like these are a dime a dozen and essentially sell information about government auctions that is otherwise available for free at sites like the Internal Revenue Service's auction site and the U.S. Marshals' auction site.

DEAauctions.com is not affiliated with the U.S. DEA in any way, according to DEA spokesperson Garrison Courtney. Information on any confiscated items the DEA auctions off can be found at the U.S. Marshals' Web site.

So much for the site being official.

If you come across a site that looks too good to be true, report your suspicions to a watchdog group, like LooksTooGoodToBeTrue.com.

Have you stumbled on a fishy Web site? Are you having problems with a Web service? Can't get a promised refund? Drop me an e-mail at watchdog@pcworld.com and let me know if I can help.