Protect Yourself From Payment and Bidding Fraud
Never bid until the last second. Use auction sniping services like AuctionStealer.com to place your maximum bid in the last seconds of the auction. This will prevent you from being the victim of shill bidding or bid retractions designed to make you reveal your maximum bid. You'll also likely pay less, while relieving yourself of the burden of watching the auction.
Accept second-chance offers only through My eBay. Legitimate second-chance offers come through the eBay mail system, and will be displayed on My eBay as special Buy-It-Now auctions for you only.
As a seller, don't allow returns. Unless you are making your living selling on eBay and can develop safeguards, allowing returns can set you up for trouble. Make this clear clear up front in
Wait a day or two before sending your merchandise to see if PayPal reverses the buyer's payment or eBay cancels the auction, as happened to PC World's James Martin.
Always use
Avoid sending checks. If the seller does not accept payment through PayPal, think twice about bidding. For small items from vendors with good and recent feedback, it's probably fine to send a check or money order. Do not send checks or money orders for big-ticket items or if you have any doubt at all about the seller. And never pay by Western Union or other nonbank wire transfer--eBay does not permit sellers to ask for this, but scammers still do it.
Wait for the buyer's check to clear. It's okay to accept checks and money orders for goods you are selling, but only do this if you are prepared to wait a full two weeks before shipping, and be sure to make this policy clear in your listing.
Send only to verified addresses. PayPal's address confirmation system is a good way to ensure you are sending to the owner of the account, rather than to a hijacker.
Leave feedback only after you are satisfied. If you're a buyer, never leave feedback until the transaction is completed to your satisfaction. Once you have left feedback, you lose leverage with the seller. If you're a seller, note that eBay has just changed its feedback policies so that you cannot leave negative feedback
Where to Report Auction Fraud
If you are scammed on eBay, report it to both eBay and outside agencies--see the links listed below. The more that fraud is reported, the more likely it is that something
USPS (if shipped or paid for via U.S. mail)
PayPal Security Center