13 RED FLAGS To Warn a Bidder of a Fraudulent Transaction
Most people who are defrauded are victims of their own greed. When a transaction appears to be too good to be true, it likely is. Application of common sense can preserve your money.
These are the 13 Red Flags to spot a fraudulent transaction:
1. A popular item is offered for a price which seems too good to be true 2. An 'off-eBay' transaction is conducted through email 3. Payment options provide little or no security for the buyer 4. Misleading claims of transaction security or buyer protection 5. Item is no longer listed on eBay 6. The sellers location may be a clue to a fraudulent transaction 7. Item is listed on a hijacked account 8. Free shipping from a distant country 9. No photo or stock photos are used 10. One to three day auctions 11. Escrow other than escrow.com is used 12. A fraudulent Second Chance Offer is sent 13. The bidder needs to be pre-approved or the item is listed in a private auction
To view the detailed explanation of the 13 Red Flags, please go to this About Me page which is frequently being updated:
personal note . if your seller has a good reputation or feedbacks and the item is described honestly yet so happens, coincides with the read flag, don't conclude that the seller or item is fraudulent.
contact the seller and keep track of all communications.
thank you Katana HUnter. I've been browsing for sometime through a friend's account who's an active ebayer. This is a good discussion. Too often you read irate warnings of sellers against joybidders that more often than not discourage people from transacting with the seller no matter how attractive the offer. But let's face it, at best, the seller loses her time, effort and patience but its the buyer who has so much to risk and so much to lose. So there are joybidders--- so what? there are scammers in volumes also.
yet you see sellers grouping to strike against a negative feedbacker. (what if the feedback is honest?); It's hard to be a buyer in ebay.ph because the sellers are so strong and organized its intimidating already. sometimes even if powersellers delivery is sooo delayed we feel bound to give positive feedback. Maybe that's why the "ebay barkadahan" is an "all-seller" barkadahan. I guess the premise that the customer is always right does not hold true here.
That's buhay in Pinas. Me? I'm going to find a nice traditional seller na naniniwala pa rin sa angking honesty ng pinoy, still hospitable, still accomodating, still gracious, still ... pinoy.
Too often you read irate warnings of sellers against joybidders that more often than not discourage people from transacting with the seller no matter how attractive the offer.
i agree. i believe that giving a negative is always a last resort, and that even then it should be factual and professional. i also get turned off by sellers & buyers who leave negas that are practically smoking on the page, especially those that are virtual screaming matches.
Maybe that's why the "ebay barkadahan" is an "all-seller" barkadahan.
i started out here as a buyer (and i still buy a lot hehe). about half of the forum regulars are just buyers as well. i understand your frustration but there's no need to go to extremes and go the "all sellers are evil" route.
there ARE scam sellers, but there are also some truly horrible buyers who are abusive, don't pay, and/or go on joybidding sprees, SOME OF WHICH BID ON SELLERS JUST SO THEY CAN LEAVE NEGATIVE FEEDBACK.
i give my buyers the benefit of the doubt, even 0 feedbackers because i still remember how it was when i was a 0 fb newbie. but we should remember that a bid is a contract, to be honored by both the seller and the buyer. a successful transaction depends on the integrity, professionalism and good communication of both =)
I PAID IN GOOD FAITH...I SENT THE PAYMENT VIA GLOBE GCASH (THEY WANT GCASH OR WESTERN UNION) ----CLAIMS DOESN’T HAVE BANK ACCOUNT .THEY –CLAIMS HER NAME IS KATHLEEN ANN ARANETA ----SHE TEXTED ME SO NICELY WITH ALL HER INFO LIKE WORK AND HOME ADDRESS AND A VERY HOMELY PERSON BUT SHE NEVER CONTACTED ME AFTER SENDING THE PAYMENT .SHE /HE GAVE ME BOGUS TRACKING #. I NEVER GOT THE DEVICE---HER USERNAME IS MEJAKA9.CLAIMS SHES FROM A BACOLOD/ILOILO AREA.IM SO UPSET ABOUT THIS
• Never pay with Western Union or Money Gram. - eBay strongly encourages its members to avoid using instant cash wire transfer services such as Western Union or MoneyGram. It's against eBay’s Accepted Payments Policy for a seller to request payment via these methods as they've proven to be unsafe when paying someone the buyer doesn't know.
• Check My Messages to verify the authenticity of eBay emails. - Any email eBay sends you about your account or requesting personal information will also be in My Messages. Before responding to an eBay email asking for information about your account or requesting personal information, verify it's authentic by checking My Messages. If it's not in My Messages, it's a fake email. If you receive a suspicious email that looks like it's from eBay or PayPal, please forward it to spoof@ebay.com or spoof@paypal.com. We will respond (usually within minutes) to tell you whether or not the email is authentic.
• Always Verify Second Chance Offers. - Sending fake Second Chance Offers is a common trick used by fraudsters. If you receive an email with a Second Chance Offer for an item you recently bid on, please check your My Messages inbox (located in My eBay) on the eBay site to make sure the offer is authentic. If it appears in My Messages with the title 'eBay Second Chance Offer for Item...', it's authentic. If the Second Chance Offer does not appear in My Messages, or appears with a different title, it is not legitimate and should be ignored. Help us fight this, by reporting these fakes to spoof@ebay.com. • Monitor your account regularly for suspicious activity. - Prevent problems by staying alert and catching any suspicious activity early. We recommend that you log into your eBay and PayPal accounts frequently to ensure that all the transactions listed are legitimate.
• Be suspicious of any email that requests personal information. - Be cautious of other emails that request you to click a link and submit your financial or personal information. If in doubt, call or contact the institution first to verify the authenticity of the email. Do not click on any links in this type of email if you can not verify it is authentic. Only enter your financial information on secure websites. Check that a website is secure by looking for the closed lock symbol near the bottom of your browser window. And, of course, use a payment method such as PayPal, which lets you pay without sharing your financial information with the person receiving your money. PayPal also covers you 100% against unauthorized money sent from your account.
Better to read message clip board at ebay community before, doing transaction with a seller or bidder.
Please note that text confirmation is NOT a valid proof of payment.
You can also try asking help from these agencies: For Cyber Crime / Computer Related Crimes Dial (632) 726-1575 Criminal Investigation & Detection Group
i'm also a victim. nun kelan nangyari, dun lng ako ngbasa sa Community. galing mo katana hunter!..just read today ur advices in the previous posts. though it's too late for me.. =(
i just want to warn u - Don't transact w/ pga1485! his name is Patronicio G. Aquino from Dumaguete City. he even provided a fake Air21 Tracking#. magaling mag-acting! upon his assurance & all.(but u'll end up waiting for nothing..) see after he took my money (sent in G-cash), he cancelled & ended the bid & relisted the same item - SE w810i. which makes - i didn't won the bid. mali ko lang..i transacted w/ him before the bid ends. he's also selling other phones in affordable prices (in actual pix) so BEWARE! though today he cancelled it all..i'm waiting if he's going to repost it again. i reported this to ebay na..
Report the seller for fraud so that he'll be kicked out of eBay. http://www.ebay.ph/helpTSForm Then choose: 1. Select a topic: Transaction Problems --> 2. Select a subtopic: Fraud Resolution --> 3. Select an issue: Other Fraud Problems --> Click Continue.
And file a police report in the links provided above.
Hunted by Katana Hunter "If you can't be a good example, then you'll have to be a horrible warning."
Hello, I was just wondering why the person pga1485 was not kicked out of ebay? I was also a victim of this person just recently. Is there a way we can track his location? through the I.P. his using? Coz if he really is from dumaguete as he claimed, I should be able to track him down. I know it's my fault for not waiting until winning the auction but he might be using another email and will victimize other people like me and musiqjunkie4.
I was also a victim of a scam..i also paid thru g-cash..there are many people in authorities who are my friends who are willing to help me out but the problem is the SCAMMER used a fake name and address. Can you pls. help me out? What would be the first step to do, I guess taking the first part is the hardest. My mistake was I let the transaction personal so that means NO BIDDING happened, that's why it's hard to ask for eBay's part on this..guys, please help me out..i am not really after the money, what i am concerned most are the people who will be fooled by this person in the future..hope to hear from all of you..
I mean I let the transaction happened in personal basis only i already went to globe telecoms and was able to get some info., but those were only numbers he dialled prior to our transaction, so it's hard as well to really trace the person. All I really pray for now is that someone would help me out to trace the real name and address of the person, and we'll do the rest poIf you wanna help me out, please shoot me an email at sheilamaye_palle@yahoo.com. salamat po
The red flag warnings are good to take note of by all ebayer. But what's frustrating and dissapointing is encountering sellers who are way too impatient. Although given all the clause and agreements..there are always a certain percentage that buyers may not be able to open their email account daily to check on the status of items bid.
Not intentionally ignoring emails..but rather not being able to read them since as mentioned you're offline.
Just wish that sellers will not categorize all buyers as bogus. Both seller an dbuyer are at risk, but the buyer is at the highest risk between the two since you have to pay for the item first then pray that the package will arrive.
few thing to remember regarding bidders and sellers (2 cents thought)
if your seller has a good reputation or feedbacks , don't conclude that the seller or item is fraudulent. contact the seller and keep track of all communications.
if buyer responds and/or has good reputation, give a fighting chance.
it is better to ask ebay.com.help for any questions, and ask experienced ebayers. if matters of selling, check out the experienced sellers with high percentage ratings (not just links and theories). if buying things, consult an experienced buyer in ebay. they know what to do.
MEMORIZING IS NOT ENOUGH TO BE CONSIDERED KNOWLEDGABLE. LIVING IT, LEARNING IT, AND DOING IT IS STILL THE BEST TEACHER.
ei guys pga1485 is a scammer?..recently kasi katxt ko sya and i'm planning to purchase a n93i na pinost nya sa ebay..he is willing to do meet-ups but the problem is dumaguete is way too far from my location..that's why i'm planning to let him ship the product..he agreed that i can pay first 50% of the original price, then upon receiving the item he'll ship the package..guys should i continue the transaction or not?..please help//
ei guys pga1485 is a scammer?..recently kasi katxt ko sya and i'm planning to purchase a n93i na pinost nya sa ebay..he is willing to do meet-ups but the problem is dumaguete is way too far from my location..that's why i'm planning to let him ship the product..he agreed that i can pay first 50% of the original price, then upon receiving the item i'll send the whole amount (my balance)..guys should i continue the transaction or not?..please help//
hmmm sounds fishy to me. i've heard that scenario before from other buyers who never got their phones. better to buy your phone from a reputable ebay seller, or at a mall =)
As mentioned by pinksushi, we've heard that scenario before.
Paying 50% of the original price is not how buying on eBay works.
Real transactions on eBay go like this: Bidder bids on the item. Bidder wins the auction. Winning bidder's user id appears as winner on auction listing. Item number appears in "items won" in buyer's My eBay page. Winning bidder sends payment. Seller receives payment. Seller ships item. Winning bidder receives the item. Both party leaves feedback for each other (optional).
Your name will show as the winner on a completed auction. The auction will show in your My eBay under "items won".
Don't deal with this person or you'll lose your hard earned money. Report this person to eBay for soliciting an outside eBay transaction.
http://www.ebay.ph/helpTSForm Then choose: 1. Select a topic: Member Problems --> 2. Select a subtopic: Selling Offenses --> 3. Select an issue: A seller is offering to sell an item outside eBay
or for potential fraud:
http://www.ebay.ph/helpTSForm Then choose: 1. Select a topic: Transaction Problems --> 2. Select a subtopic: Fraud Resolution --> 3. Select an issue: Other Fraud Problems
One more thing, you have not won the item yet... why would you send payment?
Hunted by Katana Hunter "If you can't be a good example, then you'll have to be a horrible warning."
i was trying to purchase it personally..without bidding, just like what others sometimes do..and just like what i've done when i first purchase something online..i texted the seller and didn't bid..(now i'm using that item)..but then again tnx for the advices..
hi.. may nakakakilala kay robin_pidelocute? his name is robin pidelo from guagua pampanga daw. anyone from pampanga? help naman oh. he had given me false tracking number and bank account number. paid the item before bid ends nga lang. shacks.... ano gagawin ko? please help... mabigat din s abulsa 3k...
There's very little that you can do since you transacted outside eBay.
Please keep this in mind: Legitimate eBay transaction doesn't involve negotiations or making a deal through email or through SMS.
Real transactions on eBay go like this: Bidder bids on the item. Bidder wins the auction. Winning bidder's user id appears as winner on auction listing. Item number appears in "items won" in buyer's My eBay page. Winning bidder sends payment. Seller receives payment. Seller ships item. Winning bidder receives the item. Both party leaves feedback for each other (optional).
Your name will show as the winner on a completed auction. The auction will show in your My eBay under "items won".
Since the auction is still active, request for the seller's contact information from eBay. http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQtZvbQQsofindtypeZ9 But I doubt that the seller has provided his real contact information so I don't know if it'll be much of a help, but it's worth a try.
Also, try asking help from these agencies:
For Cyber Crime / Computer Related Crimes Dial (632) 726-1575 Criminal Investigation & Detection Group / Email: cidg@pnp.gov.ph
Then report the seller to eBay for fraud: http://www.ebay.ph/helpTSForm Then choose: 1. Select a topic: Transaction Problems --> 2. Select a subtopic: Fraud Resolution --> 3. Select an issue: Other Fraud Problems --> Click Continue.
Then forward your concern to eBay.
Good luck!
Hunted by Katana Hunter "If you can't be a good example, then you'll have to be a horrible warning."
guys members are selling cheap n95 now.for 25k, 27k, and even 15k.what do u think?..can u give me some advices?..the prices are too good to be true..here are their respective member name for reference purposes (they might have histories of scamming or selling, all of them have zero feedbacks):
Do not buy expensive items from a seller with zero feedback. If you choose to buy from seller with zero feedback, make sure that the seller will agree in meeting up with you. And... if the price of the item seems to good to be true, it probably is. Don't be attracted of the low prices these sellers are offering. It would be better that you save up your money and buy instead in the mall or a cellphone shop.
Hunted by Katana Hunter "If you can't be a good example, then you'll have to be a horrible warning."
I just got burned by seller avaruan. I won item 330106762328, a supposedly authentic chanel coco bag, last friday. I sent gcash on saturday and seller delayed shipping, citing different reasons, until yesterday. I received a package from her today containing a fake juicy coutoure bag! I tried calling her on her cell but of course, why would she pick up right? Will I be able to claim from ebay protection? Has anyone succeeded in getting reimbursed in such a situation? Thanks
Buyer Protection on eBay PH is very different from the Buyer Protection on eBay.com. Here, it only cover cases where you paid for an item, but did not receive it (non-shipment). Misrepresented or items damaged or lost in shipping is not covered by eBay PH's Standard Purchase Protection Program.
You should still report the seller to eBay and that will stay in the seller's record. And when eBay receives another report from other buyers, that will alert eBay and might suspend the seller's account.
http://www.ebay.ph/helpTSForm Then choose: 1. Select a topic: Transaction Problems --> 2. Select a subtopic: I am a buyer --> 3. Select an issue: I sent money, the item was not as described, was a fake or was not complete.
You can also ask help from these agencies:
For Cyber Crime / Computer Related Crimes Dial (632) 726-1575 Criminal Investigation & Detection Group / Email: cidg@pnp.gov.ph
I would like to ask help from all of u guys!!!! i been fooled... I paid him 6,900 pesos through gcash... is ther a way u can help me.... Please........Parang awa nyo na po... Sinabi nya sakin ung address nya.... sa cagayan at ung account nya sa DBP makakatulong ba un?/.... parang awa nyo na po.... Contact me jomardecastro@yahoo.com... ano po dapat ko gawin????
PGA1485 !!!!!!! I would like to ask help from all of u guys!!!! i been fooled... I paid him 6,900 pesos through gcash... is ther a way u can help me.... Please........Parang awa nyo na po... Sinabi nya sakin ung address nya.... sa cagayan at ung account nya sa DBP makakatulong ba un?/.... parang awa nyo na po.... Contact me jomardecastro@yahoo.com... ano po dapat ko gawin????
You never had any transaction with this seller, why did you send payment?
Since this was an outside eBay transaction, there's very little help you can get from eBay. File a fraud report to eBay and if proven guilty, they will suspend the seller's account. That's the only help eBay can provide you with.
You can also ask help from these agencies instead:
For Cyber Crime / Computer Related Crimes Dial (632) 726-1575 Criminal Investigation & Detection Group / Email: cidg@pnp.gov.ph
I have no idea if any one knows this ebay user IDcandystoretime76.... I sent 8,000pesos for my winning bid on nokia n70 and until now i havent receive any mobile phone!!! I've been trying to contact her through her cellphone but its off.... Shes been listing several stuffs at ebay so I thought that shes not a fraud but now im teribly worried coz its been 3 days na!!! anyone who can help?
Request for the seller's contact information from eBay. http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQtZvbQQsofindtypeZ9 But I doubt that the seller has provided his real contact information so I don't know if it'll be much of a help, but it's worth a try.
See if the information you got from the seller when you sent your payment matches with the contact information the seller has on file with eBay.
dude, i received a message from ebay and it says that i've won an item..the item was posted on ebay, but i contacted the seller through his email, and gave him my best price..now a message from ebay says that i've won the item..can i forward the message to you for you to check if the message truly came from ebay..tnx..hoping for your response so that i can forward the message right away..please leave me your whole e-mail address
First of all, did you bid on any item on eBay? To check if you really won the item, go to your My eBay page and click on the Items Won link. To check if the email really did come from eBay, forward the email to spoof@ebay.com Do not click on any of the links.
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i already went to globe telecoms and was able to get some info., but those were only numbers he dialled prior to our transaction, so it's hard as well to really trace the person. All I really pray for now is that someone would help me out to trace the real name and address of the person, and we'll do the rest po