eBay Scam Alert: How to Avoid Scams on the Popular Shopping Site
Online scams cause billions of dollars worth of damages each year, with e-commerce sites, like eBay, being popular among fraudsters. The popular auction and shopping website allows people from the world over to purchase and sell used and new goods, and get practically every desired product. Unfortunately, scammers use eBay to perform online frauds that are designed to steal people's money, personal information, and account data. Whether you are new to eBay or a veteran user, you should know how to avoid eBay scams and protect your personal information.
Check your information on eBay
Like many other sites, eBay updates its security settings, so you must make sure that your data is safe. Perform a check at least once every six months to be certain that your personal information is safe; review your payment settings, check your shipping information, and that your return policy and the return policy of other sellers are clear. Scammers may take advantage of inaccuracies in your account or listings, so make sure everything is accurate and up to date.
Check seller's reviews
At an age where every person loves to voice his/her opinion, seller reviews are your best friend. When you spot a product that you want to purchase, check if the store is certified and read customer reviews before making a purchase. You should choose stores that have plenty of customer reviews and not just a few reviews. Choose sellers and stores with a high score and mostly positive reviews to make sure you will not fall victim to an eBay scam.
Secure your payment
If possible, do not save your credit card data when using eBay; that way, scammers will not be able to hack into your account and steal your credit information. Also, you should never use third-party sites to pay for goods or use any other payment method that is not approved by eBay. Many eBay scams take place when scammers convince people to pay with a money transfer or other methods that are not permitted by the website. So, if someone tries to convince you to pay them with a third-party site or another method, do not agree and stop further communication with the seller.
Have a special email account just for eBay
If you use eBay and other e-commerce websites often, you should open a special bank account and email account dedicated to your online shopping. When you set up accounts that are dedicated to eBay and similar sites, hackers will not have access to your main bank account, offering you greater security. Whenever there are a money and information exchange, you run the risk of getting scammed. By opening special accounts for online shopping, you will be putting greater distance between you and potential scammers, thus decreasing your chances of falling victim to an eBay scam.
Use a public records search directory
If you interact with sellers of customers in the US, you should perform a public records search on them; public records will provide you with valuable information about the people you speak with on eBay, including their real name, contact information, criminal records, aliases, frauds that they may have committed, and much more. ProPeopleSearch can provide you with all the details that you need with its people search engine and the site's reverse phone number lookup directory. So, once you have the name or phone number of an individual from eBay, you will be able to perform a background check on him/her and find out if you should avoid financial transactions with the said person, or if you can continue your purchase/sell with no worries.
eBay scams are responsible for millions of dollars lost by Americans each year. By taking a few easy and necessary precautions, you can protect yourself from an eBay scam and shop safely whenever you desire.
