MSNBC - July 29, 2002
Auction Fraud on the Rise, Some Say
Do you buy a lot of stuff on internet auctions like eBay? I've bought
a few inexpensive things, but I wouldn't consider buying an expensive
item from someone I've never seen before.
Auction fraud does occur on eBay and Yahoo Auctions, just ask Darren
Barringer. Darren paid for a laptop on eBay in June 2002, but received
a Montreal phone book in his FedEx package instead. That made him
upset and curious. So he decided to look through other auctions
to see if he could pick out the fraudulent ones. Here's what he
found as possible signs of a fraudulent listing:
- Low priced high-ticket items, like high-definition TVs, laptops, or jewelry — especially if there are multiple items for sale.
- Brand-new sellers with no sales history.
- Sellers requesting wire transfers for payment, or payment in foreign currencies.
- Auctions that begin and end over a weekend, since eBay customer support is light during those days.
- Seller telephone numbers or addresses that can't be verified.
I'll be creating some additional information about internet fraud, and auction fraud specifically in the coming weeks. Until then, please be careful when clicking the "Buy" button.
