eBay Golden Rules snowmobilelinks.com
eBay Golden Rules snowmobilelinks.com
eBay is a great tool to find sleds and parts but please be aware that there are scammers using eBay to find unsuspecting victims. Please take the time to read through these "Golden Rules" that I have put together after dealing on eBay for three years. Feel free to link to this page or use the following text on your own web page - the more aware people are the harder it will be for the scammers!
This list is in no particular order
- all the points are equally important!
1) eBay or PayPal will NEVER ask for your ID,
password or any other personal or financial information in an E-mail.
If you receive an E-mail that looks like it came from eBay or PayPal that does
so it is a fake! Do not click any links in the E-mail. Either delete it or
forward it with full headers to spoof@ebay.com.
They will shut down the scammers. Most of these E-mails will ask to verify your
account or it will be suspended. Once again this is untrue these are criminals
trying to hijack your account!
2) Never deal with any offers outside of
eBay. Scammers can pose as buyers or sellers trying to cut a deal
with you outside of the eBay system. BEWARE! Most times these are scammers
trying to rip you off with fake money orders or bank drafts.
3) Beware of legitimate sellers hi-jacked
accounts. If you are buying a big ticket item and a seller with
good feedback who normal sells inexpensive trinkets is now selling brand new
sleds at below wholesale prices - BEWARE! This good sellers account has been
hi-jacked by a scammer to rip you off. Even more obvious if the seller had only
been a bidder prior to this auction Beware!
4) If you are going to use an escrow site for a
transaction only use
www.escrow.com.
90% of online escrow services are fake! Escrow.com is not (Check the URL make
sure it is exactly
www.escrow.com
- fakes
may be similar). The scammers will suggest a fake escrow site that they created
themselves. Fake sites can also be checked at
www.sos4auctions.com.
5) Try to limit your transactions to Canada and the
USA. Many, but not all, of the scams originate
from elsewhere in the world. Hotspots of trouble include, but are not limited
to, Indonesia, Taiwan, India, Spain, France, Italy and Africa. Really, how many
snowmobiles do you think are in Italy or France anyways.
6) Do not use Western Union to send payment for any
auctions. A seller who insists on this for payment is most likely
a scammer who will disappear with your cash. You will have no recourse.
7) Ebay does not run any Win a Car type
contests. If you receive an E-mail that offers this it is a fake.
Forward it to spoof@ebay.com.
8) Always know who you are dealing with.
Take the time to read the feedbacks of both buyers and sellers you may deal
with. Look for anything out of the norm. Multiple feedbacks from the same
person. A sudden change in the type of feedbacks. Keep note 3 in mind (hi-jacked
account).
9) Always get a shipping quote before the end of the
auction. A seller that offers free shipping on an expensive item
is a scammer! Especially something as large as a sled. Some legitimate sellers
pad their shipping costs as well to make more money. You want to know this
before you bid.
10) Make sure the item you are bidding on has real
pictures. Scammers may steal photos from web sites, brochures
or even other auctions. The following picture is an example of a picture from a
fake auction. Remember, some scammers will steal legitimate pictures from other
auctions as well so don't conclude an auction is legit based solely on the
pictures. If you are suspicious ask for a photo of a different angle of the
item. Scammers will deny or ignore this request.
11) Beware of auctions that are restricted to
pre-approved bidders. - The scammer just wants you to make
contact with him so that he can offer you an incredible deal and start the scam
process.
12) Always keep your guard up! Assume the worst with every bidder or seller until you see enough evidence to convince you otherwise. You are your own best defense!
IF IT SEEMS TO GOOD TO BE TRUE IT IS!!!
Click here to read an important warning about cashiers cheque scams.