I HAVE NOTICED A CONCERN RECENTLY (ON THE BLOGS) THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE WITH OTHERS COMMENTING ON THEIR PICTURES ON THEIR ABOUT ME PAGE SO I THOUGHT THIS GUIDE WOULD BE HELPFUL IN TRYING TO DECIDING WHAT TO PUT ON YOUR LISTINGS AND ABOUT ME PAGE.

IN MY "REAL" JOB I AM A FRAUD INVESTIGATOR FOR A FORTUNE 500 COMPANY. I’VE BEEN IN MY JOB FOR 8 YEARS AND USE WHAT I KNOW FROM THERE HERE ON E-BAY AS WELL. SOME THINGS ARE COMMON SENSE, OR AT LEAST I THOUGHT SO! BUT PEOPLE STILL DO THINGS ON E-BAY THAT ASTOUND ME!

YES, MOST OF THE PEOPLE ON E-BAY ARE NORMAL FOLKS JUST TRYING TO MAKE A BUCK OR SAVE A BUCK, BUT….THERE ARE STILL PREDATORS OUT THERE JUST LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO MESS WITH.

THINK OF THAT SWEET WEEK OLD BABY THAT WAS KIDNAPPED THIS PAST WEEKEND…..THIS WOMAN WALKED UP TO HER HOUSE, KNOCKED ON THE DOOR, ASKED TO USE THE PHONE, SLASHED THE MOM’S THROAT AND TOOK THE BABY! IT WAS A TOTAL STRANGER, SOMEONE TOTALLY UNKNOWN TO THE FAMILY.

BUT HOW DID SHE KNOW THERE WAS A BABY IN THAT HOUSE THAT COULD BE TAKEN???? BECAUSE THE FAMILY HAD PUT ONE OF THOSE BANNERS IN THE FRONT YARD WELCOMING LITTLE ABIGALE LYNN WOODS HOME!

ANYTIME YOU GIVE (OR LET SLIP OUT) ANY INFO ABOUT YOURSELF, PEOPLE CAN DO REAL DAMAGE WITH IT.

HERE ARE THE THINGS MOST BOTHERSOME AND DANGEROUS THAT I HAVE SEEN ON E-BAY:

PUTTING YOUR HOME ADDRESS ON YOUR LISTING (FOR WHERE TO SEND CHECKS/MO, ETC) - - - THAT IS SO DANGEROUS! THEY BUYER WILL GET YOUR ADDRESS AFTER THE AUCTION ON THE INVOICE, THERE IS NO NEED TO PUT IT ON YOUR LISTING!

PUTTING PICTURES OF YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ON YOUR ABOUT ME PAGE - - - WHAT IF SOME NUT JOB THINKS YOUR 6 YEAR OLD IS REALLY CUTE AND DECIDES TO JUST SHOW UP AT YOUR HOME? I’VE EVEN SEEN ABOUT ME PAGES WITH HOME PHONE NUMBERS ON THEM TOO!

AND WHAT IF YOU ARE A SELLER WHO PUTS ONE OF THOSE VACATION NOTES ON YOUR LISTINGS? HELLO! SO NOW THEY KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE AND THAT YOU’RE NOT EVEN AT HOME!

DO NOT, EVER, EVER, EVER USE YOUR CHILDREN IN LISTINGS, AGAIN, ANOTHER WAY TO ADVERTISE TO PERVERTS. I REPORTED A SELLER ONCE FOR USING HER 8 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER TO MODEL A 2 PIECE SWIMSUIT! SHE EVEN USED HER NAME IN THE LISTING TOO!

THE ABOUT ME PAGES ARE A FUN AND PERSONAL WAY TO TELL OTHERS A *** LITTLE BIT *** ABOUT YOU, NOT EVERYTHING!

ON OUR ABOUT ME PAGE WE TALK A BIT ABOUT HOW WE GOT STARTED ON E-BAY, OUR SERVICES AS TRADING ASSISTANTS, A LITTLE ABOUT US, OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS, AND 2 PICTURES OF 3 OF OUR 4 ANIMALS. THERE ARE THINGS YOU CAN SHARE THAT WILL STILL CONVEY A UNIQUE MESSAGE BOUT YOU, WITHOUT PUTTING ANYONE IN DANGER.

IF YOU LOVE THE BEACH, POST A PICTURE OF THAT. IF YOU LOVE YOUR PETS, THAT’S ALWAYS FUN. IF YOU HAVE A FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM, PUT THEIR LOGO ON THERE. THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS! BE CREATIVE, HAVE FUN, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, BE SAFE!!!