There are a number of guides that go on and on - and make your eyes hurt reading them - about using caution when buying on eBay.  Although they are long to read, they are full of good information.  This guide is quick and to the point with some top tips to protect yourself when buying on eBay.  Read it - and go on with your life.

1.  There are lots of scams ongoing on eBay.  When you sign into your account on www.ebay.com, be sure to read your e-mails sent by eBay as they often update you on current scams.

2. Beware of the phony "Phishing" e-mails supposedly from ebay that show up in your personal e-mail accounts.  Don't ever click the links or enter your eBay password or any other personal information there.  eBay does not ask for personal information in e-mails.  If a scammers gets yours, they'll use it to list many phony auctions and lure in other unsuspecting people.  If you give them other personal information, they can use it for identity theft.

3. If you log into your eBay and see auctions running under your account that you did not list - then your account has most probably been "hiijacked".  Immediately try to cancel the bogus actions and change your password.  Contact eBay immediately regardless of whether you can access your account or not - so they can take corrective measures.

4. Never use a wire transfer service (like Western Union - for example) to send Cash to pay for an auction.  This is in no way meant to be negative against any wire transfer service company, but many times, scammers use them to take your money and run.  There usually is no recourse at all in getting your money back.  Use Credit Cards or a service like eBay's Paypal which offer some levels of protection.

5. Avoid auctions in which the Seller keeps the Bidder ID's private.  Unless you are a big seller of pornographic material - there's really no reason to hide bidder ID's. 

6. Avoid Quick ending auctions of high priced items.  If you had a high priced item, wouldn't you want to list it for 7 days so more people could see it and bid on it ?  (Excluding special circumstances or events)  A scammer will list an expensive item in a 1 or 3 day auction to try and take advantage of you before eBay catches on.  *This does not mean that every high priced fast ending auction is a scam - so check the Sellers feedback rating and types of products sold in past to determine the validity of the current auction.

7. Is the Seller offering a very expensive item for a ridiculously cheap price, with little or no shipping charges?  That can be another warning sign of an imminent scam!  Check out the buyer to make sure.

8. Does the Seller have a "0" or low feedback rating and all of a sudden they are listing Porche Carreras and Tiffany Diamonds at great prices???  .....My advice - is to run, don't walk - away from those sellers.

In closing, if it sounds to good to be true - it usually is.  Now that doesn't mean there aren't good and great deals to be found on eBay.  Of course there are!  But........there are far more scams on eBay than most people realize.  So be careful out there. 

*If this guide was helpful, please feel free to vote for it below. 

Thanks for your time.