I recently was a victim of a fraudulent seller. He never sent my item and never refunded my money.  All he gave me was excuses. I want to share what I have learned to buyers in a simple way to help them avoid my situation.


1. Use PayPal with a Credit Card funding source.

Why? - PayPal has a "Buyer Protection Plan" and a credit card has the ability to do a charge back. If your seller "disappeared" then PayPal will pay you up to a limit (see below) or you can get help from your credit card company and do a charge back.


2. Buy from sellers w/98% or better feedback, uses PayPal, and preferably has 50 feedback or more.

Why? - PayPal offers the "Buyer Protection Plan" to sellers who has 98% or better feedback and is verified with PayPal. With 50 or more feedback, PayPal will cover up to $2000; if under 50 then only up to $200. So if your item is expensive buy from someone who has the $2000 protection (the auction will show in the area under "meet the seller").


3. Avoid sellers with ZERO or LITTLE feedback (even if its 100%).
Why? - Same reason as above. PayPal protection.


4. Ask questions and take your time to research the seller.
Why? - Ensures trust. Look through the feedbacks and message past buyers.


5. Read the listing.
Why? - Some sellers will make a short and small comment like "You are bidding on a nice Iphone" and thats it. Avoid these...trust the ones who thoroughly describe their items. Some sellers think omitting info is not lying.


Comment: 
If your seller "disappeared" (no replies, no msgs, no item, no refund, no longer Ebay member ) the ONLY thing you have to assist you in getting some kind of a reimbursement for your loss is PayPal (and only up to $2000) and your financial institution (credit card company).  Ebay will not help you beyond being a mediator (which won't work if your seller is non-cooperative)! PayPal will not help you beyond their protection plan (i.e. you paid $500 for an item but the seller is only covered under the $200 plan...you get $200 from PayPal and thats it...you lost $300)!

What else is there to help you?  File a complaint at www.ic3.com (Internet Crime Complaint Center), file a report with your local law enforcement and with the one in the sellers town, press charges with your police report with the District Attorney's Office, file a BBB complaint, file a complaint with your states Consumer Protection Office (Attorney General), file one with the Federal Trade Commission, write a complaint to Ebay, write a complaint to PayPal, pursue in small claims or in court...pretty much try everything else at this point and yes...plan on it taking a while!

Please give me a vote if this helped...also feel free to msg me for any support that I can offer if you have been burned by a seller.