The big concern with fake clubs usually rests with a buyer. They pick up all these great deals (sometimes less than half of market cost for an item), boasting how they bought a 400.00 driver on ebay for a mere 125.00. Odds are when it arrives, that same driver isn't what he expected and it turns out to be a fake. Case in point, it happens all the time now on ebay. The market is saturated with fake clubs. Consumers have to be aware of this and live by the old saying, "if it's too good to be true, it often is"

Here's the situation and how it pertains to the newest fraud that affects not the buyer, but rather the SELLER! Yes, it's true. I myself could have been a potential victim had I not been prepared.

Here's the scenario as it folds out. You will easily see how easy it is to fall victim if you don't take some simple steps as a SELLER:

John Doe is on ebay looking for a New club he's wanted however doesn't want to pay the retail sticker on it at his local pro shop. John Doe wants to get this club for mere pennies to the dollar and YES, he wants it to be authentic. One day while reviewing auctions, John Doe spots the driver he's looking for and it's selling for 125.00 NEW. John Doe agrees to buy it, knowing full well it's probably a fake at that price. The club arrives to John Doe and YES, it's a fake. No problem. He ventures back onto ebay and finds multiple auctions selling the same authentic driver for around 250-300. He chooses his victim and wins an auction. The authentic club arrives at John Doe's house without any glitch.

Here's how the fraud works. John Doe now has two drivers (one fake one, one authentic one) He wants the authentic club at the fake club price. John Doe contacts the authentic club seller and advises him that he would like to return the club for refund b/c it was a fake. If successful, he returns the fake club and keeps the authentic club. It's that easy. John Doe now ends up with the real authentic club for only 125.00.

Here are some tips to protect yourself from this type of fraud:

1. If the club you are selling has a serial number, always record it for your personal records. This will help you match the numbers up when the returned club arrives. Many sellers are guilty of not recording it. They have no idea if the club returned was the actual club they shipped.

2. I most recently started practicing this with all items, especially items that do not have serial numbers. Micro mark an identification somewhere on the club, where only you would know. If this mark isn't present on the returned club, it's probably not the one you shipped and would think twice prior to refunding. 

One more tip: Deals more with shipping. If at all possible, ship everything with a tracking number. More and more people are receiving items and then turning around to fraud the seller and postal service by advising that the item was never received. They put the pressure on the seller, who's objective is to save face with feedback. Sellers will refund and take the hit over 85% of the time due to the fear of receiving poor feedback. So, if you are one of those sellers charging extra for insurance, make sure to purchase the insurance. Otherwise, it's a matter of time until someone puts you in a decision making position.

There are plenty of weakness regarding how ebay operates. It can range from the feedback system in place to the dispute resolution practices. Remember that ebay does not have the authority to make someone pay for wrong doing. At the end of the day, they will only act as a mediator to offer communication lines. Very little if the person you are trying to communicate with neglects to communicate. Eventually they get kicked off the site and then re-appear with a new account. TAKE YOUR OWN PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT YOURSELF. NO ONE ELSE WILL!

Ebay is working hard trying to make it a better and safer place. The fact is this, as long as there are flaws and weaknesses, criminals will continue to manipulate them for personal benefit.

Be safe and happy ebaying!