If you've been on Ebay lately and scanned through auctions in any category you've probably noticed an auction or two with very desirable items, usually listed in the featured section, with a really low Buy It Now or starting price.  You've probably noticed too that the Ebay seller usually doesn't have any feedback, wants you to use Bidpay or Western Union to pay him and will usually have an email address in his auction description so that you can just email him directly if you want to purchase it or talk to him about the item which makes you think, why is this new Ebay seller selling such a desirable and expensive item for his first Ebay sale which raises some red flags in the back of your mind.  It is getting hard to tell a real auction from a fake auction.  Some of the really good scammers will take over someone's account who has alot of feedback and post auctions using their Ebay name.  This is usually done with Ebayers who haven't been using Ebay lately and haven't been checking their Ebay account recently to see what's going on.  First let me say as you probably already know, if the item is too good to be true at the price they are quoting then it's probably a fake auction.  You can check it out several ways though.  First and foremost, use the ask a question on the auction, hiding your email address and ask for more pictures of the item, something more technical.  Pictures that the Seller would have to have the item in front of him or at his house or readily available to get for you.  A scammer will just have pictures that he has stolen from someone else and won't be able to get the other pictures that you requested.  That should send up a red flag right away.  Also, never use the email address that is in the auction description the Seller gives you, he'll just get your email address this way. Always use the Ask The Seller A Question link hiding your email address if you are unsure.  Also, if you are unsure about the answer that you received back from the Seller, check your My Messages and the Sellers question will be on this site.  If it's not, then you have a problem.  Always check your My Messages from My Ebay for all Ebay emails are recorded there.  If you are truly interested in the Item and are still unsure, notice where the Seller is located and make sure the location matches up.  Check into their I.D. History, feedback, etc.  It's a good idea to check what kind of payment the Seller will take.  Sellers that only accept Money Orders and Western Union might be a problem.  Once you pay for the item, then you have no recourse.  Your money is gone and you have no way of tracking it.  Paypal is an excellent form of payment if you are buying something from a Seller that you are unsure of.  I wouldn't use another form of payment myself because this can be tracked and you have recourse in getting your money back.  Be aware though that there is a limit to how much you can get back so expensive items should clearly be thought through before purchasing them.  If you look at the bottom of each auction page there is a list of things that you can do regarding the auction that you are looking at.  One of the things you can do is Report This Auction.  Clicking this on allows Ebay to check into the auction and make sure that it is legitimate.  Scammers are getting so good and taking over accounts with Ebayers with excellent feedback that it get's almost impossible to tell who is real and who isn't.  I will personally see items on Ebay that I know sold several weeks ago and see it again under a different Seller.  I will click on the Report This Auction and make sure that Ebay is aware what I perceive as a problem.  I might of saved someone else getting ripped off out of their hard earned money.  Remember, ask questions using the auction Ask the Seller Questions, hiding your email address.  Check your My Messages under Ebay to make sure that all Ebay messages are recorded there.  If you have received an email from someone under the guise from Ebay and it is not in your My Messages, then it's a scam, Thirdly, use paypal, preferably with a credit card when purchasing items that you are unsure of so that you have recourse, Report auctions that you know are scams or that you are concerned about using the Report This Auction at the bottom of every auction page, and Lastly use good common sense.  If it's a highly desirable item and it's cheap, cheap, cheap, there's a problem and don't get caught up and allow yourself to get ripped off nor anyone else.  Ask for those pictures and if they can't supply them then look for another auction or someone who can.  Like my Mom always said "there's always more"...