Question 
Protecting Yourself from Fraud 
 

Answer 
As an Auctions user, you need to be aware of potentially fraudulent site activity. The following Red Flags will help protect you from fraud:

   1. There are no payment instructions on the item.
   2. Seller only accepts wire transfers, money orders or cash transactions (e.g., Western Union).
   3. Seller requests that the money be sent outside the United States.
   4. Seller doesn't offer PayPal as a payment option. (Many fraudulent sellers have been banned from PayPal.)
   5. Seller requires the buyer to call or email them before or after bidding on an item.
   6. Seller suggests through external contact that the buyer completes a transaction outside the confines of an auction.
   7. Seller has excessive negative Feedback.
   8. Seller has no contact information.
   9. Seller is not located in the U.S.
  10.If an auction looks too good to be true, it probably is.
  11.Always contact the seller before bidding or before paying for an item. If anything seems suspicious, do not complete the transaction.
  12.If a person contacts you via email and offers to sell you an identical or similar item for a similar or lower amount, do not complete the transaction and report the user to eBay.com.

If you find two or more of these flags on an auction you are watching, we recommend that you do not bid on the auction.