In this guide, I don’t pretend that I will cover all the issues on the topic, but at least I’ll try to give you a method which, I hope, will help you suspect that a « too good to be true » deal could be a fraud.

Miracles :
They happen but very rarely.  If you think you have found an item at an unbelievable price, maybe  you should actually not believe the dealer. It can be a real good deal but chances are that the seller is trying to make fast money and disappear...

All that shines is not gold :
When you face an « unbelievable price », you have to find out « Why is he offering it for so cheap? ».  Once you find the answer then you now if it is a good deal. Psychologically, the bad question to ask yourself would be «HOW can he sell for so cheap?» because that formulation suggest you already believe it is for real.

Digging into the seller’s identity
For a moment, let’s pretend I want to set up a scheme in order to make 500$ fast.  The two things to think about are : first a VERY attractive item and offer it for auction at a surprisingly low price. Second, build up a identity just good enough so buyers will not pay too much attention to me.
 
The main point is to make the buyer to see the offer as if he’d just found a 100$ bill on the street :  «...don’t think, pick it up! ».  Here, the « Don’t think » part refers to the same emotion that lead gamblers to always put more money in a coin machine. They WANT to believe in a miracle and they shut down the rational part of their mind, preferring the dream. So, as a defrauder, I simply have to offer a great deal.
The second point is the reputation.  Again as a defrauder. I just have to show a « not so bad » reputation in order to put the rational part of the buyers mind in silent mode : because he WANTS the item, he will not dig very deep to know who I am.

SO let’s do it...

1. I’ll pick up something in demand, usually sold around $1000. Let’s say a Sony DSC-R1, or an AMD FX60 processor, and I’ll put it on auction at $99.  At such a starting price, I already catch attention of potential dreamer : «What if I had it at this price.... WOW!»


2. I have to make believe I am serious, and at the same time, it should be very difficult to reach me otherwise than trough eBay messaging.  OK then : I will establish myself in a far country. Let’s choose China, or Turkish : who would even try to find me there and for only $500?  They will give up just thinking of the trouble! But I also need to have some feedback otherwise I wont be credible : I just have to create 10 or 12 false users and use these users to leave myself positive feedback.  With 10 positive feedback, eBay will show 100% satisfaction... BIG DEAL since who will realise that people who left feedback for me have themselves no feedback at all (or «crosslinked» feedback) ?

3. I will put the item only for a very short period of time, then eBay won’t have time to spot me and make a inquiry : one day auction is fine.  More, I’ll set up the auction so that it ends around midnight (USA time), so even if I am reported as a defrauder, I will not be caught because eBays office is closed at nine !


4. Finally, I will ask for cash or bank transfer, or even online transfer (on Internet) so once I have the money, it will stay in my hands and I can disappear :)

Now, if I want to refine my scheme, I can ask a $45 insurance fee (looks serious) and a huge $90 for  «Reliable and safe shipping».  Well done !

That’s a recipe I have often seen on eBay.  It shows you all the thing you must check and beware of, when looking at good  deals.

Resume :

1. For how long has the seller been selling (not only a member), 3 month’s ? That’s quite short to me, especially if he has only 10 feedback !

2. Does seller’s feedback comes from real people or «no longer a registered member» guys ?

3. Seller’s feedback are only on bought items?  Real transactions or just 10 times the same .25 cents item ? Bought from real sellers or just some fake-like sellers with no or little feedback (...again from fake members... and so on...) ?

4. If you see feedback from long time members, buy and sell, with themselves a lot of real feedback, that’s very good : you may have a deal.

5. Could you file a complaint to the seller’s police dept. In case of a fraud ? Well don’t even think of it if he sells from China or Honk Kong.

6. Do you believe eBay has a mean to reach the seller in case of trouble ? Again,  don’t even think of it if he sells from Turkish ! If the seller’s accept Paypal, that a good news: defrauders rarely have a link that can be followed to reach them. If he ask for cash, be careful !!!

7. If you see the Paypal protection logo beside the listed item, in a search list, THAT is NOT enough : I have seen defrauder who had that symbol without meeting the Paypal requirements (how is that ? I don’t know) and more, they did not accept Paypal ?!?! See  Paypal elegibility to know what are those conditions.
Some key precautions :

1. T H I N K ! ! !    T H I N K  T W I C E ! ! !

2. Dig the seller’s identity... dig carefully.  You can even contact members who dealt with a specific seller, by clicking on an item number (in the seller’s feedback list) and then clicking on “Contact Member” button.  This is useful when a seller pretend that he has finally satisfied the buyer : ask the buyer if the transaction has finally been settled properly.

3. Are the feedback readable or only a long string of ????????????????   I have been told that I see questionmarks because feedback is written in Chineese : if this is true, could someone tell me why a Chineese would pay so much attention to Australia or Canada, enough to specifically indicate shipping fees for these countries ?  Yes, we all know the answer... no ?

4. Ask for shipping or insurance... if you get no answer to your email, you may get no item!  By the way, it is a good thing to use eBay email system : you will never loose info’s received and proof of answers are hard to deny.

5. Check NOT ONLY the feedback : also check how the seller has answered to negative feedback... you will have some surprises !  Check feedback the seller has left, as a buyer, for other sellers.

6. Does the seller accept Paypal ?  Even if you don’t use Paypal to pay the seller, this is an indication of a serious seller.


If after all this you still have doubts, you’d better not buy and wait for a while.  You will always find a good deal later.

Want a real example ?  Search for «AMD FX60» processors, then dig the identity of sellers from China.  You will easily detect who are good and fraudulent sellers...

Note: I would appreciate your comments if you feel I am (or am not) fare or correct in what is written above. Feel free to contact me.