This information is mainly to help those scammed by all the hijacked accounts on ebay...to save you hours of searching for sources to report the crime when ebay can't help you...

Many people aren't aware that legal claims can be made successfully outside of ebay against con artists...The problem when you've been the victim of a hijacking scam--you've paid by western union or bank wire transfer and can't file an ebay complaint. If your transaction doesn't show up in "My Ebay" as "Item Won" you will not be helped by ebay. If you've paid a scammer by paypal, which happens occasionally when paypal accounts are hijacked...Here are some typical problems you can expect when filing claims on paypal and ebay...This is directly from Paypal's website: PAYPAL will reimburse you a percentage of your loss ONLY IF IT CAN BE COLLECTED FROM THE SELLER. "Even if the buyer’s claim is justified, the buyer will receive a recovery only if there are funds in the seller’s account. RECOVERY OF YOUR CLAIM IS NOT GUARANTEED." If the account is hijacked, obviously paypal payments can't be collected from the seller.

Listed Below is Ebay's standard coverage plan, ONLY IF it can be collected from the seller's account....
MAXIMUM COVERAGE: You'll be reimbursed up to a maximum of $200 (less $25 to cover processing costs).
For example:
If the item price is $500, you're eligible to receive $175.
If the item price is $100, you're eligible to receive $75.
If the item price is $26, you're eligible to receive $1.
The maximum reimbursement for any claim is $175.
Even if you're involved in a normal, binding transaction, these figures aren't exciting...so please arm yourself with information against cyber crime...read my guide "Scams! Phony Auction Alert! and search ebay guides for other Scam Warnings!

Don't let it go! Get the scam documented with authorities if nothing more than for future reference, in case this person's name comes up again with Police...authorities will have a history, and can build a better case.

CALL YOUR COUNTY SHERIFF: I was able to collect stolen money from scammers through a local detective, and contacting the scammer's local police dept., when I wasn't satisfied with paypal's protection ($175 Maximum Coverage). This crime needs to be reported locally, because it occured in your home, on your computer. Call your police dept. and ask that they send an officer to your home to fill out a report. Print out copies of any email you received from the scammer, selecting "show full header" in your email options. This information can help police track the criminals. If you know the location of the scammer, call the police dept. of that state also, and explain the situation, giving any evidence you can over the phone. Offer to fax any evidence. Please keep any emails with full headers and any other information you collect from the scammer...ebay i.d.s, etc.

OTHER WAYS TO HELP CATCH THESE CRIMINALS: Your involvement will keep someone else from being scammed...ebay does NOT prosecute!

WESTERN UNION FRAUD INVESTIGATIONS DEPT: Call 1-800-634-1311 and tell the customer service representative that you wish to report a fraud involving a Western Union money transfer.

INTERNET CRIME COMPLAINT CENTER (IC3):
File a Complaint: http://www.ic3.gov/complaint/

The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) is a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C).

IC3's mission is to serve as a vehicle to receive, develop, and refer criminal complaints regarding the rapidly expanding arena of cyber crime.

NATIONAL FRAUD INFORMATION CENTER (or NFIC):
Questions or Complaints: 1-800-876-7060
ONLINE INCIDENT REPORT FORM:
http://63.222.159.194/repoform.htm
The best way to report possible fraud to the NFIC is by calling our toll-free number, 1-800-876-7060, so that our counselors can ask for the information we need.

If you want to write to the NFIC, the address is:
National Fraud Information Center
PO Box 65868
Washington, DC 20035
If you are mailing information to the NFIC, do not include the originals of any materials. You may need them later. Please send photocopies.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO YOUR REPORT? We will enter the information in our state-of-the-art incident report system.

We will relay your report to the appropriate federal, state or local law enforcement agencies.

Information you provide informs federal and state regulators of possible illegal telemarketing or Internet activities. While there is no guarantee that you will recover money lost to fraud, you can at least help stop fraud and punish wrong-doers.

Your report will be transmitted to the National Fraud Database, maintained by the Federal Trade Commission and the National Association of Attorneys General. This information is available 24 hours a day to law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and Canada.

Taken directly from the Internet Crime Center on Recent Schemes:
AUCTION FRAUD - Romania

Auction fraud is the most prevalent of Internet crimes associated with Romania. The subjects have saturated the Internet auctions and offer almost every in-demand product. The subjects have also become more flexible, allowing victims to send half the funds now, and the other half when the item arrives.

The auctions are often posted as if the seller is a United States citizen, then the subject advises the victim to send the money to a business partner, associate, sick relative, a family member, etc., usually in a European country. The money is usually transferred via MoneyGram or Western Union wire transfer. The Internet Crime Complaint Center has verified in order to receive funds via Western Union, the receiver must provide the complete information of the sender and the receiver's full name and address. The funds can be picked up anywhere in the world using this information. There is no need to provide the money transfer control number (MTCN) or the answer to any secret question, as many subjects have purported to the victims. Money sent via wire transfer leaves little recourse for the victim.

The most recent trend is a large increase in bank-to-bank wire transfers. Most significantly, these wire transfers go through large United States banks and are then routed to Bucharest, Romania or Riga, Latvia.

Similarly, the sellers also occasionally direct the victims to pay using phony escrow services. Sometimes actual escrow websites are compromised and other sites resembling them are created by the subjects. Once the funds are wire transferred to the escrow website, the seller discontinues contact.

FILING COMPLAINTS TO ROMANIAN CYBER CRIME CENTER: eFrauda is offered to provide a method for romanian citizens and from abroad to promptly and directly communicate their complaints to romanian government agencies that are interested in investigating and taking action against internet fraud that is reported.
WEBSITE:
http://www.efrauda.ro/efrauda/admin/default.aspx?StartTab=0&lang=2
EMAIL: contact@efrauda.ro

Here is a copy of a response I received:
Dear Sir/ Madam,
I am working in Romanian National Police, Cyber Crime Unit.
We received your complaint regarding Internet fraud committed by romanian citizen. According to our legislation, in order to open a penal case and press charge against this person we need the following documents from you:
-complaint in Romanian form (see attached);
-copies of the correspondence with the subject
-copy of the payment document and any other document related to this transaction. You must sign al the documents on each page and send us by normal mail or express mail at the following address:
General Inspectorate of Romanian Police -DGCCOA
Strada Eforie nr. 3-5
Sector 5,
Bucuresti, 050036
Romania
In attn. D1/S6/VERESS
Very important: Please print the emails received from the subject with full header in order to identify the IP addresses he used.

SEARCH FOR THE SCAMMER: Try to protect other unsuspecting victims. Using advanced search, type in key words from your winning listing, such as the private email address or phrase used (ex: Before bid, contact me) select "exact phrase" in "description" of search...if you find another fraudulant ad,
scroll to the bottom of the listing page....
select report this ad
select Fraudulant listing
select I suspect this listing is fraudulant but didn't bid
select email customer support and write something like "Hijacked Seller's Account"

Get the scammer's personal email cancelled by reporting it to the server. Go to: www.abuse.net/lookup.phtml. For example, gmail complaints should be sent to gmail-abuse@google.com. Even though criminals change their email frequently, It may save a few buyers from getting scammed when their email questions are returned undeliverable.

SCAMMERS TARGET EBAY SELLERS USING "ASK SELLER A QUESTION"
One of the scams making the rounds takes advantage of eBay's "Ask Seller a Question" feature that allows potential bidders to query sellers through eBay's email system. But rather than asking a question about the item for sale, the scammer posts an advertisement for a partner to help it process PayPal payments.

One such post reads, "Q: We are looking for a partner (person or organization) in your city to represent our firm and accept payments on our behalf for a reward of certain percentage of sales amount. Payments will be paid for our goods from US customers in form of paypal payment, certified check or MO. It is not needed to spend personal funds to begin, all relations will be governed by the contract agreement. Further info is available on request. Please get back to us asap."

Scammers posted these ads on job sites. PayPal prohibits users from using their PayPal accounts to collect and transfer money for someone else. "This type of activity is often conducted as a form of money laundering. Money laundering is a state and federal crime which often results in significant criminal penalties."

PLEASE PROTECT YOURSELF WITH INFORMATION BEFORE BIDDING! When unsure of a seller's legitimacy, and they're not showing any OBVIOUS red flags for scams, be sure to ask questions that could only be answered by checking the specific item! Be creative! If you get a reply that the unit is in another location, etc. and can't be looked at, BEWARE! Please search previously ended auctions as a final check, to see if they've sold any similar items. Please keep yourself familiar with all the danger signs...if we stop supporting the scammers with money, they will be forced to get real jobs!

A Prayer for your Protection:
Psalm 17:7: Lord...Your love is wonderful,
By your power you save those who trust you
from their enemies.
Protect me as you would protect your own eye.
Hide me under the shadow of your wings.
Keep me from the wicked who attack me...

Funny! a "no" vote implies that this info will put you behind bars!