Found a sweet deal for a jet ski or possibly a pair? Something like Two 2005 Sea-Doo RXPs $5800 USD? Before you respond to this auction, why don't you do yourself a favor and go to the Kelly Blue Book website and determine the retail value of the jet skis?

After you do that, ask yourself a question: "Why would anyone sell $16,000 worth of skis for $5800?"

The simple answer is, they are looking for a sucker! They want one of several things: to take your money, steal your identity, or spam your email address!!!

Things to look for:

1. Is it too good to be true? 2 skis for $5800? hummm

2. Check out the date they registered with eBay. If they have been a member since today, you might want to think twice.

3. Check their feedback. Sometimes a scammer will join eBay and sell a few items for under $20. They generate some positive feedback and then throw in the scam item for big money.

4. Check feedback for gaps. For instance, if they had no activity since 2005, and now all of a sudden there is a flurry of activity in 2007, it is more than possible that someone has a hijacked identity.

5. Check item location. You are not apt to find Free shipping US and Canada, United States, anywhere on the map!!!

6 Check out the registration number on the side of the ski. The first two letters are for the state the ski is registered in. If the seller's location is listed as New York and the ski's first two letters are AR (for Arkansas), you can almost bet this is a scam.

7. Be wary if the registration numbers are blotted out.

8. Contact me to buy it now for $58OO and the bidding is over that amount. Why would you bid in excess of $5800? It makes no sense to bid in excess of the listed purchase price. Why not purchase it now.

9. Notice that many of the scammers use O's instead of zeros in dollar amounts.

10 Look for the scammer to try to get you to contact them outside of eBay. Phrase in vehicle description such as:

If you want to get in touch with me please click here to e-mail me.

I will reject your bid if you do not contact me first at: hotmail, yahoo, etc.

11. Watch the screen as the item number is loading. If it blinks or flashes, the scammers are redirecting the item. Notice the screen's appearance is different. For instance, the "Report this listing" button has been removed. Another ploy they use is to replace the "back to list of item" button with one that says "Back to my eBay". This will cause to to re-log in to my eBay. That is how they are stealing user ID's and passwords. 

12. If after reading this, you still want to bid on the sweet  deal, please put your money in a brown paper sack and leave it at the corner bus stop. They will be back in a couple of days with your new skis!

P.S. they are using the same scam in motorcycles, targeting Honda Goldwing trikes and Harley Softails.