This is just a small bit of information that should help out the new people with ebay. If you see that an item has the bidders identity protected, this could mean a few things. First of all, if it is a very expensive item (like a car, boat, etc.) or something that you wouldn't want other people to know about (personal items) then you are probably all set. However, if it is on a very common item, this could raise a few concerns. The seller could have friends bidding on his behalf, not to buy it, but to pump up the price for someone else. Also, it could be a complete fraud. If you have any questions on an item that you are interested in and it is private bidding, it is strongly recommended that you send the seller a note with any questions that you may have, and see if it is okay to bid on. Another tid-bit of information is that if you have been outbid and you recieve an email that you won the item because the winner backed out, don't get your hopes up. This is called spoof. Send the seller a note to ask if this is the case, and most likely he will say that it was a scam. This is basic information that the veterans already know, but it is one of the most important things that you should watch. Good luck, and happy bidding.