Fraud on eBay is a reality. Even the people at eBay admit that out of every one million transactions, 1000 of them result in complaints or request for legal action. That's probably not a bad ratio, considering that practically everyone who meets on eBay is a total stranger. Nevertheless, when it happens to you, it's a big pain. Ebay has policies designed to minimize fraud, but don't go into effect until after you realize you've been "had". As one who both buys and sells on eBay, I am aware of the concerns on both sides. Here are my safeguards: When I am the seller: The worst that can happen to a seller is not getting paid; either at all or by bounced check. I accept personal checks, but let bidders know I don't ship until I know the check has cleared. If they don't pay at all, at least you still have your merchandise. You're only out your time and listing fees. Those can be substantial if you tried to sell a car. Still, at least you can try again. Always report such bidders to eBay. They won't "blacklist" them right away, but if your problem with the bidder isn't resolved in thirty days, they will. When I am the buyer: Buyers are very vulnerable. Sellers don't ship until they receive payment. The nightmare is when you send in your payment, and the merchandise never comes. The great majority of folks on eBay are good people, and don't want a bad reputation. They want to stay in "business" for the long haul. You can usually trust someone with an eBay "store", or a power seller. Therefore, most fraud comes from "hit and run" scam artists who don't intend to stay on eBay long. They don't care about eBay management because they won't be found when eBay takes action. I am not impressed by "feedback numbers". Before I bid, I read the comments to get a feel for what kind of seller I'm considering doing business with. I look for previous selling comments; feedback as a buyer is irrelevant. If they have been on eBay less than a month, I usually don't bid. If feedback shows the seller has irritated a few folks , I usually pass on the auction. I never pay with cash or money order. I prefer PayPal mainly for privacy reasons, but also because PayPal can be of help if you don't get your merchandise. Again, eBay gives the seller thirty days to make good on shipping before they "blacklist" him. They will send threatening emails for you to get them going. Sometimes a person runs into an unscheduled life crisis that may delay the little things in life. If the seller stays in contact with you, at least that's a good sign. If not, you may have fallen prey to a "scam artist". If you never get your stuff, you can report the seller to eBay, but you still have to take legal action to get your money back.

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