Beware of fraud when using online marketplaces.  After writing a post a few months ago about the use of online marketplaces, I feel compelled to address the prevalence of fraud due  to the nefarious elements of society who are seeking ways to scam the rest of us.

I’ve encountered this recently when using Craigslist, which seems to attract fraudsters. The fraudsters offer to pay you by check for an amount way above what the item costs to handle the extra shipping because they want the item expedited to them.  They’ll send you a check, it will not clear your bank and meanwhile, you have shipped the item to them.  To their credit, Craigslist is aware of this scam and has a full explanation and details for how to spot it on their website.

When I use Craigslist, I ALWAYS meet people in a public place for a CASH transaction.  It’s just easier this way for both sides.

My most recent FRAUD experience is with eBay.  This is the SECOND time I have had this SAME experience with eBay and both times I’ve reported the buyer.  The Buyer will buy an item for sale, eBay records this as a SOLD item and removes it from the “for sale” list.  The BUYER will create a FALSE email looking like it’s from Paypal saying that the money has been deposited into the Seller’s Paypal account and it will not be released until the item is shipped and transaction/shipping information provided to the Buyer.  They will also send a FAKE eBay email stating the same.  Then, the Buyer will send many emails/text messages to the Seller requesting immediate shipment because the item is a gift for a son/daughter and oh, yes, the Buyer is traveling and so please ship the item to………wait for it………..Nigeria.

This fraud/scam has been played on me twice but both times I caught it and reported it to eBay.

What is disconcerting about the entire experience is that eBay does not go enough to verify BUYERS and that eBay will provide SELLER contact information to Buyers before they have verified that the buyer is legitimate.  This is very concerning.

A warning for all out there.  When you use online marketplaces, beware.  You have to be extra careful when selling because the fraudsters are out there just looking for an opportunity to take something without paying for it.

When a legitimate sale goes through eBay via Paypal, you will receive an email directly from Paypal as well as one from eBay stating that the funds are in your account.  This is a Different email entirely than the Phishing fraud emails used by the crooks.  Plus, you can verify these by logging in (separately, different browser open please) to Paypal to view your account and to eBay to view your messages.  If $$ not in Paypal account, you’ll know it’s fraud.  If message not in eBay message for your account, it’s fraud.

I’ll still use these marketplaces, but each time I have this experience, it disheartening and scary.  Perhaps selling things directly through local merchants or on consignment is still the best option to avoid fraud.