How to protect yourself from fraud on eBay classifieds
If you want to buy or sell something on eBay classifieds, you should pay attention to a few things. Above all, fraudsters need to beware of users. Whether prams, cell phones or televisions - the range of eBay classified ads is huge because everyone wants to make money with old stuff. If you want to be successful, you have to consider a few things. T-online.de has put together tips for buying and selling on the virtual bulletin board for you.
Pick up the goods yourself and pay on-site
If possible, meet for trading with the business partner. Anyone who looks at the goods on-site will not experience a surprise afterward. In addition, none of the business partners can collect goods or money without consideration.
Compare prices
Use comparison portals like "idealo.de" or look at eBay classified ads to get an overview of current prices. How to avoid high prices and scammers. For example, if someone sells the latest iPhone for 100 euros in pristine condition, you should become suspicious.
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As a rule, sellers set their prices higher, bargaining is included. Pay attention to the abbreviation "VB" after the price. This stands for the "basis for negotiation". But do not be afraid of supposedly fixed price offers - here too, a small margin is usually taken into account.
When it comes to trading, you should secure yourself above all with expensive products: do not go to the scheduled meeting alone. In the event of a dispute, you have a witness. The Saxony Consumer Advice Center also recommends a receipt for private purchases. A purchase contract is recommended for purchases of expensive goods such as cars or allotments.
If you want the goods to be delivered to you, carefully check the seller. Check the joining date in his profile. If the account is still young, it could be a scammer who changes profiles frequently. If he also sells many similar items, it could be stolen goods.
If the buyer uses excuses to communicate by email, you should stop. Better break the contact. The best option is always the phone. eBay also advises that one should become suspicious of sellers who exclude personal contact.
Never pay in advance on eBay classifieds. In an emergency, it will be so difficult to get the money back. Avoid cash on delivery: fraudsters often fill packages with stones. This usually becomes clear after the parcel has been accepted. Then it is very unlikely to get the money back from the post office. If possible, you should open the package in the presence of the supplier.
A more secure option is payment via PayPal. There is so-called buyer protection. If you do not receive the goods, PayPal will help you. You may even get the money back from the payment service.
There is also a lot to consider on the seller side. Among other things, “triangle fraud” is currently a popular trick. It works like this: A supposedly interested buyer contacts you and asks for payment details. At the same time, the fraudster puts an advertisement for your product online. If a third person wants to buy this product, the fraudster will give the interested party your payment information.
As a result, you receive the money from the third person, assuming that it comes from the fraudster, and send the product to the criminal. The third-party could now ask you to repay the money. This is particularly critical if the payment was made via PayPal. Because of buyer protection, the third party can get his money back more easily. So be suspicious if you are receiving money from a third person or, from the customer's point of view, have to pay to a third person.
eBay classified ads also contain so-called "advance fraudsters". As the consumer portal "Onlinewarnung.de" reports, supposed buyers pretend to be interested. However, the goods are to be sent abroad.
With approval, the buyer sends an alleged payment confirmation of the agreed purchase price plus shipping costs. However, fraudsters ask that shipping costs be advanced to a carrier selected by the fraudster using cash transfer services such as "MoneyGram" or "Western Union". Only when the money has arrived there is said to appear on the account. But there are no companies. A transfer from the buyer will never take place. Instead, the transport costs end up with fraudsters.
Fake bank confirmations are often recognized by grammatical or spelling errors, writes "Onlinewarnung.de". Even if you receive an alleged PayPal message in your e-mail inbox, check directly with the payment service whether money has actually been received. If the "PayPal" email contains statements such as "The money only appears when you have sent the package", it is a forgery. There is no such function as PayPal.
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Generally avoid shipping abroad. Especially if the "buyer" is willing to pay more for the product. Stories like "I am working abroad and I urgently need the product" are often made up.
Every price is negotiable
As a rule, sellers set their prices higher, bargaining is included. Pay attention to the abbreviation "VB" after the price. This stands for the "basis for negotiation". But do not be afraid of supposedly fixed price offers - here too, a small margin is usually taken into account.
Witnesses, receipts and sales contracts
When it comes to trading, you should secure yourself above all with expensive products: do not go to the scheduled meeting alone. In the event of a dispute, you have a witness. The Saxony Consumer Advice Center also recommends a receipt for private purchases. A purchase contract is recommended for purchases of expensive goods such as cars or allotments.
Check the seller
If you want the goods to be delivered to you, carefully check the seller. Check the joining date in his profile. If the account is still young, it could be a scammer who changes profiles frequently. If he also sells many similar items, it could be stolen goods.
Making calls is the safest way
If the buyer uses excuses to communicate by email, you should stop. Better break the contact. The best option is always the phone. eBay also advises that one should become suspicious of sellers who exclude personal contact.
Do not pay in advance or cash on delivery
Never pay in advance on eBay classifieds. In an emergency, it will be so difficult to get the money back. Avoid cash on delivery: fraudsters often fill packages with stones. This usually becomes clear after the parcel has been accepted. Then it is very unlikely to get the money back from the post office. If possible, you should open the package in the presence of the supplier.
A more secure option is payment via PayPal. There is so-called buyer protection. If you do not receive the goods, PayPal will help you. You may even get the money back from the payment service.
Beware of "triangle fraud"
There is also a lot to consider on the seller side. Among other things, “triangle fraud” is currently a popular trick. It works like this: A supposedly interested buyer contacts you and asks for payment details. At the same time, the fraudster puts an advertisement for your product online. If a third person wants to buy this product, the fraudster will give the interested party your payment information.
As a result, you receive the money from the third person, assuming that it comes from the fraudster, and send the product to the criminal. The third-party could now ask you to repay the money. This is particularly critical if the payment was made via PayPal. Because of buyer protection, the third party can get his money back more easily. So be suspicious if you are receiving money from a third person or, from the customer's point of view, have to pay to a third person.
Watch out for "advance fraudsters"
eBay classified ads also contain so-called "advance fraudsters". As the consumer portal "Onlinewarnung.de" reports, supposed buyers pretend to be interested. However, the goods are to be sent abroad.
With approval, the buyer sends an alleged payment confirmation of the agreed purchase price plus shipping costs. However, fraudsters ask that shipping costs be advanced to a carrier selected by the fraudster using cash transfer services such as "MoneyGram" or "Western Union". Only when the money has arrived there is said to appear on the account. But there are no companies. A transfer from the buyer will never take place. Instead, the transport costs end up with fraudsters.
Pay attention to fake transfer confirmations
Fake bank confirmations are often recognized by grammatical or spelling errors, writes "Onlinewarnung.de". Even if you receive an alleged PayPal message in your e-mail inbox, check directly with the payment service whether money has actually been received. If the "PayPal" email contains statements such as "The money only appears when you have sent the package", it is a forgery. There is no such function as PayPal.
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Do not ship abroad
Generally avoid shipping abroad. Especially if the "buyer" is willing to pay more for the product. Stories like "I am working abroad and I urgently need the product" are often made up.
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