What can happen?
- Sellers ramp up the value of their item by adopting fake identities and make bigger bids so you end up paying too much for something.
- You don't get what you think you've paid for. For example, you think you are buying a mobile phone but it's only the brochure.
- The seller's identity has been stolen and you get defrauded either as seller or buyer. Some people steal the identity of reputable sellers by encouraging them to pay using a bank transfer rather than a credit card.
- Auctions are person to person transactions so there is less protection. If you are buying from a shop or a company then you have more opportunity to complain.
- You buy something that never arrives.
- You sell something and don't get paid.
- You give away your personal information.
What can you do to keep safe?
- Learn about online auctions if you are new to them.
- Follow normal online safety rules. The usual advice of being careful with your personal information, using strong passwords and looking out for fake sites applies to online auctions.
- Look carefully at the seller information and ratings. Look out for negative feedback or sellers who don't have many ratings. Obviously not all new sellers are risky as we all have to start somewhere but be a bit more careful. You will have less opportunity to complain if your seller is outside the UK. If you have questions do just ask your seller, it's a good way of getting to know them.
- Be careful about phishing and scams.
- Keep a record of what you ordered and your bids.
- Check you know the price of what you are bidding for.
