Tag Archives: scammer

Sharing my blocked eBay bidders

  By admin | May 11, 2009 - 1:44 pm | Others Leave a comment

eBay sellers are familiar with the situation. Seller lists an item, bidder places a bid. Bidder wins the item and seller gives the invoice. After seven days, seller still doesn’t hear from the winning bidder. Seller then files for an Unpaid Item Dispute.

In my part-time gig as eBay seller, I’ve had my fair share of joybidders. Joybidder is an eBay term that describes an eBay member who bids on item for sheer fun (or malice). Although eBay provided a facility for members to block a joybidder from bidding again, eBay does not allow eBay members to post the joybidder’s eBay user name in eBay’s discussion board. The same policy holds true for eBay user names of scammers, or those disgusting members who cheat other eBayers of their hard-earned money.

This has become a source of frustration to almost all eBay members. After all, how can they warn other eBay members of joybidders and scammers?

I’m sharing my list of blocked bidders to you (click to download). I didn’t encounter all of them but another eBay member was gracious enough to share his blocked bidders’ list. Over my three years in eBay, I have added quite a few to that list. You can download the Word file and just copy/paste the names in your own eBay blocked bidders’ list.

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13 Red Flags of a Fraudulent eBay Transaction

  By admin | February 26, 2009 - 5:25 am | Shopping Leave a comment

I have been a member of eBay—both as seller and buyer—for more than three years. I have been very fortunate that I have never been scammed. Truth be told, I have spent several thousands of pesos buying Archie comics outside of eBay but this is an exception because the seller inu_mktg turned out to be a very trustworthy person.

But others are not as lucky. In the discussion board of eBay Philippines, I always see threads warning others of scammers or desperately looking for a way to retrieve their hard-earned money. It’s always the same. Seller has low feedback scores, offers gadgets at dirt-cheap prices, and provides limited payment options.

I do my part in helping the eBay community be rid of scammers (and joybidders). Whether you’re an experienced eBayer, it’s still best to refresh yourself with the 13 red flags to warn a bidder of a fraudulent transaction. Credit is due to eBayers jenny_lake and silverstrad, who compiled and edited these materials. For a detailed explanation, please check this link.

Most people who are defrauded are victims of their own greed. When a transaction appears to be too good to be true, it likely is. Application of common sense can preserve your money.

1. A popular item is offered for a price which seems too good to be true
2. An ‘off-eBay’ transaction is conducted through email
3. Payment options provide little or no security for the buyer
4. Misleading claims of transaction security or buyer protection
5. Item is no longer listed on eBay
6. Item is listed on Craiglist or similar
7. Item is listed on a hijacked account
8. Escrow other than escrow.com is used
9. A fraudulent Second Chance Offer is sent
10. The seller’s location may be a clue to a fraudulent transaction (China, India, Nigeria, etc)
11. Free shipping from a distant country
12. No photo or stock photos are used
13. The bidder needs to be pre-approved or the item is listed in a private auction

To report a suspected fraudulent auction, go to the ‘Contact Us’ web form here:

Final word: Don’t be a victim of your own greed and be blinded by cheap prices. Practice common sense always. If it’s too good to be true, it must be. Let’s help keep eBay clean and safe.

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