THURSDAY'S THRILLER: BIDDER BEWARE!
You're merrily bidding on a Scooby Doo lunchbox to complete your collection when someone leaps into the auction, bids to up the price, then disappears at the last minute -- leaving you with the choice of either walking away or paying too much.
This may have been a legitimate bidder who simply bailed when the price got too high or a friend of the seller who is only there to drive up the price.
CAN YOU PROTECT YOURSELF FROM SHILLS? Yes!
With these tips:
1. Research the bidder.
Click the bidder's name to view his profile, then check out other auctions this person has participated in. Is this a repeating pattern? Is the seller always the same? Does the bidder ever win the auction?
2. Spill the beans.
If you think you are dealing with a shill bidder -- someone who is bidding only to drive the price up with no intention of buying -- report it to eBay using the contact form on eBay's help page. eBay has nifty (but top-secret) software that can quickly tell if someone is shill bidding. If eBay can prove it, it will suspend the baddies.
If you have a problem with an auction, such as a scammer trying to lure you outside the auction site to take your money, use eBay's customisable contact form to file a complaint.
3. Beware of scam bidders.
If someone contacts you directly, claiming to be the seller and offering to sell you the item immediately, provided you're willing to transfer funds or send a cheque to a P.O. Box, just refuse politely. That person is trying to lure you off eBay, where you'll be completely unprotected. Report anyone trying to short-circuit an auction to eBay by going to the help section and clicking Contact Us
