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Before we start to examine some of the most common eBay scams that you should be on the lookout for, it is important to mention why those scams exist.  eBay is considered an online market place or an online auction website.  Just about anyone with an internet connection and an eBay account can start eBay sale auctions.  This is what makes it possible for scammers to trap innocent shoppers like you. While eBay does work to combat these scams and eliminate the individuals behind them, there are some people who slip through the cracks. That is why you will always want to be on the lookout for eBay scams.

When doing business on eBay, you must know how to recognize a scam, and how to avoid them. If you are scammed, there are a number of actions you can take to try and correct the situation.

You can evade many scams with the payment method that you use, whether you are a buyer or a seller. As most of us already know eBay owns Paypal, and in most cases, PayPal is the payment method you should use.

As a buyer, if you are scammed or less than happy with the item when it arrives, you can easily dispute the charge, and demand a refund. The seller must reply and show evidence that the item was shipped, or Paypal will simply return your funds to your account.

As a seller, you can to a great extent protect yourself by only accepting Paypal. This will greatly remove the chances of receiving a bad check or having the buyer dispute a credit card charge. Instead, they must dispute the charge through PayPal, and you will now be able to provide evidence that you did ship the product.

Another repeated scam that buyers use is the bidding scam. This type of scam is run either with two separate eBay accounts – with one person who is in control of both of them, or with two friends with separate eBay accounts. A ridiculous small bid is placed on your item, using one account. This is subsequently followed by a very good high bid, from the other eBay account. But before the bidding ends, the high bid is cancelled or withdrawn, unfortunately leaving the low bid as the winning bid, leaving you at a great loss.

If you are an eBay seller remember to protect your auctions by placing a notice on your auctions page declaring that you have the right to back out of the sale if you suspect potential fraud.

Find loads more tips on eBay!