Different types of eBay frauds/scams
eBay motors fraud
If you want to bid on or purchase a vehicle or a high priced item like a motorcycle, tractor, lawn mower or anything else that runs in the thousands of dollars, you need to be very careful. You will find very attractive deals and bargains on eBay - however it is your responisibility to verify seller's claims and be cautious.
eBay Art fraud
Sources like eBay are legitimate places for you to obtain original art. However fraudulent imitations of originals are also present.
Many buyers have purchased fakes - thinking they got a great deal. For example a work done by American abstract painter Richard Diebenkorn attracted lots of attention on eBay.
The bids opened at 30 cents. The price reached four figures and then six figures. A buyer from the Netherlands bought it for $135,805 USD. The painting was a fake. Unscrupulous sellers post bogus paintings on eBay-forged works of Alberto Giacometti, Maurice Utrillo, Edward Hopper, and others and drive up prices using shill bidding. Buyers should exercise great caution.
eBay vacation fraud
According to the Department of Health and Human Services, consumers are defrauded out of millions of dollars every month by travel and vacation scams and frauds. These scams are usually characterized by unrealistic low prices or free or exclusive offers. Vacation rentals or packages purchased through eBay or other electronic sources may be a scam. Buyers need to investigate before buying.
For example, a San Diego-based firm selling discounted vacation packages on eBay to Hawaii, Mexico and the Virgin Islands defrauded customers in 2006 and early 2007. Buyers were tricked with bait and switch tactics and ended up paying much more for the vacation packages than they planned. After paying for the vacations, some consumers also found that rooms, travel, and other reservations were never booked at all.
eBay Jewelers fraud
There are numerous bargains on eBay for jewelry, designer purses, and other expensive items. Dishonest sellers will often make a fake item appear to be more authentic.
Other sellers unknowingly pass off counterfeit merchandise for the real thing. Regardless of the reason, both unscrupulous and uninformed sellers continue to operate on eBay and buyers need to be cautious.
eBay electronics fraud
Consumer electronics like mobile phones, laptops, GPS systems, video games, mp3 players, and iPods, etc. are amongst the most popular items purchased on eBay.
But again, consumers have been shipped items which do not work, are stolen, fake, etc.