The risk involved in carrying cash around for daily transactions have made it imperative for payment to be made electronically. Until recently, our country was a cash-based economy, where all transactions were done with cash, but the level of insecurity in the country and armed robbery activities had compelled people to embrace the e-payment option.
Currently, e-payment is gradually replacing cash payment for goods and services as many people across the globe, now use either automated teller machine cards, domiciliary accounts and credit cards to do transactions. While these systems of payment are considered effective and convenient, however scammers are on the prowl and are always in the habit of tracking the details of the user of these products to defraud them, or in some cases, put some goods on the web at cheaper prices, only for people to discover later that they have been duped. In some case, these scammers put some piece of information about the account of the victims, or sometimes send messages to people informing them that they have won something, even when they did not play any games or participate in any lottery. Some greedy people fall for the tricks, but some experts have suggested that those who use the e-payment device must be wary of the risks involved and guard against them.
In this article, I wish to enlighten people on how to avoid scammers while using e-payment systems. Firstly, people should stick to their guns when they see such offers. "They should also work on how much they are willing to pay for a particular item before they start; then stick to their guns. That way, you are less likely to succumb to shill bidding tactics." Buyer should also check for feedback. e-bay feedback is not a foolproof way of establishing a seller's authenticity, but it does help. See how much feedback a seller has and check what percentage of it is positive. Personally, I am unlikely to buy from anyone with less than 98 percent positive feedback. It is also worth reading any comment buyers have left along with their negative feedback, to see if the same problem occurs again and again.
Secondly, always take a good look at the listing's photographs, and be suspicious of any that look like they have been grabbed from somewhere else on the internet. This may indicate that the item you are buying simply doesn't exist, or is not in the condition described. Keep your eyes peeled for emailing purporting to come from eBay or PayPal. Of course, some of them will be genuine, certain characteristics should start those alarm bell ringing. Avoid emails which ask you to confirm your login or your financial details; any emails beginning with a generic greeting -for instance, "dear sir"; emails telling you about bid you don't remember making; If you are in any doubt, don't open the email, and certainly don't click on any links. Instead, forward it to unopened to eBay's or PayPal fraud department for them to investigate.
Other way of avoiding the scammer include avoiding the usage of money transfer as a method of payment. If you do, you will have next to no chance of getting it back if it turns out to be a scam. If money transfer is the only option available, walk away. And don't be taken in by sellers telling you about difficulties processing with their credit card system, or any other nonsense. A seller may approach you before the end of an auction, and suggest you come to a private deal - perhaps a lower price - so he or she can avoid paying all the eBay fees. Don't risk it. It may seem like you are saving money, but once you step outside the eBay process, you don't have a leg to stand on if anything goes wrong.
Finally, make sure you read the full item description before paying a bid. And pay particular attention to postage fees. Some sellers will offer items at bargain basement prices, but attach enormous fees for shipping. Don't get caught out! If you think you have been scammed. If you have been the victim of a scammer, the first thing to do is let eBay and/or PayPal know. Both have processes in place to help you recover your money. If you think a fraudster is continuing to operate, it also worth contacting Consumer Direct. They work in partnership with Trading Standards, who can investigate and act to prosecute those scammer involved.
Author name: Kazeem Lawal
Author URL: http://al-jannatulfirdaus.blogspot.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kazeem_Lawal
