Is the personal information contained in your eBay account safe? Learn the warning signs of eBay fraud and the steps you can take to keep your personal information safe.

The Problem: Like many online activities that have grown in popularity, eBay has gone from fad to way of life for many, and in doing so, has opened the door for criminals looking to perform fraudulent auctions, or worse, steal users’ identities.

Because the typical eBay account contains personal information, including a user’s mailing address and credit card number, they provide fertile ground for a variety of scam artists and identity thieves. eBay crimes are generally perpetrated by individuals looking to assume another’s identity for the purpose of committing fraudulent auctions where money is transferred, but no good is sold. Even worse, some eBay thieves will use software to break into accounts, steal credit card numbers, and perform criminal transactions elsewhere. While eBay crimes are quite rare, the threat exists, so employing the proper precautions is imperative.

The Solution: Understand how eBay scams affect you, counteract any identity theft that results from an eBay scam, and protect your eBay identity.

Action Step I: How will eBay scammers target me? While fraudulent auctions are certainly a threat, the most direct and harmful form of eBay fraud is identity theft. Criminals trolling eBay will often attempt to capture account information by using e-mail scams that ask for passwords to complete a recent transaction, which they then use commandeer accounts and the information contained within. If you ever receive this type of message, check the “My Messages” section of your eBay account page. If the message is not copied there, do not reply, it is a fraud and should be forwarded to eBay’s fraud-monitoring services.

Action Step II: How do I know if I’m the victim of eBay fraud? Like other forms of identity theft, the best way to know if you are the victim of eBay fraud is to check the statements for the credit card you use on eBay. If there are any suspicious eBay related charges, the first step is to call one of the three national credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion) to perform a credit check, and if necessary, enter a fraud alert. A fraud alert stays on your credit report for 90 days, which should give you enough time to close any compromised accounts, open new ones, and go through the proper channels to rectify the damage. Moreover, closing the credit card in question will, by law, remove any responsibility you have for further charges on that card.

Action Step III: What can I do to protect myself: The simplest, most proactive way to protect yourself from fraud is to closely monitor your eBay account. Even if you’re a casual eBay user, monitor your account history on a regular basis. If there are transactions you did not authorize, contact eBay immediately and report the fraudulent charges to the credit card company. Be sure the passwords connected to your account are not easily broken. Use passwords that are easy to remember, but hard for others to guess, and include a mix of letters, numbers, and special characters. Avoid passwords that reference your name, last name, birth date, or other personal information. When it comes to keeping your identity safe on eBay, common sense often wins the day. If anything feels suspicious, it’s best to investigate further. Asking questions won’t hurt you, but fraud will.

Tags: Credit Card Fraud, Identity Theft //