How to Protect Your eBay Account From Spammers and Scammers

Your eBay account is a high-profile target for scammers and spammers, especially if your account has a high positive feedback rating and is in good standing. As an eBay seller, you take pride in your eBay business and go to great lengths to keep your account current and in good stead. Why not ensure that your eBay account remains protected and off-limits to any potential outside threats by reading these easy-to-follow tips on eBay safety.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Awareness
• Common Sense
• Effort

1. 
   Remeber to Log Off

   Use Public Computers w/ Care - If you access your eBay account from a public computer, either from a library, internet cafe, or some other public acces site, never check the "remember password" link on the eBay log-in page. Doing this from a public computer can spell disaster for you and your eBay account. Also, remember to always log out of your eBay account when finished. Don't give the next person who uses the computer that you were on a chance to access your account because you failed to log out.

2. 
   Ignore eBay E-Mails

   Never Respond to eBay E-mails - Spammers are notorious for sending out e-mail notices and messages, most of which that ask you for your personal account information and passwords, that are purportedly from eBay but really aren't. Most of these messages appear authentic and look just like an eBay-generated message. Be safe instead; respond only to eBay notices and messages that you receive directly in your eBay account(accessed from your My eBay page in the messages box). Doing this will ensure that you are communicating directly with eBay. As a matter of habit, automatically delete eBay correspondences that you receive in your e-mail - handle all of your eBay business directly on your eBay page!

3. Don't Fall For Account Suspension Notices - Again, this ties in with never responding to or answering eBay messages that you receive in your e-mail. The majority of victims who fall for eBay scammers and spammers are duped by official-looking and serious-sounding messages stating that your eBay account will be suspended and/or terminated unless you "click here and reenter your account information(username and password)in order to handle this problem." Don't be fooled! If there is a problem with your eBay account, eBay will notify you directly, again, from your "My eBay" page with e-mails and/or alert messages posted directly on your log-in page.

4. Learn What a Real eBay Message Contains - Even though you should take care of all of your eBay correspondence directly on your eBay page, it's a good idea to learn what a "real" eBay-generated e-mail and/or message looks like, just in case you forget and open an eBay e-mail. A genuine eBay message will conain your username at the top of the eBay message; fake eBay messages usually say things like this instead: dear member, dear eBayer, dear eBay user, etc. The point is they do not contain your username at the time like a real eBay message is supposed to. Also, many of these supposed eBay messages will be for auctions and auction numbers that you don't have and have never had! Again, delete these and move on!

5. Never Loan Your eBay Info to Anyone - Never let anyone use your account to sell anything or to list anything. If someone has something that they want to post on eBay, and if they don't have an account, you can list their item for them; never give your username and password out - not even once!

Tips & Warnings

• Even though many eBay messages that you receive in your e-mail program will be legit, as a matter of habit, delete all eBay e-mail messages and instead handle everything off of your eBay page. It's just safer that way!

[PhiMcRee]

on 1/15/2009 This is such important information. I wish more people understood these simple steps to protect themselves. I just can't believe, in this day and age, people are still falling for these ploys. Good information here!