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Do you regularly buy or sell on eBay, or do you know someone who does?

If your answer is yes, then statistics say that you, your family member or your friend will become the victim of on-line fraud.

A gigantic business with over a billion listings per year, eBay has over 128 million registered users in the United States alone. It is a true American success story, but its success and popularity has also'not surprisingly-- attracted a criminal element.

According to the FBI, 44% of reported Internet fraud involves online auctions like eBay and those include only the reported crimes!

It's important to realize that trading online differs greatly from buying or selling in person. Most people do not possess the skills they need to trade safely on the Internet.

EBay is a wonderful place to buy and sell, if you know how to do it safely and are fully aware that criminals are out to rob you. In other words, don't wait until you become a victim to learn how to avoid scams. Instead, educate yourself now to avoid being ripped-off altogether!

There are secrets to trading safely on eBay. You can avoid eBay scams by learning the following auction safety tips. They are:

1. Avoid any auction with bad grammar or in all CAPS.

2. Avoid any seller who insists on unusual payment methods like Western Union or Bank Transfer.

3. Always research a seller before buying and research a buyer before shipping.

(Specifically, looking at the seller's feedback is not enough. You need to also check items such as'When was the seller's account created? It's not normal for someone to set up an account and start selling immediately.)

4. Beware of any seller who insists on contact outside of eBay.

5. Beware of any auction that has any sense of urgency or tries to play on your emotions.

For example, 'I am selling my Gucci handbag for $10 because it was a present from my lousy ex-husband and I want to get rid of it.' Most of the time, the buyer sadly discovers when opening the box that this 'great deal' Gucci handbag is actually a cheap knock-off.

Remember, if a seller is playing on your emotions, chances increase that he or she is pulling a scam. Honest sellers avoid unnecessary life details and just stick to the product's facts. In other words, they let the product sell itself.

6. Never click on links in ANY email whether it is related to eBay, PayPal, or another site.

7. If it sounds too good to be true, it is.

Remember that the Internet can be a dangerous place especially where money changes hands. Many scoundrels and criminals perpetrate scams to con innocent people like you or someone you know out of your hard earned dollars. Even the most intelligent and careful person can fall victim to a well crafted, professional scam.

But, if you're aware of the above safety tips, you can protect yourself and your loved ones from eBay scams and fraud.