Complaints Logo
Latest Complaints News & Stories Tips & Tricks Questions Videos Images Recalls Groups Submit Complaint

Recently Discussed Complaints

1. (0 mins ago)
S4P SCHProfit
SCAM
2. (0 mins ago)
Airtel India
Airtel not letting me talk to customer care executive!
3. (1 mins ago)
Lil Joe's Legendary Leathers Biker Vest
Won't honor warranty - poor quality vest
4. (2 mins ago)
Davison Design And Dvlpment Inc
Fraud + Intellectual Property Infringement
5. (4 mins ago)
Sallie Mae student loans
Harrassment, Run Arounds, Violations, Inaccurate Information, Constant Threatening

Consumer Tips & Tricks

Worst rating

2. Ultifreshwell (-13)

Subjects of Wide Speculation

1. ROBIN SCHULDER (84)
puppy mill
2. HIT Web Design/ Heritage Web Solutions (72)
Bad business to work with/for! ABC4 NEWS UTAH WILL EXPOSE!
3. Dazzle white and Smile Brite (40)
illegal charging of credit cards
4. Kaplan Higher Education (35)
WORTHLESS Racist, Fascist Regime
5. online cash success kit (34)
online cash success kit
6. Ultifreshwell (27)
Scam
7. IBSN tax (22)
Not trust worthy
8. acai berry&life cleansing (22)
LB Envision Net Worldwide Ltd UK.

Latest News & Stories

Stay Away

1. IgoMogul (9)
2. Dazzle White (25)
3. Dazzlewhite (18)
5. Acai Berry (20)
6. Direct TV (13)

Latest Questions

VoteAndDate.com

Consumer Tips, Tricks & Articles

Avoid Online Auction Scams

Avoid Online Auction ScamsThe Federal Trade Commission recently posted a guide to the ins and outs of online auctions--and how to avoid getting scammed--at www.OnGuardOnline.gov.

You'll find the basics on how online auctions work, what buyers and sellers should know before they participate, and laws regarding auction transactions. The FTC also offers tips on how to avoid fraud and what to do if you become a victim of it. "AuctionAction," an interactive game, tests your knowledge of auction rules and potential pitfalls. It also links you to FTC advice on related topics, such as online shopping, and to the Better Business Bureau's online complaint page.

Among the tips the FTC recommends:
  • Read the auction's Terms of Use. Auctions may charge fees and offer varying levels of protection. Some, for example, offer free insurance or a guarantee if an item isn't delivered, isn't authentic, or otherwise is not what the seller claimed.

  • Don't pay with cash and don't wire money. Better options include paying by credit card or by an online payment service.

  • Know what you're bidding on. Print out the description of the item and read it carefully, especially the fine print. Save all e-mails and other correspondence from the site and the seller.

  • Don't be lured off the site. The FTC reports that some con artists lure bidders away from auction sites by offering a lower price for the same item. They take the buyer's money, but don't deliver the item. By going off the site, buyers also lose the auction site's protections, such as guarantees.
According to the FTC, it received 80,450 complaints last year regarding online auctions, second only to identity theft. Most concerned late shipment or non-shipment and products that weren't of the quality advertised. Other complaints included bogus online payment or escrow services and fraudulent dealers who lured consumers from legitimate sites with the promise of better prices. Most complaints were directed at sellers, though some concerned buyers, too.

The FTC launched this site late last year. "We want to provide actionable information for people to have a better Internet experience not marred by a scam, fraud, or hacker attack," says Nat Wood, FTC assistant director for consumer and business education.
Share with others:   Digg it!  Del.ici.ous  Furl  Yahoo My Web
Was the above article useful to you?    

Comments


Post your Comment

 

Login or Register to join ComplaintsBoard.com

Videos

Personal Details of Mobile Phone Customers Have Been Stolen

Latest Groups

Today's Mess-Up Photo

Categories

   - Roofing
   - Banks
   - Loans
   - Car Rental
   - Towing
   - Schools
   - Neighbors
   - Mattresses
   - Cosmetics
   - Doctors
   - Appliances
   - Employers
   - Employees
   - Solicitors
   - Ebay Scams
   - Phishing
   - Landlords
   - Movies

Smile upon Life :)


RSS Feed
 
     
 

Login

Email:
Password:

Forgot your password?