Auction Scams and Complaints

Millions of dollars are made each year through online auctions, and powerhouse websites like eBay, Amazon.com, and Etsy offer bidders the chance to pick up that terrifically rare bauble or trinket for a terrific price. There are tens of thousands of people who make a living with online auctions and often their auctions offer a terrific deal. Although websites like eBay suggest that scams comprise a remarkably small portion of successful auctions, it's still vital to be vigilant against auction fraud. Rip-offs vary widely with auction scams and might range from a misrepresentation by the seller of the item sold to a failure to ship the merchandise. In addition, the scam might work from the other direction and the buyer might never pay for the item. A further scam might involve a seller using imaginary bidders to drive up the price of an auction. Auction fraud is incredibly difficult to guard against, and a person may do everything possible to make sure an auction is legitimate. Unfortunately, scams do happen to even the most vigilant bidders and sellers. If you feel you've been the victim of an auction scam, check with ScamGuard.com to report your experience.