Any way to stop these scam bidders?

Vic_980

The scammers usually target high value, small electronic items - expensive mobile phones, IPods, PDAs, etc.

These kind of items are very saleable and are therefore easy to get rid of once they've got hold of the items.

In the past I've listed 6 mobile phones, and 5 out of the 6 auctions have been targeted.

The problem is getting worse and worse. If you check out completed auctions for the higher value mobile phones (Sony P910i and similar), you'll find that around 50% of them are won by new bidders with zero feedback. Then check items by bidder for these users, and they're generally bidding on other high value phones - obviously scammers.

EBay really need to find a strategy to sort this out.

Jellicle

EUREKA!
- I've just discovered that you can set up your auction to block bidders who do not have a PayPal account - that should stop last minute auction wreckers!
- Hope this helps you guys selling high value electronic items!

Buyer requirements are found under "Seller Preferences" in My eBay. Using buyer requirements, you have the ability to block buyers who:

- Are registered in countries to which you don't post to
- Have a feedback score of -1,-2,-3 or lower
- Have received 2 Unpaid Item strikes in the last 30 days
- Are the winning bidder on 1-100 of your items in the last 10 days. (Note: This block will apply to all buyers, regardless of their feedback score, or you can choose to only apply this block to buyers with a feedback score of 0-5 or lower.)
- Don't have a PayPal account

Vic_980

I've done this as well but unfortunately it's very simple to set up a basic Paypal account with fake details!

candys_kisses

One of the other eBay options when screening bidders is to only accept bidders from your country.

I have also had problems and one recently tried to bid on my very old laptop but as he was in Africa he was unable to bid so sent me an email offering £500 for my computer to ship to his girlfriend in Nigeria. It was only worth £50 and looking at his buying history he was a clear scammer - registered that day and had already brought (using Buy It Now) 17 laptops.

Had those 17 only allowed bidders from the UK then he would not have been able to stop the auctions.

The scam is he offers to use a money service which is either a scam or has no comeback for the sellers or is using a stolen credit card.

On the subjest on snipers - i use bidnip (https://www.bidnip.com) where you buy snipe credits. You enter the details of the auction and your bid and when you want it placed and it does it automatically without your computer being switched on. Very helpful if you are away from your computer when the auction is ending or if it is a US auction as they end at strange times.

I've been on eBay since March 1999 and I do think its getting worse and that they take their profits but dont put into place adequate measures to protect buyers and sellers.