Secure your eBay and Paypal Accounts with Simple Tips
The Internet has brought to us some cool great facilities that we gladly use every day. Online shopping, especially eBay shopping, is the most addictive thing that happened to our life. We just browse over the several hundreds of categories and find some products that capture our fancy. We sign up for an eBay account and give our credit card information to Paypal so that we can have the product we like. The use of internet for purchase and money matters has lured several not-so-straight people into thinking about making some easy money by tricking people like us. We need to take extreme care to safeguard against such crooks and secure our ebay accounts.
Guard against spoof/phishing attacks
These kinds of frauds have been around for a while. Phishing is sending you fake emails that you are tricked to believe from eBay or paypal (It doesn’t end there; it extends to all online money transaction websites.) Read the article Scripts in eBay Postings May Enable Phishing Attacks of the US CERT as an example of Phisihing. The only safeguard against such attacks is not to click on any links you get through emails, even if you think it is from eBay, paypal or your trusted online bank. Also, don’t click on links from other websites to reach the site of paypal.
Guard against Spyware
You don’t know when some spyware downloads into your system and monitor all your online activity and sending information to people you never know. Install latest anti-virus and anti-spyware software from trusted sources like McAfee, Norton or AVG. Periodically update your anti-virus software to ensure safety against latest powerful virus attacks. Install a firewall. It also helps you prevent unauthorized remote access to your computer by persons sitting in a different continent.
Use Paypal as your payment method
While you use paypal for paying for things, you don’t have to reveal critical credit card information at different websites. Your personal information is safe with Paypal and you don’t have to worry about frauds.
Check Sellers Feedback Rating
The system at eBay allows buyers and sellers to post feedback about people they do business with. Check the feedback rating of theauction seller you are dealing with before you pay for the product you purchase from him or her. Avoid a seller with too much negative feedback.
eBay Buyer Protection
If you feel the product you received is not as described in the listing or you don’t receive the item at all, you can file a complaint under eBay buyer protection policy. If you used Paypal as your payment option, resolution to the issue will be easier.
Take Extra Care when Buying Expensive Items
When you buy a new car through eBay Motors, you are spending a good amount of your earnings. Therefore, you should only buy from sellers with good positive feedback ratings. Use eBay Escrow Service as a protective measure. An escrow service is a company authorized to collect and hold funds on behalf of sellers and buyers. Once the buyers approves, the escrow service will releases money to the seller. But don’t use escrow services for lesser amount purchases.
If you want more information on online safety, the Computer Crime & Intellectual Property Section of United States Department of Justice offers links and tips.