Every Christmas lots of buyers and specially new ebay buyers get caught by scam listings for expensive items and many of those listings often have 'red flags' that can alert one that maybe something is wrong.

Popular items with scammers are:

• expensive TVs
• mobile phones
• lap tops
• computers
• brand name handbags (but they are fakes)
• brand name jewellery (but they are fakes)
• diamond jewellery (diamonds are fakes)
• cars
  

If the seller is a new seller, selling expensive items, be careful, the seller might not be what they are claiming to be. If the ebay ID/seller is established it might be the account has been hijacked, if the account has been inactive for a long time or suddenly the seller is listing a lot of expensive items, types of items they normally do not list.

If you have any doubts it is safer not to purchase. If something does not seem or feel right, trust your instincts it is better to miss out on a buy than to loose your money.

For expensive items, unless you are sure you can trust the seller, only pay by credit card or via paypal with a credit card.

Paying by money order or bank deposit or internet banking if you are dealing with a scammer means you will be out of pocket for the money and you will not get the item

I have been on ebay for a number of years and every Christmas and New Year period I get fed-up with seeing lots of scam listings and reading lots of postings on the boards about scam listings or about buyers being caught and loosing their hard earned money.

Have a lovely day - sunflowercastle