The NSW police reports that over the past 12 months, 600 people have been victimised by fraudsters on eBay. However, Katrina Johnson, eBay Australia Trust and Security Director, says "because we are a large site, we get reported more but it does not necessarily mean we are getting targeted by organised crimes. There is really no organised crime targeting eBay per se but sometimes it just comes out different in the media."
Johnson says eBay is focusing more on educating its members on how to trade safely online. They provide members with a Feedback Forum, tips on how to spot a spoof e-mail, an express button to report problems in eBay, and a community chat board where members exchange views and tips about online trading.
"Members are very vigilant in reporting what they think are suspicious buyers or sellers. We then investigate these information after they pass it on to us, "Johnson says.
A number of unique people give out a score and comment (negative, positive or neutral) about the seller/buyer they have dealt with in the past. Through this, new sellers/buyers have an idea about the reputation and reliability of a certain member.
Angie Cursley, eBay PR executive, recommends that members check the seller's reputation in the platform before doing any business. "If for instance there is a mobile phone sold in Hong Kong, the first thing you should do is go to the seller's feedback and see what other buyers have to say about the seller. Make sure that the person is a reputable seller in eBay," says Cursley.
"When you are buying somewhere else, you don't get the opportunity of seeing what others think of the buyer or seller, that's what makes this system unique," Cursley adds.
eBay has also provided members with a dedicated e-mail address to forward spoof e-mails that members receive. Spoof e-mail may appear as though it has come from a trusted company (including eBay), Johnson advices members not to click on the link. Instead, they should send it to the dedicated e-mail address, spoof@ebay.com.au, so it can be investigated further.
As for phishing and the use of fake escrow accounts, Cursley says "it's an industry-wide issue and it's affecting a lot of other companies the same way it is affecting eBay and we have zero tolerance for it so we are doing our best to stamp it out completely."
With the spread of the fake escrow scam, Johnson suggests members investigate their own trusted escrow service. "There has been several high priced items sold in eBay, so if it's a great amount we suggest they use a reputable escrow service recommended by either eBay or something they have investigated themselves. Don't just take what the seller is recommending."
Johnson admits they see the advancing technology of scammers to be a long term threat. She assures members that "As part of the trust and safety department, we have a number of specialists, like former police officers and former intelligence officers, committed to looking at these issues and finding the best ways to deal with them. We know that the advancing technology used by scammers can be an issue in the future, so we have a lot of very well trained people finding ways to be ahead of the e-scammers."
To whom it may concern,
I would agree that there probably wouldn't be an actual organised crime ring from what i have heard from friends, relatives and through my experience, a lot of people do seem to con people out of there money but a lot of the time i think its just a dishonest person or maybe two people doing it for kicks, look at all the computer virus's why would someone spend the time and resources creating the bug program and send it out to a whole bunch of people they dont know that they are not going to see get affected by it? they do it because of the thought that somewhere out in the 'world' they have managed to ruin someones day. i think it is similiar except with ebay they get to make money and take the mickey out of people. The problem i have with and this is where i disagree with Angie Cursley, I dont feel that a lot of people are honest with there feed back, that however is an issue that is up to the sellers and buyers one issue i do feel that can be addressed and definately improved upon is the manor in which the security team respond to someone who has been conned. i was conned out of money when i asked for ****istance from the security team at ebay all i got was the same email each i time i wrote it was a list of things i had to follow to make sure i had gone through the proper channels ie contacted the seller etc, which of course i had, when i tried to tell them this and what happened etc they sent the same email again, i got the big time runaround no one wanted to know, now all this talk about improving security is fine and it needs to be done, but, first the team needs to be educated on how to communicate, i worked security for a university being female they hired me not because i far outshone the other applicants but because of my personality and people skills training, see the other female applicants were tough, but, i had years of people skill training they didnt have, so when it came to treating all clients from the dean of the uni to the students i was able to do that in a none threatening way i wished the team had done that with me, i would have felt much more like the security team actually did care about what was happening to there members. If you need ideas on this email me i can give you some fast training pointers, seriously, First the team must be efficient whether it is catching an organised crime sindicate or one person acting alone you the team need to be more organised and be willing to deal with the little man the person that has suffered the ordeal of being conned they usually have the details you need to help catch them. The thing about crime wether its a group or one person, all crime is organised and to catch them so must you be.
Thankyou
Regards
Mrs S Ahumada