Alienbids: What the hell is a scammer?

How can I spot a untrustworthy seller and avoid scams?

Sometimes it's hard to know who you can trust and who you can't. Here are some of the potential warning signs to look out for when considering whether a given seller is trustable:

• No feedback. This one is kind of a no-brainer, but we mention it here anyway since it should be the foremost caution flag when considering a seller. Understand that while AlienBids is a new site, every seller has the option of importing their feedback from eBay, so if the seller has sold online before at eBay, then they are likely to have some AlienBids feedback that shows up. If their feedback rating is 0, it is not necessarily a deal-breaker, but you should remain skeptical as you evaluate other factors. Try just purchasing through paypal since they have protection plans in place for that.
• The aren't a Verified Seller. Verified sellers have to actually pay a small fee on a monthly basis to keep they're status. A member that's a verified seller are less likely to scam you.
  
• They insist on money order. For many sellers, money order is a low-pain option to allow along with Paypal and Google Checkout. But for scammers, money order is the easiest way to get your money and leave you in a position where you have no recourse if the item isn't delivered. Google Checkout and Paypal are much safer options.
• They sell electronics or other high priced goods at unusually low prices. Some sellers really know where to get great deals, but be wary of deals that seem "too good to be true." This is a favorite way that fraudulent sellers lure in unsuspecting buyers into bad transactions.
• They haven't uploaded a profile picture, filled out booth policies, or completed their profile. Again, there are both real and fraudulent sellers that don't invest the time to provide information about themselves and become a part of the community. But those that are heavily involved in the community are generally safer sellers to deal with -- a scammer doesn't usually have the time to regularly post in the forums and fill out a thoughtful profile.

I've Spotted a Suspicious Seller. What Do I Do?

If they're only slightly suspicious, you might try sending them an email to vet them out. Ask for links to other places they sell online and get a sense for their style of communciation. If they are highly suspicious, you can flag their user account, which will alert us to their presence and/or lead to their possible suspension and or termination.