Be smart about selling or buying from auction websites such as eBay, Oztion, and Grays Online.

Online auction sites have become popular for all the same reasons as online shopping. They offer the possibility of picking up a bargain and finding unusual or hard-to-find items.

Like all transactions on the Internet, there are some simple and common-sense steps you can take to make sure your online auction experience will be as safe as possible.

What you need to do…

1. Be sure your computer is secure
2. Always conduct transactions within the auction website and avoid private contact with buyers or sellers—scammers will often use this ploy to 'offer a better deal'.
3. Keep printed and/or electronic records of all bids, item descriptions, emails to and from the seller, and transaction records/receipts.
4. If the website uses a feedback rating system, check all comments left by previous buyers and sellers.
5. Use a secure payment method such as PayPal, BPay, or Credit Card (where chargeback can be used)
6. Only pay via a secure web page (one that has https at the beginning of the address bar and the locked padlock at the bottom of the browser screen)
7. Avoid money transfers and direct debit as these can be open to abuse
8. Never send bank/credit card details via email—only via a secure Web page— see Step 3: Smart online shopping
9. Always print and keep a copy of the transaction
10. Consider using the insurance offered by the auction facility (or other suitable provider)
11. Check the information provided by online auctions to help potential buyers and sellers
12. Take the time to read the information about ways to reduce the risk on the auction site and the terms and conditions of contracts entered into by bidders and sellers 

Further information

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) have published a booklet, The Little Black Book, in which there is a section (in the third section of the booklet) on how to deal safely with online auction sites. Additionally the ACCC's website has a section on Internet Auctions