It’s important to take some precautions before making an online payment to an auction merchant.
- Do not email the merchant your personal information, no matter how professional or well designed their website or product appears to be.
- Report any suspicious activity to the auction’s owners. There is usually a link to go to for reporting such activity.
- If you’re not sure about an alternative payment option or online payment service, research it first. You should be able to easily find their website and get the answers you need within minutes. If not, reconsider using their services, especially if you feel uneasy.
- Before going through any online payment options, contact the merchant by email and ask about extra shipping charges.
To protect your identity and finances, do not give merchants any personal information other than your mailing address and auction email. Paying for your purchases through a secure third party payment service like eBillme is the most efficient and safe thing to do.
