There are several variations on scams related to online auctions. The most common is when fraudsters try to obtain payment for goods that do not exist, for example through prepayment.
Another variation is when a person gets in touch with you to buy an item you put up for sale, such as a car, and proposes payment by cheque or another insecure means of payment. Alternatively, they may ask you to provide personal information and account numbers.
Scammers can also send you false confirmation emails that claim the money has been transferred to a PayPal account, whereas the transfer never took place.
Buyer beware
Stop to think before you agree to pay for goods in advance. This applies for all purchases you make online, and especially for online auctions or unfamiliar online shops.
Avoid being scammed
If you receive unusual emails from foreigners with questions about buying goods you have put up for sale and paying for these by cheque or in another insecure manner, you should delete them. This might be a variant of the “Nigerian scam”, and the fraudsters are probably trying to scam you or your bank.
Also, watch out for inquiries via text message with a request to respond to an email address.