Know who you’re dealing with.  If there is a feedback section on the auction site, see if there are comments about the buyer.  Be sure to get a street address and phone number in case you need to contact the buyer offline later.
	Be especially cautious when dealing with buyers in other countries.   If you have a problem, the physical distance, differences in legal systems,  and other factors could make resolving it very difficult.
	Protect yourself from payment problems.  Don’t accept cash payments, because if there is a dispute later it will be impossible to prove how much you received.  Most buyers are honest, but some pay with bad checks.  You can protect yourself by accepting credit card payments or using an escrow service.  For a small fee, the escrow service takes the buyer’s payment and pays you when the item has been delivered.  Some escrow services will also act as “referees” if there is a dispute.  The auction site may have links to escrow services, or you can use a word search to find them.
	Insure your delivery.  Insurance helps resolve questions about whether delivery was made and takes care of damage claims.
	Try mediation to settle disagreements.  If there is a disagreement about the description or condition of the goods, the timeliness of delivery, or other aspects of the transaction, an online mediation service may be able to help.  These free or low-cost services are much less expensive and a lot more practical than trying to sue the buyer.  The auction site may have links to mediation services, or you can use a word search to find them.
	Let the auction site know if you have a problem.  Most online auction companies want to know if someone is abusing their services.  Complaints may result in users being barred from their sites.

If you need advice about a solicitation or you want to report a possible scam, call the NFIC hotline at 1-800-876-7060. You can also ask questions or report fraud using our online forms.

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