Protecting yourself from eBay scams

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Berry Younce used the user name "SQ20" to post ads on eBay saying he had computers for sale.

U.S. Postal Inspector Christopher Davis said, "This was quite a big scam throughout the whole country, where Mr. Younce is basically selling the computers on the internet, but not really having the product."

Here is how it worked.

"He is posting computers, but people kept underbidding the cost to purchase it," said Davis. "Therefore, if he was not having the computer people were bidding on he would have to go buy it at a larger cost."

Eventually, postal inspectors received several complaints about orders not being fulfilled through eBay.

Davis said, "We got seized computers, various documents, lulling letters from victims who are saying 'where is my computer, where is my computer Mr Younce.'"

Inspectors say more than 250 orders went unfilled and losses were more than $200,000. Here is some simple advice.

"Do more research on your seller on eBay," said Davis. "You can contact eBay and they'll give you feedback and you get more info on the seller."

You could also protect yourself by checking out your seller's history and customer comments.