Remedies for Internet Fraud
Date: February 06, 2004
Source: The Heralde Chronicle
Millions of people around the world now buy and sell through Internet auctions sites like eBay, hoping that whoever is on the other end is trustworthy and will send the required merchandise once payment has been made.
Recently, two Estill Springs residents were named in sealed indictments for allegedly stealing between $10,000 and $60,000 from PayPal, an eBay subsidiary that handles online payments for a wide variety of Internet sites.
The prosecutors say in their indictments that the couple stole not only from buyers, but also from PayPal.
That's because PayPal, under its "buyer protection program," reimburses defrauded eBay buyers who paid for their purchases through PayPal up to $500 each.
eBay's web sites suggest four initial steps for a wronged buyer to take precautions.
They should call the seller. The seller's contact information can be requested from eBay, and the matter may be settled over the phone.
Report suspicious activity. eBay wants to be notified of items that aren't delivered or that are significantly different from what was described in auction listing.
Try dispute resolution. eBay offers access to an online mediation service, Square Trade.
Contact your payment provider. PayPal has a buyer protection service and can reimburse up to $500 to buyers who paid for their eBay purchases using PayPal. Many credit card providers now offer some form of online purchase protection as well.
Original article
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