As a freelance writer, I spend quite a bit of time researching and writing either online or using a computer of some description.

A friend of mine sent me a note the other day, telling of his frustration at being scammed out of $7,585.00 via an eBay purchase.

He had purchased an Pro Mac Apple with all the bells and whistles you would expect of a high end expensive computer.

After listening to his story there were several lessons and signals that may have prevented the substantial loss.

First of all the seller had no feedback. My friend was optimistic that even though the seller did not have any feedback they sounded genuine in the message box correspondence and therefore hoped that everything would be OK. Hope turned to despair 10 days later, when after daily excuses of why the computer had not shipped, all correspondence stopped.

He is now attempting to go through the resolution process, however the chances of eBay and PayPal being able to recover his funds are practically zero. A writer without a computer is a little like a taxicab driver without a cab……………

The reason I decided to write this post was to try and help unsuspecting and honest buyers from falling into the same trap. It would be even bettter if eBay required serial numbers of all items placed for sale over a certain value, or in the absence of serial numbers items over a certain amount could only be sold via some type of escrow management service.

Pay Pal could also help the situation by requiring verification for all accounts and not allowing fictitious registrations that lead nowhere.

Overall, I like what eBay and Pay Pal have done for online trading activities, however I do feel there is an increasing onus of responsibility to protect the majority of users who are honest, hardworking and credible.

Stories like my friends are more common than we would like to believe.

Protect yourself and make sure you do not fall victim to online scams and setups.

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Stan Leduc is a freelance writer working for private clients.