You know the old saying, “Let the buyer beware”? Well, there is a new saying on the internet: “Let the seller beware, too!”

When you decide to sell any item online, regardless of whether it’s via eBay or Amazon.com, there are certain criteria you need to follow so that you will not become the victim of a scam.

In the case of eBay, (and it doesn’t happen often), there may come a time when you are scammed by a buyer. How? Here is an example: Let’s assume you are selling an item for the first time. The item in question is to be paid via PayPal. A buyer wins the auction and emails you via eBay that he doesn’t have a PayPal account and would like to send you a cashier’s check that has been written for more than the amount due. He may ask that you send him the difference once the check arrives. Because you are a trusting person, you agree.

When the check does arrive, you deposit it into your account, send the item to the buyer along with the difference, and a few days later you receive a notice from the bank that the check has bounced because it was a fake check.

Lo and behold, when you try to notify the buyer at home (you can with eBay’s services), the number is unlisted or there is no such number, and you are left holding the proverbial bag. This is just one of the scams some unscrupulous individuals use to commit fraud.

Here’s another example: Let’s say you’ve become quite good at selling on eBay and have a very high feedback rating. You only accept payment via PayPal. So one day an item you have up for auction sells, and the buyer is notified; just as in the example above.

You check your PayPal account and see that the money has been deposited into it. Since you may have other auctions going on the same week, you wait to withdraw the funds until all the auctions are over. Since you have all of the items packaged and ready to be sent, all you have to do is address them, add the postage and leave them for UPS or take them to the Post Office.

Being diligent and organized, you send out the first item the same day it was won. You repeat the process in the following days ahead. By Friday, all the items have been shipped and you go into your PayPal account and notice the first item has been cancelled.

“But I shipped the item!” Yes, you did and now you are out the money because you know full well you are not going to be able to reach this person.

Although it is rare, there are people in this world who are out to make a quick buck at your expense. Things happen sometimes, but not often. Instead of stressing over it, follow the guidelines of eBay and Amazon and utilize the appropriate action to its final conclusion. You may be successful or you may not. It depends upon the person you are dealing with, where they live, and how much eBay and Amazon can help in this regard.

While you may not receive compensation, you can rest assured that these people will have their accounts cancelled and, in some cases, be referred to the local authorities.