Check out the seller or buyer

BidSell has a feedback system which allows you to see comments by other users who have traded with that person. Check the person's rating and read the comments. If you see bad comments consider carefully whether or not to trade. Check out where the trader is based, how easy would it be to get your money back if things went wrong?

Do not trade outside of Bidsell.com.au

Do not be tempted to trade with someone who contacts you and invites you to trade off Bidsell.com.au. Fraudsters try to lure bidders off legitimate auction sites by offering to sell the 'same' item for the same or a lower price. But if you buy off-site, you lose any protections the site may provide. A significant proportion of internet auction fraud occurs this way.

Make sure you know:

. How much is the postage

.Will the item be insured

.Is it being sent from overseas

.Are your credit card details kept secure

. What form of payment will the seller accept

Payments

Paying by credit card can in some circumstances offer additional protection. So does payment by escrow service, where a trusted third party holds the money until the goods are received.

Watch out for fake escrow services

Many sites offer escrow services where, for a small fee, the escrow service acts as a neutral third party in the trade. It will hold the buyer's payment and forward it to the seller when the buyer receives and approves the item within an agreed period.

While genuine escrow service can reduce the risk of fraud, bogus escrow services do advertise on the net. Such bogus services fail to pass the money to the seller and the victim finds he is unable to trace them. Alternatively fraudsters contact losing bidders on a genuine auction, claiming to be in a position to sell a similar product. The fraudster will insist on payment through an escrow service and then take the money without delivering the goods.

What to do if you have a complaint

If you have a problem with something you bought on BidSell, firstly try to resolve the dispute directly with the seller. If you can't, or if the seller is not contactable,

Contact us ASAP and we will try to help resolve the issue.