The majority (98%) of AuctionBytes readers who took a survey this month believe fraud is a problem on eBay, and 95.7% believe eBay is not the only site where online fraud takes place.
In the last issue (September 7), we asked readers to complete a survey about eBay fraud. While 98% of respondents think fraud is a problem on eBay, most (65.8%) characterized it as a minor problem. However, 95.7% do not believe that eBay is the only site where online fraud takes place.
What can eBay do to help prevent fraud on its site? 79.5% said eBay should respond to user complaints about fraudsters. 62.4% of respondents said eBay should require stricter verification when registering an account. Respondents would also like to see eBay improve its feedback system (47.9%).
We asked a question about how the media (newspapers, TV, etc.) report about fraud; 47.9% think the media don't report enough about fraud, 26.5% think they are too negative; while 20.5% feel they do a balanced job.
What kinds of stories would respondents like to see the media report? 65% said stories about the challenges of selling on eBay, and almost half would like to see stories about great shopping opportunities. 42.7% would like to see the media report on stories about successful sellers.
Results of eBay-Fraud Survey of AuctionBytes-Update Readers, September 2003
Is fraud a problem on eBay?
- 65.8% Minor Problem
- 32.5% Major Problem
- 1.7% Other
- 0% Not a problem
Other:
I believe it to be major in some items
Screen sellers, then not a problem
It is a SIGNIFICANT problem
What could eBay do to help prevent fraud on its site?
- 79.5% Respond to user complaints about fraudsters
- 63.2% Keep known fraudsters off the site
- 62.4% Require stricter verification when registering an account
- 47.9% Improve feedback system
- 35% Work more closely with law enforcement
- 10.3% Other
- 2.6% Nothing, eBay does a fine job of preventing fraud on its site
Comments:
Post known fraudsters on public board
Require eBay ID verify on all newbies
Buyers won't buy if not comfortable
Accounts are hijacked
Scandalous non-egalitarian system exists
Let buyers know seller has been suspended
Do you think they REALLY care???
Other:
Provide complete protection for buyers
Screen User IDs for problems
All of the above
Stop denying the problems exist!
Allow phone #s to contact
Add seller option to block foreign bidders
Need experience identifying hijacked
Stop chargebacks on non-American sellers
Make sure that NARUs cannot re-register
eliminate "private" auctions
Keep eBay users better informed
Stricter for high ticket items
In reporting about eBay fraud, do you think the media (newspapers, TV, etc.):
- 47.9% Don't report enough about fraud
- 26.5% Are too negative
- 20.5% Do a balanced job
- 5.1% Other
Comments:
They also give a lot of bogus advice
Squeaky wheel gets grease syndrome!
Only bad news makes for good television!
Other:
Are generally badly misinformed
No opinion about media.
Not sure
No opinion
Not current on what the media is doing
What kinds of eBay-related news stories would you like to see the media report?
- 65% Stories about the challenges of selling on eBay
- 49.6% Stories about great shopping opportunities
- 42.7% Stories of successful sellers
- 36.8% Stories about eBay's unfair treatment of its users
- 30.8% Stories about eBay's positive treatment of its users
- 8.5% Other
Other:
Fraud
How to avoid bad buyers and sellers
No opinion about media
All of the above
What eBay is doing to prevent fraud
No opinion
Feedback policy problems & deadbeats
All of the above
I don't think eBay stories are newsworthy
Impossibility of contacting eBay
Fraudulent sellers/buyers prosecuted
Is eBay the only site where online fraud takes place?
Comment:
More so because of its popularity!
eBay is just the largest/best known.
It's a very lucrative target, however.
Yahoo sales rarely completed without trouble!
More rampant on eBay because it is bigger
Other:
Don't use other sites - no opinions
I am sure not.
Have not tried other sites
Don't know
It's the only one that's newsworthy.
Do you buy or sell on eBay?
- 89.7% Sell
- 88.9% Buy
- 4.3% Other
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