Beware of low rated sellers listing high value Clarice Cliff - they may not be genuine sellers.

Since 2005, unscrupulous individuals have copied descriptions and images from genuine Clarice Cliff sales and advertising them for sale. These fraudulent listings have become more commonplace since summer 2006. Will you be caught out by these scammers?

Look out for the following to avoid being taken in.

Feedback

• Zero rated or low rated feedback.Negative feedback from genuine bidders who have lost money to the scammers.
• Negative feedback from genuine bidders who make it their business to expose these scammers and to warn others against them.

Profile

• Usually says they are located in China, although they are probably not physically located in China. China has different laws to EU laws which allows the scam to continue.
• View the profile ID in Search: Items by Seller. Ensure you check the box "Show close and exact User ID matches". Similar IDs show up with the same ill intent.
• eBay identity is usually made up of random letters and numbers.

Activities

• In the link above, view items current and ended. It is not sufficient to click on the "Items for Sale" link in their profile as current items are usually hidden. The scammers list high value items of Clarice Cliff, Moorcroft, Beswick and other ceramics.
• The information and images of these items are stolen from current and ended listings on eBay and the auction sites and business sites of genuine dealers.
• Items are listed at well below market value to attract unwary bidders. A "buy-it-now" may be particularly attractive if it appears that a new vendor does not know the value of his item. Don't be tempted. Check first.

Is an item a genuine sale?

If you are suspicious and to check if an item is genuine, you are advised to do the following:

• Ask the vendor for more images. A high value item should attract a high level of customer service.
• Ask the vendor if the item can be viewed in person or picked up in person. Don't be fobbed off with excuses which mean the vendor is likely to be a crook.
• Ask for an image taken with a newspaper of today's date.
  
  

How can you protect yourself?

PayPal
After follwing the above advice and you are happy with proceeding with a bid, don't assume that you are protected by PayPal. There are strict procedures to go through, time limits with which a crooked vendor is familiar and limits to the value of compensation you may receive.

Credit Card
Your credit card may offer you more protection but check this is the case first.However, protection is all well and good, but once you have paid, the scammers may be able to pocket the proceeds with their false identities. They just need to catch out a few innocent buyers to make the exercise worthwhile.

How is eBay protecting us?

• If the scammer has copied your listing and used your images then a complaint to eBay should ideally result in a swift removal of the listing. This is not always the case.
• To vendors - the inclusion of a copyright mark on all your images will alert potential bidders. Please use them if you can.
• If you have bought an item but not paid for it yet, see whether the item has been withdrawn by eBay. If it has been withdrawn, you are no longer obliged to honour your part of the process.
• Multiple fraudulent listings will result in the removal of the eBay identity. However, the scammers are quite at liberty to create another identity and repeat the process.
• Note that the IDs of the scammers were often created over a year ago in 2005 showing a certain amount of planning.

How can other collectors protect us?

You might conclude that eBay is powerless in the face of these scammers. However, many collectors are aware of them and regularly report the fraudulent auctions to the registered Clarice Cliff Collectors Club where they are featured in the eBay forum.

See my other guides for instructions on how to visit the web site of the registered Clarice Cliff Collectors Club. You do not need to pay to join but may need to register to see most of the forums.

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More Guides

New to Collecting Clarice Cliff
Counterfeit Clarice Cliff
Listing your auction "In the style of" Clarice Cliff
Authorised Clarice Cliff Reproductions
The Confusing World of Clarice Cliff
(written by DECODANCE - please see this dealer's shop - http://stores.ebay.co.uk/DECODANCE

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