Ebay has the most auctions. PayPal is the most commonly used method of payment.

 Prevention of spam email and loss of payment requires several steps of preparation. Carefully complete all of the following steps, prior to bidding on any auctions or buying on-line.

 Preparation and registration on eBay
1. Open a new email account, such as on yahoo or AOL. 

2. Register with eBay, using your new email address.

Preparation and registration on PayPal
3. Open a new bank account, using a small balance for the present time. Use this new bank account only for PayPal and on-line purchases. If your account is stolen and you have to cancel it, your main bank account is not affected.

 4. Request a new credit card. Use this new credit card only for PayPal and on-line purchases. If your card number is stolen and you have to cancel it, your main credit card account is not affected.

 5. Open a new PayPal account, using your new email address from step one, above, and the new bank account and new credit card, opened in steps three and four, above.

 6. PayPal will want to confirm your (new) email address. They will send you an email; you will need to read the email and respond to its directions.

 7. PayPal will want to verify your (new) bank account. They will make two small deposits into your (new) bank account. After several days have passed, call your bank and request the amount of the two deposits from PayPal. Log into your PayPal account and enter the two amounts at the appropriate location for bank account verification.

 8. Jumping ahead, to after you have won an auction, and you clicked on paying with PayPal, you will be asked to log into your PayPal account. When you are in your account, you will enter the auction number and/or email of the seller; then enter or verify the amount of the payment to the seller. At this point, PayPal will suggest that your payment be taken from your bank account. I suggest that you click “other payment options” and click on using your credit card for payment. Payment using your credit card will enable you to be protected by your credit card company in the case of fraud by the seller.

 8/12/04     See "Buying on eBay" prior to bidding on any auctions.