eBay tips and tricks Bidding

How does bidding work?

An eBay auction works on the same principle as an auction in an auction house in that the highest bidder wins.

Enter the maximum that you are prepared to pay for the item and eBay’s proxy bidding service means will automatically bids incrementally on your behalf up to that amount.

All bids have a cut-off date and time. If your bid is the highest on that date and time then you've won the auction.

How do I bid for an item on eBay?

Bidding is easy with eBay's proxy bidding service

• Find the item that you want to bid on and open the auction page
• Enter the amount you want to bid and click on the Place Bid button
• Ensure that your bid is higher than the current one then click Confirm Bid (note that by doing so you agree to buy the item if you are successful)

What’s a ‘second chance’ fraud?

Second Chance auctions are a legitimate part of the eBay system. Sometimes an auction winner decides that they no longer want the item or fail to pay.

If you're the second highest bidder the seller can offer you a ‘second chance’ to buy; an email will appear in the My Messages area of eBay and your personal inbox.

Hackers have taken advantage of this by sending out bogus emails claiming to offer you a second chance to buy an item. Clicking on the link within the email takes you to a site that looks like eBay, where you're asked to hand over your credit card details.

A good way to keep an eye on your transactions is to log in and check your eBay messages to see whether the same message also appears there. If you’re still unsure you can send a copy of the message to spoof@ebay.com.