One of the more recent crazes on the Internet is online auctions, where people can offer junk, antiques, or collector’s items for sale to anyone who wants to bid on them. But be careful! Besides having to deal with fraudulent bids from people who have no money or intention of buying an item up for auction, consumers have to watch out for con artists selling their own fraudulent items.

The simplest con game is to offer an item for auction that doesn’t even exist. For example, every Christmas there is always a must-have toy that normally costs $10 to purchase, but because of its scarcity in stores, it can cost up to several thousand dollars if purchased from a private seller. Many con artists will claim to offer such a product, and when you send them the money, the con artist simply disappears.

Other online auction frauds include misrepresentation. For example, selling counterfeit collector’s items such as autographed baseballs or sports jerseys. To protect yourself against online auction fraud, follow these guidelines:

Besides pyramid schemes, many people receive messages offering them fabulous moneymaking opportunities that can be done at home. Here are some typical scams.