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Home > Help > Safety > Avoiding Fraud

Avoiding Fraud

The vast majority of transactions are conducted by honest and sincere parties, but there are always some exceptions. Dishonest people may use a number of methods to defraud someone of money or merchandise. There are some steps you can take to dramatically reduce the chances of being victimized by fraudulent activity. While deception is a very rare occurrence at Audiogon, every transaction should be carefully examined before anything changes hands.

Buying pitfalls

Item not as described
The most common problem for buyers is when the item arrives in a condition other than what the seller had described/promised. Sometimes it is a simple matter of oversight on the seller's part, and other times it is an intentional misrepresentation. Here are some common examples and how to avoid them:
Physical condition is considerably worse than described - if the appearance is important to you, make sure the seller understands how important the appearance is to you. Some sellers, either through carelessness or with intent, will not mention minor imperfections or discolorations.
Calling an item "mkII" even though it is not the updated version. If the exact update version is important to you (in terms of sound or resale value), ask very specifically if the item was a "factory mkII" or upgraded from a previous version. Ask how the seller knows that for sure, and if he will provide the serial number to you.

Item is never received

Shipping damage

Selling pitfalls

Payment is not sent

Payment vehicle is invalid

Buyer claims item is not as described

Shipping damage

Warning signs

Deal is too good to be true

Buyer is too eager to pay your price

Other party is slow to respond to emails

Other party will not speak over the phone

Reporting fraud

Filing a Dispute/Complaint with Audiogon
While Audiogon has no ability to insure or force any user to comply with any rules or laws, we do have a process that offers a formalized inquiry into the transaction. Learn more here.

Contacting the other party's local police
If you are quite sure that you have been defrauded, you should first contact the local sheriff's office nearest to the other party. The level of interest in consumer to consumer fraud seems to vary dramatically from state to state and county to county, but your best hope for loss recovery is with the police/sheriff nearest the other party.

Reporting fraud to State/National agencies.
We have assembled a page of links for national and state level agencies that take reports on fraud. While it is hard to predict any results or recovery of losses, it is possible that other people have lodged complaints against the same individual and company. If there have been enough people victimized, these agencies may investigate. List of agencies/offices.