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You're merrily bidding on a Scooby Doo lunchbox to complete your collection when someone leaps into the auction, bids up the price, then disappears at the last minute--leaving you with the choice of either walking away or paying too much.

This may have been a legitimate bidder who simply bailed when the price got too high or a friend of the seller who is only there to drive up the price.

1. Research the bidder. Click the bidder's name to view his profile, then check out other auctions this person has participated in. Is this a repeating pattern? Is the seller always the same? Does the bidder ever win the auction?

2. Spill the beans.

If you have a problem with an auction, such as a scammer trying to lure you outside the auction site to take your money, use eBay's customizable contact form to file a complaint. Click to enlarge

If you think you are dealing with a shill bidder--someone who is bidding only to drive the price up with no intention of buying--report it to eBay using the contact form on eBay's help page. eBay has nifty (but top-secret) software that can quickly tell if someone is shill bidding. If eBay can prove it, it will suspend the bad guys.

3. Beware of scam bidders. If someone contacts you directly, claiming to be the seller and offering to sell you the item immediately, provided you're willing to wire funds or send a check to a P.O. Box, just say no. That person is trying to lure you off eBay, where you'll be completely unprotected. Report anyone trying to short-circuit an auction to eBay by going to the help section and clicking Contact Us.