Unfortunately, there isn't a single, surefire way to identify fraudulent sellers. However, we've listed some of the warning signs of fraud below. Please note that none of these signs is a definitive indicator of a fraudulent seller; they are only factors to help you identify high-risk transactions. Likewise, there is no guarantee that a seller who does not meet any of these criteria is a legitimate seller. If you're suspicious, it's a good idea to do some research. Some signs of potential fraud are:

• Country of Origin: Sellers that request money be wired to Romania, Ukraine, Macedonia, Belarus, Pakistan, Russia, Lithuania, Egypt, Nigeria, Colombia, Malaysia, or Indonesia tend to have a very high incidence of fraud. Unless you have a lot experience with international orders, you may wish to decline sending money to these countries.
• High-End Merchandise Items: Be wary of high-end electronics equipment, such as computers and high-end automobiles, especially if they're offered at less than market value.
• "It's Now or Never": Beware of pressure for an immediate response or frantic claims of limited availability.
• Email Address: In many fraudulent orders, the seller's email address is provided by a free email service, which is often relatively untraceable.
• No Verifiable Information: Be wary of sellers that do not provide information that can be verified, such as an address or home or work phone number.

An order that meets one of the above criteria is not necessarily fraudulent. However, if an order has multiple warning signs, you should investigate it carefully. As a general rule, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

For more information on fraud and shopping on the Web, please visit the Yahoo! Commerce Resource Center.