Unfortunately, there isn't a single, surefire way to identify fraudulent buyers. 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 buyer; they are only factors to help you identify high-risk transactions. Likewise, there is no guarantee that a buyer who does not meet any of these criteria is a legitimate buyer. If you're suspicious, it's a good idea to do some research.

• Country of Origin: Buyers from Romania, Macedonia, Belarus, Pakistan, Russia, Lithuania, Egypt, Nigeria, Colombia, Malaysia, and Indonesia tend to have a very high incidence of fraud and often have unverifiable addresses. Unless you have a lot experience with international orders, you may wish to decline selling to these countries, even if the buyer offers to use a U.S. cashier's check.
• Untraceable Email Address: In many fraudulent orders, the customer's email address is provided by a free email service, which is often relatively untraceable.
• Expensive Items: Be wary when selling automobiles or high-end electronics equipment, such as computers.
• Cashier's Check Fraud: Be wary of potential buyers who offer to pay with a cashier's check for more than the amount of the item. This is a common scam to get you to send them the balance of the overpayment, only to later find out that the cashier's check wasn't valid.

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, you should never sell an item unless you can verify the information.

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