Fraud Prevention and Recognition Tips: For Book Buyers

While we have strict registration procedures and all AbeBooks’ booksellers are required to sign a Bookseller Agreement that includes Code of Conduct and Performance Standards, we also encourage book buyers to shop smart. 

Use AbeBooks for Purchase Protection:

For complete purchase protection, we recommend you use one of our accepted credit card payment methods and purchase through the AbeBooks Shopping Basket. We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, JCB, and Carte Bleue (where available).

When you purchase through the AbeBooks Shopping Basket, your credit card is securely processed by AbeBooks and your financial information is held in accordance with the stringent regulations of the Payment Card Industry Digital Security Standards (PCI DSS). For more information on the PCI DSS, and what these standards include, go to the PCI Security Standards Council website:  https://www.pcisecuritystandards.org/

In addition, purchasing through the AbeBooks Shopping Basket gives you access to our Customer Support team, who will ensure that all AbeBooks policies are adhered to by the member bookseller should any problem arise.

We do not recommend completing your purchase outside of the AbeBooks system, particularly if suggested by the bookseller. AbeBooks Policies cannot be enforced when a purchase is made outside of our Shopping Basket.

If a bookseller does solicit your business outside the Shopping Basket, please let us know. If you do choose to complete your purchase outside the Shopping Basket, AbeBooks cannot provide support or issue a refund if your order is not completed.

Our Return Policies ensure your purchase satisfaction, and our Bookseller Policies ensure that all of our booksellers provide consistent and quality purchase experiences on AbeBooks. Our Customer Support team is also available to assist you with your purchase, your experience, or any of our policies.

Communicate Through the AbeBooks System:

We provide an online system for you to contact any bookseller directly. You’ll find an [Ask Bookseller a Question] link within each listing in the search results, as well as beside each of your orders in your AbeBooks account.

We strongly recommend that you use these links to communicate with the bookseller. A copy of the correspondence is saved in your AbeBooks account for our Customer Support team to review, if necessary. Just be sure that you are using the link next to the correct purchase in your AbeBooks account or next to the listing in your search results that you are inquiring about; each link will direct your inquiry to that particular bookseller only.

Reporting Fraud

Law Enforcement - Contacting AbeBooks Security and Trust

Return to AbeBooks Security and Trust

Disclaimer: The information contained on these pages is for advisory purposes only and does not constitute instructions or directives. Booksellers and book buyers are ultimately responsible for protecting themselves, their business, and their purchases from fraudulent practices. AbeBooks does not guarantee the information contained in these pages will prevent or shield booksellers or book buyers from fraud.