You've been watching an eBay item for weeks now and you just placed your bid shortly before it's over. Let's say it's a camera you really wanted to get your spouse for Christmas and it's so close you can almost taste it.

You're counting down the minutes at work and then you go to check your email for confirmation--only to find out some jerk outbid you at the last possible second.

You're fuming all day at work and you get home and just can't relax. You're still miserable about it when you wake up the next day and check your email. You see a message from eBay saying you have another chance, if you're still interested in the item, as the original buyer changed his mind.

You furiously click the link, type in your password and enter into your PayPal information. After it's too late, you notice the web address is not PayPal. You've been duped and someone now has free range on your account--which has access to your bank account. You shut it down as quick as you can, but the thieves already managed to make a couple of purchases on your dime.

How to avoid: legitimate "Second Chance" notifications come through your eBay account on your "My Messages" tab. It's also always a good idea to double-check the url when you're clicking on any link you get through your email. It may look legit--and that's why these scams work. But don't be fooled.