In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: Before you even bid on your first item, make sure your PayPal and eBay settings are as secure as possible. It's not a bad idea to have an entirely separate email and bank account dedicated solely to your eBay transactions. The same logic applies to your home address--especially if you're purchasing something from a long-distance seller, consider picking the package up at the post office. This method provides added security coupled with your retention of privacy. If you don't know the playbook, you're liable to end up as a statistic in it. Most eBay scams that target buyers are centered around sending faulty products for an insane mark-up or simply not sending a product outright after payment is delivered. These kinds of scams happen most often with big-ticket items like cars or property, so if you must purchase a vehicle or something similar through eBay, be sure to insist on a mutual meeting place to do the transaction. You can avoid most basic scams by simply requesting more information about the item and the terms of the item's sale. If the seller is reluctant to give you information or they appear evasive, you should give the item a pass. While this isn't the most accurate way to determine whether or not someone is a scammer, it eliminates the possibility of buying from someone with a ton of negative reviews or a lack of history. This precaution is mostly contextual, so be sure to ask questions. If you contact the seller and they tell you that they've been working on eBay for years when their account was registered last week, that should raise an immediate red flag. If you don't read the fine print and somebody ships you a damaged or faulty item "as is", eBay won't side with you in a dispute. It's shady, but technically legal; therefore, you should spare yourself the trouble by reading through every single detail on the listing before you bid. If possible, request additional photos or information as well--again, if the seller is reluctant to accommodate your request, they're probably hiding something. Before you even contact a seller, look for negative reviews, a lack of a refund policy, missing or vague information, or requests for money orders, checks, or other third-party payment methods. You should also generally be on the lookout for things that simply sound too good to be true. If you see someone selling a piece of expensive hardware described as "brand new" for well under market price, it's probably a scam. PayPal and eBay both keep records of transactions, and you have access to these records at any time; going through third-party sites or payment methods is a surefire way to lose the support of both companies in the event of a scam. Pay on collection of big-ticket merchandise such as cars, large furniture, or similar items. The easiest way to ensure the cooperation of both parties in an event like this is by meeting face-to-face in a neutral area with plenty of visibility--i.e., a shopping center. eBay and PayPal deal exclusively in written records, so if a seller wants to discuss business over the phone, politely explain this to them. They will likely be dissuaded if they are attempting to scam you. You should keep any written records of transactions for at least a year after the transaction takes place, simply for insurance. In the days following your transaction, keep an eye out for any irregular activity in your bank accounts. If you spot any, contact PayPal, eBay, or your local branch and report the circumstances.
Summary: Safeguard your account. Familiarize yourself with common scams. Scope out the user's account. Pay attention to the terms of the transaction. Look for red flags. Always pay through eBay-approved methods. Document everything. Monitor your bank account and PayPal afterwards.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: What pre-packaged hot chocolate mixes with added flavors have by way of simplicity, they lack in depth of flavor and quality. By avoiding the standard packaged versions, you'll be assured of a great tasting brew. Use only high quality ingredients wherever possible. Choose high grade quality cocoa (dark Dutch cocoa is a superb choice). Cocoa can often be purchased from quality grocery stores or from online sellers. Alternatively, melt quality dark chocolate for a gooey, rich and velvety tasting hot chocolate. Use the best quality cream and sugar. Go for the one you can manage and will enjoy makingif there are too many intricate steps involved, you might be tempted to take shortcuts that reduce the quality of the outcome. Simple is good when it comes to making hot chocolate! You might like to use How to make hot chocolate as a tried and true recipe base. Check you have the right cooking utensils, including a double boiler and grater if you intend to melt real chocolate.
Summary: Use quality cocoa for making your homemade hot chocolate. Be savvy about the hot chocolate recipe you use.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: Gossiping requires a fine balance. You don't want to seem like an enthusiastic gossiper, because you want to Try to maintain your relationship as someone who is trustworthy to speak to. But at the same time, you also want to spread it around, because, well, it's fun. So, you've got to be a good actor. When you approach some gossipy territory in a conversation, start looking over your shoulder, as if you're worried someone will hear. Ask if the other person has heard the news first. If they haven't heard, make a worried face and wring your hands. Say, "Oh, well, I really shouldn't say. It isn't right to gossip." When you get ready, lean in close and start with, "Well, now, you didn't hear this from me..." Your audience will be locked in. When you have good gossip, you can't just tell everyone you know, unless you want it to blow back on you. Besides, you don't have to tell a lot of people, just a select few. If your good friend told you something in confidence, don't tell all your other friends. Instead, tell someone at work. If someone at work did something super-embarrassing, don't tell all your coworkers, tell your friends. When and if the gossip does eventually get around, everyone will forget who they heard it from originally, most of the time, but you want to be sure to distance yourself from it as much as possible. Gossip shouldn't be something that you broadcast or speak about loudly, for everyone to hear. Make sure you take people aside, use very quiet voices, and don't let anyone you don't know hear what you're talking about. Even if you're spreading gossip, it's important to Try to limit it as much as possible. This goes for gossiping online, even more so. Private messages of gossip? Ok, maybe. Posting on your own, or someone else's board publicly? Just don't. Treat your gossiping like you're treating a friend to privileged information, not like you're just broadcasting gossip to anyone who will listen. Make sure that everyone you tell knows that this isn't something to spread around, even if they plan on spreading it around like you are. This is the code of the gossipers. In some cases, you can learn to suggest your gossip more than you trumpet it. Start telling the detail you want to spread around, but stop just short of telling the whole story. Tell enough to let the other person figure it out, but not so much that you'll need to feel bad about yourself. If you know someone at school just made out with someone else, you don't have to say so to spread it around. Try this: "Did you hear about James and Janet last weekend? I heard they got pretty up close and personal. Not that you heard it from me."
Summary:
Pretend you don't want to let loose of the news. Spread it around smartly. Do it quietly. Tell each person they can't tell anyone. Consider only telling a half-truth.