BS: Ebay update/reregister Scam???

Subject: BS: Ebay update/reregister Scam???
From: Little Hawk
Date: 23 Sep 03 - 12:59 PM

I have received 6 emails in the past 2 or 3 months, all purporting to be from Ebay (and looking like they are too), all saying that I need to update the information on my Ebay account or reregister or something along that line.

I was suspicious of these message for various reasons, although they usually carried the Ebay logo and various Ebay links on them.

At least one of these messages took you to a form where you were supposed to fill out all kinds of personal info like: name, address, Ebay member name, secret code, SSN, Visa #, Pin number (!), etc...

Highly suspicious...

I replied to none of them, but forwarded two of them to my local computer store. They took a look at it, and they say it's a scam.

Anybody else seen these emails?

- LH

Subject: RE: BS: Ebay update/reregister Scam???
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 23 Sep 03 - 01:13 PM

I have never seen one, but have been told that it's a scam, a ripoff, an identity-theft mechanism.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: Ebay update/reregister Scam???
From: TheBigPinkLad
Date: 23 Sep 03 - 01:13 PM

I got one just yesterday, one day after I was thje successful bidder on an Ebay item. As soon as I saw the bit about typing in my credit card number and PIN I knew it was bent. I bet there are lots of poor sods who've handed over that info though ...

Subject: RE: BS: Ebay update/reregister Scam???
From: curmudgeon
Date: 23 Sep 03 - 01:18 PM

I got one of these yesterday. Knowing that all my info was up-to-date at eBay, I went there and found out where to send a copy of the spurious email. Of course now i can't remember what the e-address was, but you can track it down in eBay Help -- Tom

Subject: RE: BS: Ebay update/reregister Scam???
From: Little Hawk
Date: 23 Sep 03 - 01:20 PM

Yeah, and it only takes a few to make some scammer rich. It's sad.

- LH

Subject: RE: BS: Ebay update/reregister Scam???
From: GUEST,ClaireBear
Date: 23 Sep 03 - 01:27 PM

Yes, I got one. The directions on the EBAy security site say to forward the message without changing anything (including the message heading) to: [e-mail]

I did this with my message and got an e-mail back confirming that it was a scam.

Claire

Subject: RE: BS: Ebay update/reregister Scam???
From: Amos
Date: 23 Sep 03 - 01:32 PM

The images are from ebay but look very carefully at the site they send you to to surrender your information, and you'ss see it is not in fact Ebay but some other website altogether just dolled up to look like the Ebay page.

It is a fraud.

A

Subject: RE: BS: Ebay update/reregister Scam???
From: curmudgeon
Date: 23 Sep 03 - 01:48 PM

That's where I sent mine, Claire, but recieved no reply. One thing to watch for is your eBay user name. Every legit email I've ever recieved from eBay uses that and not my real or email name -- Tom

Subject: RE: BS: Ebay update/reregister Scam???
From: Bill D
Date: 23 Sep 03 - 02:02 PM

latest version...purporting to be from PayPal:

Please verify your information today!

Dear Paypal Member.
Your account has been randomly flagged in our system as a part of our routine security measures. This is a must to ensure that only you have access and use of your paypal account and to ensure a safe Paypal experience.                                        We require all flagged accounts to verify their information on file with us.                                                                               To verify your information, click here and enter the details requested.                                                                                    After you verify your information, your account shall be returned to good standing and you will continue to have full use of your account.

Thank you for using PayPal!

Subject: RE: BS: Ebay update/reregister Scam???
From: Bill D
Date: 23 Sep 03 - 02:03 PM

ohh..why am I sure it's a scam? I don't HAVE a PayPal account..*grin*

Subject: RE: BS: Ebay update/reregister Scam???
From: curmudgeon
Date: 23 Sep 03 - 02:08 PM

FYI, PayPal is owned by eBay.

Subject: RE: BS: Ebay update/reregister Scam???
From: GUEST,ClaireBear
Date: 23 Sep 03 - 02:36 PM

Hmm, I did get a reply -- two, in fact. The first said:

Thank you for contacting eBay's Trust & Safety Department about an email you received from an address that includes '@ebay.com' but that may not be an authentic email from eBay. We will investigate this situation immediately.

Please be advised that there have been cases where people have attempted to gain access to an eBay member's personal information by sending "spoof" emails. Spoof emails intentionally give the false impression that they have been sent by eBay to solicit people to transmit their account information. Based on your inquiry to eBay's Trust and Safety Department, the email you received was likely a spoof.

[then a lot of stuff I'm not gonna paste here]

Later that day, I got a follow-up:

Thank you for contacting eBay's Trust and Safety Department about email solicitations that are falsely made to appear to have come from eBay. These emails, commonly referred to as "spoof" messages, are sent in an attempt to collect sensitive personal information from recipients who reply to the message or click on a link to a Web page requesting this information.

The email you reported did not originate from, nor is it endorsed by, eBay. We are very concerned about this problem and are working diligently to address the situation. We are currently investigating the source of this email to take further action. You may rest assured that your account standing has not changed and that your listings have not been affected.

[...and more stuff that I've deleted for brevity's sake]

Claire

Subject: RE: BS: Ebay update/reregister Scam???
From: Little Hawk
Date: 23 Sep 03 - 03:49 PM

Thanks for the info. I hope this thread will be of assistance in alerting some people to these scams.

- LH

Subject: RE: BS: Ebay update/reregister Scam???
From: Trevor
Date: 23 Sep 03 - 05:05 PM

Got one this morning. I saw the articles about Barclays Bank having similar probs with somebody purporting to be them asking for details. as if we're not busy enough without having to sidestep prats all the time

Subject: RE: BS: Ebay update/reregister Scam???
From: rock chick
Date: 23 Sep 03 - 05:25 PM

BE WARNED. A friend went to buy a car through E bay, and was just about to put money through the normal pay system, but on second thoughts decided she would like to have a quick look at it first, also had a few question to ask about the car, she contacted the owner, who immediately said don't make payment because her account had been hijack and any payment made would not get to her but to the hijacker.

This was / is been investigated, but what a lucky escape.

I thought this was a safe site to use, but now would think twice about sending any money without first contacting the seller direct.


I to have been informed that i needed to update my account, but havent done so, and wont be in the near future.

Subject: RE: BS: Ebay update/reregister Scam???
From: Peg
Date: 24 Sep 03 - 12:12 AM

wow; AOL asks for this all the time!   Now I wonder if all those times I provided the requested information, it was also a scam?????
scary stuff.

Subject: RE: BS: Ebay update/reregister Scam???
From: LadyJean
Date: 24 Sep 03 - 12:17 AM

There was something about this scam on Snopes.com. Check their site regularly for internet scams and assorted BS