eBay

[Big Jenny]

How can you tell if an e-mail supposedly from eBay is genuine? I have received one that looks authentic, telling me someone is hacking into my account etc., and threatening to suspend my account if I don't click on the link and verify my password, user name etc. I haven't done anything about it so far, because I'm a bit suspicious of it, but I'd like to know if there's a way of telling if it's a genuine communication from eBay or not.
Thanks, BJ.

[Missy33]

Jenny, don't do anything to the email. Forward it to [email protected], they will reply to you and tell you whether it is real or not, its probably not. then delete the email

[Big Jenny]

Thanks for that, Missy 33, I will do as you suggest. Any idea WHY these spoof e-mails (if that's what it is) are sent? What's the point of them?
BJ

[the_gooner]

If it is a genuine ebay e-mail, you should get a copy of the e-mail on your account page, otherwise return it as said or bin it.

[Loosehead]

The point Jenny is to get your account details, hijack your account and use it fraudulently as long as possible. It's known as Phishing. There are also similar ones going around for Paypal.

99% certain it's fake, ebay et al never ask for this information via email.

[jake-the-peg]

Jenny,

These are what are called phishing attacks.

The chances are that the mail that you've been sent has a link on it for you to click - that link is disguised but will doubtlessly send you to a fake site that looks like E-bay but is not when you log in the site (if it's a good one) will log into ebay using that username and password and hand you over so you don't know the difference.

Only thing is they now have your password.

Never click a link that you've been sent in a mail if that then requires you to use a password. Always go direct from your browser.

[vehelpfulguy]

Jenny,

Note you can also get e-mails like this from people pretending to be banks like Barclays, Abbey, Halifax etc.

I get them all the time.

They ask you to verify your details or they will close the account.

You go to their (fake) site and enter your details, and lo, with those details they empty your account.

[fountain]

Whenever ebay email you they include your username within the email.

[stevie21]

As mentioned, log onto your "My Ebay" space on their site and if they have anything to say to you then it'll be in there.
I suspect it's a fake email you have.

[Loosehead]

VHG, how do they empty your account. We are told that knowing a sort code and account number is not enough to withdraw money so how would they do it?

[jake-the-peg]

Generally the idea is to simulate your bank's website.

You login to their site with your username password d.o.b. and whatever other information is normally required and they pass you through to the real site - you might not even know.

They harvest the data, log onto your account and set up a transfer.

Some of the banks will now not let you set up transfers to arbitary accounts because of exactly this sort of scam. They limit you to payments to utility companys, credit card companies etc. But that still could allow someone to transfer the contents of your current account onto a credit card.

Good security tips:

Never use the same password or number that you use for banking on other sites like answerbank - we all trust Ed but not that much!

Never follow a link from in an E-mail purporting to be from your Bank, ISP, eBAY etc.

Keep an up to date anti-virus/anti-spyware product on your machine especially if you order on line - the site may be secure but if there is a piece of spyware on your PC logging every keystroke you make you might as well leave your front door open.

[Big Jenny]

Thanks to everyone who has responded here. You've more than answered my question, and provided a lot of other useful bits of info, too.

Many thanks.
BJ.