I got a new eBay scam letter
By estherlou
@estherlou (5015)
United States
July 13, 2008 5:26pm CST
I check in my spam/bulk email box once in awhile, because I find it catches some of my wanted mail sometimes. I noticed this letter from eBay. I'm not sure what make me look at it. On my defense, it was about 11 p.m. and I had gotten up at 5:45 a.m. and put in an 11 hour day and decided to check some email before going to bed. Anyway, the tone of the letter was very strong. It looked legit, with item # and everything. It said we hadn't paid for an item we bid on and so much time had passed we were getting negative feedback and probably going to be removed from eBay. I read through it several times. It looked official, but something was not quite right. I just couldn't figure it out. I decided to click on the link in the letter to check out our "history". The next page asked for our user name and password. AH HA! That was what had been missing on the letter. Every sale has the buyer and the seller name. Otherwise, the letter looked official. So, when I was asked for my username and password, I would have stopped and said NO way! I forgot you don't click on links from letters, but go to the official site and check it out. Anyway, the protection on my computer, which is by Symantec, popped up a big warning box that said I was going to click onto a fraudulent site. Wow! I didn't know my computer had that! How cool was that! Anyway...in case you don't have spam/bulk mail sorted out of your email, or if, like me, you decide to look at some stuff anyway...LOL...just a reminder about not clicking on the links in a suspicious but official-looking letter. There is a new eBay scam letter going around...
4 people like this
17 responses
@GardenGerty (157552)
• United States
17 Jul 08
Those long work days can sure make us forget what our own name is, let alone some of the safety precautions that we need to take. I do not think E Bay sends those kinds of reminders out. But Maybe. I am sure glad you stopped in time, and your computer security is working for you. I am here after a similar long day, just checking a little e mail as I fall further and further behind.
@theproperator (2429)
• United States
15 Jul 08
I got an email just like that awhile back. It made me laugh because it said the item I had allegedly bid on but not paid for was a private island! Gee, pretty sure I'd remember that! I forwarded mine to ebay and then deleated it.
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
14 Jul 08
Thanks for the warning. I haven't received it yet but unless E-bay stops it, it will go out to members.
I have had problems such as you mentioned with PayPal. I get more scam emails from who I think is PayPal administration. It's not, it's a scam. The scam letters go out saying: Dear Member. After talking with PayPal they advised me their letters will always be addressed: Dear your first and last name. I got caught up once on one of those and so far nothing has happened. My credit ratings have been fine and so far no purchases or credit cards have been opened. Better cross my fingers this doesn't happen. It's a lousy feeling to know you've been scammed.
@jillmalitz (5131)
• United States
14 Jul 08
Good for you. These scamers are getting really good at their craft. It is amazing how good they are too. I have not seen that one but I have gotten a few ones that are "from" Paypal which I forwarded to them and they said it was scam.
@blackmantra_x (2732)
• Philippines
15 Jul 08
good day...thanks for the heads up. I don't usually notice and it's good to have known it before falling victim to their scam. I hope that they would just stop doing that because honest people are trying hard to make a clean living.
@zion45 (70)
• United States
14 Jul 08
Thank you for the warning. I do a lot of stuff on Ebay. I may not have noticed, and paid attention to the small details. I can't believe people start stuff like this. Well again thank you for the warning. I am glad that you caught it before something bad happened to your computer.
@zeloguy (4911)
• United States
14 Jul 08
I have gotten quite a few and what I do is look at EXACTLY where it is coming from... if I don't see ebay.com then it goes to my junk folder.
What people will do is use a SUBDOMAIN like http://ebay.bogussite.com so it looks like e-bay. Only allow your filter to allow ebay.com to come through.
There is a drawback. I believe e-bay uses ebay1.com or whatever and those are legit.
Again as I said in another post if you are suspicious then don't open the e-mail... go to e-bay and find if there is a problem with the account there.
Thanks for the heads up.
Zelo
@faith210 (11224)
• Philippines
14 Jul 08
Hi estherlou! Oh, that is definitely a scam. Good thing that you have seen it and didn't fall for it. Thanks for sharing this experience of yours and I am will be cautious too from ebay letters for it might turn out to be a scam.
Take care and God Bless!
@elemental69 (1561)
• Ireland
14 Jul 08
Its nice to know that people here warn others about scams that are going on on the internet. I will be more wary now of emails I get from ebay, just in case. Thanks.... :-)
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
14 Jul 08
its alright. i dont use ebay any more anyway. it cost more than i made to sell stuff and i no longer have the money to buy stuff. lol. but thanks for the heads up to all that still do.
@Rzelikman (141)
• United States
14 Jul 08
Good catch!! These ebay spam letters have been gong around for a very long time. I truly cannot believe that ebay has not done anything about them and yet have change so many things to their site. They try to make the ebay community a safe place. However, they do everything wrong!!! The kick off good standing sellers for no reason or at least not a good enough reason and yet cannot do anything about these scam letters. Its very disappointing because I have received a number of these letters in the past.
@kgwat70 (13388)
• United States
13 Jul 08
Thank you for the heads up about the Ebay Scam Letter. I am a member on Ebay and may receive this letter as well. I am glad that your Symantec product gave you that warning so that you would not have been a victim. Some of those letters that we get do look real. It is always best to check with the website before taking any action to make sure it is fake or legitimate. Those kinds of letters are almost always fakes. It is sad how people are trying to take advantage of people these days. All of our computers should have protection on it from these and other types of scams and viruses.
@Shaun72 (15959)
• Palatka, Florida
13 Jul 08
Thanks for the warning. Since I do use ebay sometimes but not as much as I use to. I did get a email awhile back sort of like this sayinmg I needed to pay for the property I bought or I would be rated negitive. I have never bid on anything like land. I checked out my ebay site . I figure they either had the wrong ebayer or it was a scam.
@fwidman (11514)
• United States
13 Jul 08
Did you forward the fake letter to spoof@ebay.com? I get those crazy letters every now and then and I just forward them to ebay so they can investigate the sender. You're right in what you say, all official letters from ebay have your username and they tell you that's why the letter is from them 
Nice of Symantec to pop up like that!
Nice of Symantec to pop up like that! 