eBay periodic review of member accounts is a hoax ...

This spoof eBay email (see below) comes in HTML format (although it will look like a text only email in order add a sense of authenticity to the link text). The link in the email has been disguised using HTML code to look like a genuine link to eBay but it will in actual fact open a forged ebay web form in your browser (see image below).

From the URL of the forged web page, you'll notice the use of an official sounding domain name - cgi-verify.us - which has nothing to do with eBay at all, but resolves to a Yahoo Inc user's web space. Any data submitted into the form is processed through a third party form to mail service and sent to a yahoo email account (cacatcacat2002@yahoo.com).

If you have received this email, please remember that it is very common for these email scams to be redistributed at a later date with only slightly different content or the same but with the fake page(s) hosted by a different provider. Also, once you have received one of these hoaxes, it is also common place to receive at least another one and usually a day or two after the first, although not necessarily from the same apparent sender.

The Spoof Email ...

Dear valued costumer,

eBay's acquisition of PayPal was completed on October 3, 2002. As part of our continuing commitment to protect your account and to reduce the instance of fraud on our website , we are undertaking a period review of our member accounts. You are requested to visit our site by following the link given below ,

https://cgi4.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?UserVerify

This message was sent to you courtesy of eBay's computerized e-mail
system. Please do not send a reply to this message, as it will vanish into
the mysterious electronic void. If you have a question or some input,
and would like a response from a live, caring human being, please e-mail
us at info@eBay.com.

Copyright © 1995-2004 eBay Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Designated trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners.
Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of the eBay User Agreement and Privacy Policy.

The bogus web page ...