eBay User Account Protection email hoax
in distribution from
17th October 2003

This fake eBay email has been in distribution from 17th October 2003 and we have an image of the email. This is just an image of the original, so there is absolutely no code included and none of the links or buttons will now work. The image shown has been reduced to 80% of the original size

The fake email...

The fake eBay email suggests that your account has been suspended and requests that you update your account information using the form provided within that email. This is an excellent example of how Identity Theft occurs through 'phishing' (a term used for this kind of theft of critical information, such as credit/debit card, bank, social security number and site user name and password).

This hoax, however, includes a form within the email for you to complete, whereas many spoof emails just include the genuine site's graphics with text and a cloaked link to a fake web page or site.

You should also bear in mind that it is very common for these spoof emails to be redistributed at a later date with only slightly different content. And, 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.

We recommend you read through, look at the images and become familiar with this hoax because it may be coming to an inbox near you soon.

Let's now take a look at the image of the email .....