Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft
Occassionally fraudsters may attempt to obtain members' private information by sending emails that impersonate eBay. These emails, called phishing or spoof emails ask members to send account and personal information in a reply email or to enter it through a spoof (fake) website.
If you provided confidential information through a spoof website, you should take measures to secure both your eBay account and your identity.
Secure your eBay account
Change your eBay password immediately and create a secure password. If the password on your email account is the same as your eBay account, you must also change your email password. Do not use the same password for both your eBay account and your email account.
Upgrade your browser. Browsers with the latest anti-phishing capabilities make recognising spoof (fake) web sites easier.
Protect your identityContact your credit card company. If you entered a credit card number, you should contact your credit card company to cancel your account and alert them to the situation. Follow your credit card issuer's instructions for formally documenting the problem.
Contact your bank. If you provided bank account information, you should contact your bank and ask for instructions about protecting your account.
File a police report. File a report with your local police or the police in the community where the identity theft took place. Make a copy of the report and note the date it was filed in case your credit card company or bank needs proof of the crime.
Note:
eBay uses advanced technology and encryption methods to store your credit card information. This information cannot be accessed by signing in to your eBay account.
Make sure you use a secure server when providing credit card information over the internet. You can identify a secure server by the first part of the web address. A secure server's web address begins with "https://" not "http://". Also, a lock or key symbol should appear on the page. Look for these symbols when providing credit card information over the internet. If you've upgraded to a browser with the latest anti-phishing capabilities, look for a green web address bar to confirm that you are on a secure page before entering sensitive information.
