Home U.S. Coin Forum
Options

For the Ebay experts in the house-- is this a spoof Ebay message?

LongacreLongacre Posts: 16,717 ✭✭✭
On every Monday morning, I get an email from Ebay with the new items from my favorite sellers. This morning I received that email. I clicked on it, and was brought to the listing on the Ebay site, like ususal. I was interested in one of the items that one of my favorite sellers was selling. So I clicked on "watch this item". I needed to log in, so I typed my screen name and password, and hit "login". Then I got the following message on the next screen:

"Dear [my screenname],

The password you've selected is not strong enough. Choosing a more secure password helps protect your account from identity theft and misuse because it is more difficult for others to guess.
If you choose to keep your current password, as a security measure, you may be asked to enter a special verification code when you sign in. To avoid receiving similar messages, and to protect your account, please create a more secure password.
Thank You,
eBay Inc. "

Does anyone know if this is a legitimate message? The site appears to be legitimate, especially since I followed the link that I normally follow in the weekly favorites message that I get from Ebay. What do you think?

Always took candy from strangers
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)

Comments

  • Options
    RBinTexRBinTex Posts: 4,328
    Opinion: Sounds like it might be real 'cause why would a spoof prompt you to change passwords AFTER you had logged in?

    Advice: NEVER follow a link from an e-mail.
  • Options
    TootawlTootawl Posts: 5,877 ✭✭✭
    Log directly into Ebay and check your messages there. If it's real, you'll see the same message there.
    PCGS Currency: HOF 2013, Best Low Ball Set 2009-2014, 2016, 2018. Appreciation Award 2015, Best Showcase 2018, Numerous others.
  • Options
    If your ebay name is close to your email name it is legit but I would change your password anyway just in case.
  • Options
    rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Unless it is also in your 'My Account' folder .. it is a scam. I never trust an email. Cheers, RickO
  • Options
    <<<Log directly into Ebay and check your messages there. If it's real, you'll see the same message there. >>>>

    That message doesn't go into your "my messages folder, I've gotten it a few times myself.
  • Options
    ziggy29ziggy29 Posts: 18,669 ✭✭✭
    I've received similar messages upong logging into eBay about my e-mail address being too close to my eBay handle, which I've ignored. My password is rock-solid, IMO, and I know better than to get suckered by most phishing attempts.
  • Options
    LongacreLongacre Posts: 16,717 ✭✭✭
    Update-- I completely logged out and shut the browser. Then I logged back in. I didn't get the message when I used my password, but when I went into the "my messages" section, the message was there. It is very strange. I decided to just keep my password the way it is.
    Always took candy from strangers
    Didn't wanna get me no trade
    Never want to be like papa
    Working for the boss every night and day
    --"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
  • Options
    garsmithgarsmith Posts: 5,894 ✭✭
    I got an e-mail almost exactly like that, but it was from PayPal not eBay!
    Watch out it may be a scam! Mine said your password to closly resembles your username and should be changed for security reasons.

    I ingored the e-mail because my password is in no way related to my user name!
  • Options
    tightbudgettightbudget Posts: 7,299 ✭✭✭
    As long as you think your password is fine, then why change it?
  • Options
    notwilightnotwilight Posts: 12,864 ✭✭✭
    You lose your account to a hijacker when you log into their spoof ebay page. So long as you didn't do that you're fine. Be very, very suspicios when you get an e-mail from ebay and you click on a link in it and get taken to a login screen. Do NOT log in as you may be on a simulated ebay page on the hijacker's site. Instead, go to ebay and look for the message in your inbox. If it turns you you really weren't logged into ebay then the login screeen may have been legit but make sure you get to the login screen normally rather than through a link in an e-mail. Some say never follow links in e-mails but sometimes I get over 100 e-mails a day and dozens of questions so I'm getting there as fast as I can and that often means using the link. --Jerry
  • Options
    just forward the email to Spoof@ebay.com or spoof@paypal.com

    They usually respond within 24 hours and tell you if it is legit or not.
  • Options
    RedTigerRedTiger Posts: 5,608
    For the readers, as always, never click on links in an email. 98% of phishing scams work that way. Avoiding this one step filters out all those would be scammers. Open a fresh browser tab or window and use a favorites link or type in the URL by hand and check my messages. In this particular case, this message seems to be appearing there, so may be legitimate.

Leave a Comment

BoldItalicStrikethroughOrdered listUnordered list
Emoji
Image
Align leftAlign centerAlign rightToggle HTML viewToggle full pageToggle lights
Drop image/file