More ebay wierdness....

I got this email this evening:

"Dear the_toilet:

Our records indicate that you recently sent an email to or received an email from iidy4788 through the eBay email system (for example, you may have sent an email to this member through Ask Seller a Question or received an email from this member through Contact eBay Member).

Sometimes eBay accounts are used to send email solicitations for transactions outside of eBay, or to send unrelated questions in hopes that you will respond so that the other party can obtain your email address. We wanted you to be aware of the potential fraud risk these solicitations pose and encourage you to be cautious about the email you received from this member.

Please keep in mind, sales that take place outside of eBay are not eligible for any eBay or PayPal protective services and you run the risk of losing your money or your item if you complete these transactions. We would encourage you to review the eBay pages related to Fraud Protection at the address provided below for information on steps you can take to ensure that your transactions are successful:"

etc...etc....

Anyway, this ebay id (iidy4788) didn't ring any bells so I checked all my sent and received ebay mails (I haven't emptied my deleted mails folder for about 3 years ) and nothing for this user. I then looked at his/her id on ebay and it turns out that this 'member' was only a member for one single day, and that was yesterday! So, is ebay just scaremongering? Making stuff up? Trying to make sure that no-one contemplates doing any deals outside of ebay? Sure, that can be risky, but no more risky than buying via free-ads etc.

Just thought it was bit strange.

 

Probably just another email to try and get personal details fraudulently for illicit purposes. Wouldn't worry about it too much, just delete anything that looks strange.

 

Actually it's a genuine ebay message, I've already had enough crappy feeble fraud attempts to recognise one of those pretty easily (as have all ebay members I should think). This one arrived directly from ebay and was present in my inbox in the 'messages' page in ebay as well as arriving in my email; I mailed ebay to enquire as to why they sent it to me, and I received an acknowledgement that they had indeed sent it, with assurance that there was no problem with my account and a vague suggestion that a member had been trying to get people to do dodgy deals outside of ebay. I'm of the opinion that the ebay is simply trying to warn people off from doing deals outside of ebay, but it seems to me as if they made up this 'iidy4788' member story for some reason best known to themselves.

 

I wouldn't read too much into it. Most scam bidders set up an account for about a day, create havoc then just go and set up a new bogus id.

Hence, the weird mix of text and figures in the 'members' id.

 

What happens is if a fraudster asks you a question, bids on your item or vise versa and eBay in the mean time discovers they are fraudsters, they will send this email out.

Also if they suspect that behind the scenes sales is going on without them getting their cut you will get this email

 

Yeah I understand that, what I thought was strange was that I categorically have not had contact with that member, so why contact me?

Anyway, it's not a cause for concern, just thought it was odd, 's'all. :JOEL: