Fraudsters trying to steal credit card information from online auction house eBay 55 million users appear to have set up a fake Web site that mimicked the firm, a private Internet watchdog said today.
The scam involved e-mails that asked recipients to log on to a Florida-based Web site, ebayupdates.com, and re-enter financial data for eBay, said Mr Dean White, the Asia-Pacific co-ordinator of a US group, SANS Institute Internet Storm Center.
"Once you've got the credit card information you can use it for everything," Mr White said.
The scam site sported the eBay logo and colours but did not appear to have any connection with California-based eBay, Mr White said.
The company has issued a general warning on its website, urging caution over e-mails seeking passwords or credit card numbers.
"Some members have reported attempts to gain access to their personal information through e-mail solicitations that are falsely made to appear as having come from eBay," the company said.
"These solicitations will often contain links to Web pages that will request that you sign in and submit information...eBay employees will never ask you for your password."