eBay faces new credit card scam

A new shadow website has emerged which the WHOIS database shows is registered by two men in Vilnius, Lithuania.

The fraudulent eBay site not only asks for users' eBay identification, password and email address but also credit card, bank account, drivers license and social security numbers.

While less sophisticated than the ebayupdates.com site shut down last week, it mirrors the operations of the real ebay.com site by linking to all the relevant sections.

Another shadow site, which was reportedly hosted by the Tripod internet service provider in the US, has been taken down after attempting an e-mail scam.

"You received this notice from eBay because it has come to our attention that your current account has caused interruptions with other eBay members and eBay requires immediate verification for your account," the email said.

"Please verify your account or the account may become disabled. Click Here To Verify Your Account - http://ebay_depo.tripod.com."

eBayupdates.com

A site operating under the ebayupdates.com internet address register in Niceville, Florida was operating last week, targeting eBay's 55 million customers.

The scam involved sending e-mails to customers asking them to log on to the website - ebayupdates.com - and re-submit their financial details.

California-based eBay has issued warnings on its site about e-mails asking for passwords or credit card details.

"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."