I received the following email on my Hotmail account from someone claiming to be from eBay. First off I know this is fake because my eBay account isn't registered using my Hotmail account and second I've seen several versions of this same letter floating around the Internet via email.

So be forwarned that if you received an email like this or similar, under NO CIRCUMSTANCES should you click on the link, DO NOTcall the telephone number or fax listed in the email because it is someone trying to steal your credit card information.

I will be contacting eBay on Monday to alert them to this latest attempt at fraud by someone using their company's name.

== Rick R-5723 ==

-- Original Message Follows --

From: Verify@ebay.com
To: massannouncement@ebay.com
Sent: Friday, March 11,2003 10:25 AM
Subject: eBay - Important Account Verification

Dear eBay User:

We have updated several of our servers to provide you with a faster, more efficient service. However, as a result, we need you to verify your eBay account. This is done to assure that no one else has access to your account or your private account information.

To verify your account, please visit our eBay Verification Page at REMOVED.

You will have 48 hours to verify your account, at which point you will be unable to log into your account. None of your data, such as items you are currently the winning bidder on, will be lost, but will be inaccessible until you have verified your account.

eBay Verification Page

Thank you again, and sorry for any inconvience this may have caused.

Have any questions? Call us!

Phone: REMOVED
Fax: REMOVED

-The eBay Team-