I gfot this from eBay yesterday:

***Online Safety: Tips to Protect Yourself from Spoof Email and Web sites***

September 09, 2005 | 10:14AM PST/PT

As eBay Community members pitch in to help people affected by the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina, unscrupulous scammers may try to take advantage of the generosity and eagerness to help those affected.

Safety online starts with keeping your accounts and your computer secure, as well as knowing who you can trust. We'd like to reiterate some basic tips to protect yourself from spoof (fake) email and Web sites, especially those pretending to be eBay and PayPal, or well-known relief organizations, such as the American Red Cross. Please follow these tips to make sure that your contributions go to the right places and to stay safe online.

-Never click on a link in an email that requests updates to your account information. Always check for these types of emails in My Messages in your My eBay. Any email eBay sends you about your account or requesting personal information will be in My Messages. If you receive an email about your account or requesting personal information and it's not in My Messages, it's a fake.
-If you are suspicious about an email that claims to be from eBay or PayPal and requests payment, report it by forwarding the email to spoof@ebay.com or spoof@paypal.com.
-Get eBay Toolbar with Account Guard. This feature indicates when you are on eBay or PayPal and warns you when you are on a potentially fraudulent site. Download eBay Toolbar with Account Guard [http://pages.ebay.com/ebay%5Ftoolbar/?ssPageName=CMDV:AB].
-Keep your operating system, Web browser, and virus detection software up to date. Microsoft recently updated its browser security ˆ you can receive the latest updates by visiting its Web site at www.microsoft.com.
-When in doubt about whether you are really on eBay or PayPal ˆ especially after clicking on a link in an email ˆ open a new Web browser and type in either www.ebay.com or www.paypal.com.
-Frequently check your account status to see if there is any suspicious activity.
-Always use a secure server when submitting credit card numbers online.

Educate Yourself
eBay's Security Center [http://pages.ebay.com/securitycenter/?ssPageName=CMDV:AB], our Spoof Email Protection Tutorial [http://pages.ebay.com/education/spooftutorial/?ssPageName=CMDV:AB] and PayPal's Identity Protection Resources [https://www.paypal.com/idprotection?ssPageName=CMDV:AB] provide detailed information about spoof emails, identity theft, and what to do if your eBay account has been compromised. eBay is committed to enabling you to have a safe and enjoyable experience online. Your vigilance helps us ensure that eBay remains a safe and vibrant online marketplace.

Robert