It's not always easy to identify fraudulent (or phishing) emails, because as technology progresses scammers get more sophisticated. Getting to know some of the more common techniques can help tip you off before becoming a victim of fraud.

• Threats to accounts - emails stating (usually with a sense of urgency) that your account is in jeopardy and requires personal information to keep it from being closed or suspended.
• Lost information - emails claiming that a company is upgrading its files or accounts and needs your personal details. All genuine emails regarding about your eBay account will also appear in My eBay under My Messages.
• Requests for personal information - emails asking you to enter personal information such as a user ID, password or bank account details by clicking on a link or completing a form, even if the link takes you to an official looking site.
• Sender's address - the "From" field in an email can be easily altered to disguise the real sender and make it appear as if the email is from eBay or another trusted company. Don't rely on this to validate the origin of the email.
• Links to sites - links that appear to connect to an official site can be forged. Always open up a new browser window and manually type in the website address.
• Second Chance Offers - check your emails in My eBay to ensure Second Chance Offers are legitimate genuine and ignore any request for payment through instant wire money transfers like Western Union or MoneyGram (these forms of payment are prohibited on eBay).
• To find out more take our spoof email tutorial which shows you how to look out for fraudulent emails.