In eBay, we often get many emails from eBay regarding our items, listings, winning bids, payment request, monthly fees and more. But look carefully at your inbox, on occasions you get email from eBay or a bank you never knew writing to you. And perhaps it's evident (and luckily for you) that it appeared in the other email account that you have that was not your primary email account used for eBay transactions. This is a the start of a huge online scam or trickery, called simply Phishing.

Phishing for your details: You may think a fishing scam has more to do with embellishing the size of a catch than online banking. But it's a new kind of 'phishing' that's been hitting the headlines lately. 'Phishing' is a ploy by criminals to trick you into revealing your bank account details. Pronounced 'fishing', this type of scam involves criminals sending you an email 'fishing' for your bank account number and password or similar sensitive information.

The email tries to trick you into 'taking the bait' by giving away these details so criminals can empty your bank account or use your credit card numbers, or even take control of your eBay account, your Paypal account and even more. Some of them even secretly login and do not change any details to create an alarm. They will copy your details recorded, address, credit card numbers, and wait for a good chance to do so. This goes into a higher level.

Whereby later on, the "fisher" assumes your identity, quickly changing your address, contacts, and informing your relevant important systems of account - such as your bank - Yes it's possible, cos they know your birthdate, actual address from the display in your account that they have gained access.

Executingly this simultaneously, creates a ripple effect. So when all your "identity holdings" are being changed, you are then unable to prove otherwise to say your bank. Or even eBay.

How to avoid this? Simply always just login to your eBay account directly. Do not ever click your emails or use "preview windows" in your Outlook or Outlook Express. These "preview" sometimes are there to help but makes it easy for us to be off-guarded and thus entering a "genuine-looking fake website" and then entering our passwords - and alas our account.

If you prefer not to be too restricted: Windows XP with the latest Service Pack, has a special hovering effect - when you mouse is over a clickable link or item. This will reveal the actual website it will be going to. This can also be viewed in Outlook and Outlook Express. So look carefully when it hovers before clicking. An innocent looking email from eBay should have the link starting with "http://www.ebay.com/....." and NOT "http://www.thchzebay.com.../" This is almost the 100% foolproof way. If in doubt, always be on your guard and follow the first recommendation. That is to never click on a link in the emails. Always login directly by typing the full eBay website in your browser. Same applies for your online bank account. Paypal account. And even your trade, financial and stock/share accounts.