The new service is My Messages, a free, personalized in-box for eBay customers that contains communications only sent from eBay. That way, members can be sure to avoid scams designed to lure people to a fake eBay Web site in order to capture credit card numbers or other personal information.

Such scams are a growing headache for companies online, but eBay and PayPal may be among the most targeted because of eBay's brand name and massive marketplace. Financial institutions and online retailers are also the targets of e-mail scammers.

Personally, I object to the terms used for these scam emails: Spoofing. Phishing.

The dictionary defines a “spoof” as:

* Nonsense; tomfoolery
* A gentle satirical imitation; a light parody

Doesn't fit the bill for me.

As for “ phishing” - I don't have a clue where that word came from. Certainly not a dictionary.

Let's call it what it is ...

* Theft
* Crime
* Defrauding
* Robbery
* Larceny
* Fraud

... and quit using nice little euphemisms that demean the viciousness and nastiness of email scams.

The Anti-Phishing Working Group has compiled a list that will enable any Net user to see if he's been targeted for a scam. Not that it's too hard to figure out. After all, I only get about 10-20 PER DAY.

http://news.com.com/eBay+users+targeted+by+phishing+scam/2030-7349_3-5402058.html?tag=nl