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Security Enhancement - Email User ID Migration and Limiting Email Sign-in What changes are we making?
 We are 1) transitioning users with email-based User IDs to a non-email User ID, and 2) Limiting the use of email addresses with Sign-In. For example, a member with a User ID of johnsmith@aol.com will be migrated to a User ID along the lines of johnsmith12345.
  1. The transition of email address-based User IDs to a non-email User ID.

    While only a small percentage of the Community still has an email-based User ID, these members are 4 times more likely to have their accounts compromised compared to members with a non-email User ID. Due to this risk, we are requiring that all members transition to a non-email User ID. There are two milestones in the timeline for this project that we want affected members to be aware of:

    • Inactive members (members who have not had any buying or selling activity in the last 12 months) who have an email address as their User ID will be assigned a non-email User ID automatically starting the week of August 11, 2003.
    • All other members who still do not have a non-email User ID will be automatically assigned a non-email User ID by January 2004.
    All members who are automatically transitioned by eBay will receive an email with their new temporary User ID and instructions on how to create a new User ID.

  2. Limiting the use of email addresses with Sign-In.

    Starting in August 2003, the second part of this phase of the project will eliminate the ability for a member to sign in to eBay using their email address if the member has a non-email User ID. Active members still using an email-based User ID will be able to use Sign-In for a limited time.

    Members who may not remember their User IDs can use the Forgot Your User ID feature from any sign-in page. You can access this feature at: http://cgi4.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?UserIdRecognizerShow. This feature will email the User ID to the member's registered email address.
Why are we making these changes?
 This project will further reduce the threat of fake or "spoof" messages targeted at the eBay Community. "Spoof" emails are fraudulent emails that appear to be sent by eBay or PayPal, but in fact are sent by scam artists to obtain passwords and other sensitive account information.

Scam artists often use spoof emails or other fake sites to collect email addresses and passwords from users. By transitioning members to safer User IDs, the likelihood of those members being targeted with spoof emails is reduced by up to 75%.

The risk of spoof emails is not limited to the accounts attacked. After these accounts are compromised, they often become a fraud threat to the rest of the Community. This project is one of the ongoing steps in a long campaign against spoof attacks and identity theft.

Will my feedback be affected?
 Absolutely not - the automatic assignment of a new User ID will simply be a name change, and all your feedback and past transaction history will be unaffected.

When will we begin making these changes?
 Here is the timeline for this project:
  • Mid- August - Inactive members (members who have not had any buying or selling activity in the last 12 months) who have an email address as their User ID will be assigned a non-email User ID by eBay.
  • Late August - All eBay users will be unable to sign in with their email address if they have a non-email address as their User ID.
  • Late January 2004 - All other members who still do not have a non-email User ID will be automatically assigned a non-email User ID.
How is this being communicated?
 Members with an "at risk" User ID will be notified upon sign-in via pop-up that they need to change their User IDs. If you currently have a pop-up blocker installed on your computer, you may not see these messages.

Beginning in early August, information will be posted on the Announcement Board to inform members of the next stages of this project.

When a temporary User ID is assigned, an email is sent providing the member their temporary User ID and instructions on how to change it.

What if I've forgotten my own User ID? I've always used my email address to log in (using the Sign In feature).
 Until late August, you will still be able to log in using your email address. Once you are logged in, your User ID is visible on the Sign In Welcome page, from My eBay, and in many other places on eBay. We have also added a new "Forgot your User ID" process, which will send your User ID to the email address you have on file.

Will I get a "Change ID" icon with the temporary ID?
 No. Members who are assigned temporary User IDs will not have a Change ID icon appear on their feedback page. However, if the temporary name is changed, a Change ID icon will appear for the standard 30 days.

Will I need to wait 30 days to change the temporary ID?
 No. Members who are assigned temporary User IDs can change these User IDs immediately. You can find Change User ID from the Preferences tab under My eBay.

Will my buyers be able to find me if I change my User ID?
 Yes. If you change your User ID, customers can still find you by your old User ID for 30 days. After that, customers will be able to find you by looking up past transactions with you that are up to 90 days old.

I'm using an eBay partner application to manage my listings. Will this affect their ability to manage my account?
 Possibly. eBay partners use your User ID and password to access eBay to manage your auctions. If you registered with the partner using your email address, they will be prevented from accessing your account.

You should double-check your user profile with all eBay partners to ensure you have your eBay User ID on file, not your eBay email address.

My User ID is the same as my email address. What should I do?
 If your User ID is an email address, we strongly encourage you to use our Change User ID feature as soon as possible to change your User ID. By choosing your own User ID now, you can select a User ID that you prefer and avoid having eBay assign you one. All your feedback and account history will remain with you. For more information about changing your User ID go to http://pages.ebay.com/help/account/changing-user-id.html, or:
  • Click Help
  • Click My Personal Information
  • Click Updating Registration Information
  • Then click Changing Your User ID.
Members are more susceptible to spam, spoof emails and account takeovers (accounts that are taken over to commit fraud by scam artists who harvest or guess their passwords) when their User ID and email address are the same. For these safety reasons, if you have an email address as your User ID, we strongly encourage you to choose a new User ID today. Until you change you User ID, you will continue to be able to sign-in using your email address.

Keeping the Community safe is a top priority for eBay. We appreciate your support and understanding for any inconvenience this project may cause, as we work together to keep the eBay marketplace safe.

What else can I do to help?
 Identity theft affects the Community as a whole. In addition to the specific account that is compromised, those accounts are often used to defraud others. We strongly encourage all eBay members make their accounts more difficult to compromise.

You should avoid using the same password you use for eBay on any other account. For example, if you use one password to access your email account, make sure to use a different password to access your eBay account. Be especially wary of sweepstakes or other 'free' sites that may be set up specifically to collect your user information.


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