Spoof emails are deceptive emails claiming to be sent by well-known companies, such as eBay. The people who send these emails hope that you’ll reply or click a link in the email and provide confidential information, such as your eBay password, Social Security Number, or credit card number.

The easiest way to identify whether an email is really from us is to check your eBay messages. Click here to sign into My eBay. Then, click the Messages tab to view your messages.

If you receive suspicious email that appears to come from PayPal, forward it to spoof@paypal.com.

To help us investigate the source of the email, follow these tips:

• Don’t alter the subject line or forward the message as an attachment.