Weird "ebay" phone call 001408083767400

prowla

I just picked up the phone and it was a recorded message saying "This is a call from ebay, please press 2 if you were expecting it".

I wasn't expecting it so I didn't press 2. The message repeated and then repearted again, and then it hung up.

I checked my phone log and the number listed was 001408083767400 (San Jose in the USA?).

I called ebay and asked them about it and they said that that was not one of their numbers.

Any ideas what it could have been?

JezCooke

eBay have an automated system that calls you for verification if you do certain actions from a computer that you don't normally use (e.g. list an item for sale). If the requests looks suspicious (perhaps came from a different IP address to normal, the algorithm they use is likely to be fairly complex but isn't public) then a message shows up on the web site and they ring your phone to confirm that you as the account holder are doing it. I've had this when listing stuff after having not listed anything for a while (would be new computer and new IP address by then).

The number also appears to basically match eBay's US number of: 408-376-7400 (although an additional '08' seems to have come from somewhere).

The call is almost certainly genuine but the concern would be why you got the call unexpectedly, it would imply someone is trying to use your account without your knowledge. I would change your eBay and PayPal passwords pronto if I were you!

Another possible explanation could be that somebody with a similar phone number to yours has mistyped their number in eBay so eBay's calling the wrong number.

soolin

I agree with what Jez says, that is a standard email call if a user does anything unusual on their account. I once logged in from another IP address and was randomly selected to go through security and I could tell them when to call (ie in 10 mins) so I had time to go back home (I was only a few doors away) and take the call, get the pin number and log in again.

The fact that ebay deny it is one of their telephone numbers doesn't surprise me at all, it's the same as paypal confirming all their legit emails are 'phishing' mails .

Again like Jez says, I would have a slight concern that someone is tyring to hack into your account, so maybe safely change all your log in details and security in case someone has something- also do a complete deep clean on your PC- the techie board can help with that.

prowla

Ah - sorted!

It was my son doing something with his account.