British man jailed for eBay phishing fraud

LONDON - A British man was jailed for four yearson Tuesday for masterminding an eBay internet auction swindlewhich stole computer account details from users and assumedtheir identities.

David Levi led six others in a gang which scooped almost200,000 pounds ($353,800) through a "phishing" fraud -- thepractice of stealing goods after tricking computer users intorevealing their bank details.

The sentencing at Preston Crown Court follows ahigh-profile court case last week in which three Romanianfraudsters were jailed in London for a worldwide scam thatnetted at least 300,000 pounds from thousands of eBay traders.

Levi, 29, led the gang who tricked eBay traders betweenJuly 2003 and 2004 into giving away their passwords and accountdetails by sending emails to them pretending to be from theCalifornia-based company.

Levi was already serving a sentence for drug offences. Hewas jailed for three years for fraud and another year forperverting the course of justice, to be served consecutively.The others were jailed for terms ranging from six months to twoyears.

In phishing schemes, fraudsters typically bait victims withemail purportedly from legitimate online businesses. The emailsdirect recipients to bogus Web sites, where they are asked tore-input information such as credit card information andpasswords.

An eBay spokesman said the company had worked closely withpolice in Blackpool in northwest England "and as a result theoffenders were convicted."

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