10 April, 2006
eBay International A.G.
Helvetiastrasse
Bern
Switzerland

Dear Sirs,

Blackmail Threat from eBay Member

We have just received a threatening telephone call from an eBay member which contained veiled threats of physical violence, and also an implied blackmail threat. We have already reported this to the local police, crime log 200WQ, and will be sending them a copy of this letter.
At about 15.42 today, one of our staff received a telephone call. The caller said that there was a rumour spreading on the internet, emanating from eBay about our company, alleging that we were selling gold stolen from the Jews by the Nazis during the second world war. The telephone call was passed to me, and the caller proceeded to repeat the above information. I replied that it was the first we had heard of such a rumour, and asking for more information.
The caller said that obviously it was not true, and there was no rumour, but there easily could be, because it would be very easy for him to start one. He also added that we knew who he was, that he had spent thousands of pounds with us, that we had just had three of his eBay item listings removed. Right now, he felt like coming round and punching somebody in the teeth, and although that was not about to happen, he could very easily start the rumour.
During the call. I informed him that I did not know who he was, but he insisted that we did know. On checking later, of the four eBay members we reported to your VERO program today for infringement of copyright, only one of them was for multiple items. This is a member using the eBay ID 1eleanor1. On checking his feedback profile we can see that the last time he bought from us via eBay was 18-Mar-04 at 16:18 item number 2221435043. We will have his old contact details in our archives, but our VERO report also asked for his contact details. Strangely we have not yet received VERO's email notifying us of the removal. We expect that you will pass us the requested information soon.
Although we regard the physical violence threat as “sounding off”, nevertheless the implied threat was made, but we treat the rumour threat as a serious blackmail threat. Our company has a turnover approaching £10 million per annum, and we treat our reputation as of the utmost importance.
We have previously informed eBay that their emails to copyright thieves is deficient in its wording, and that it should make very clear to infringers that they are in the wrong, and remind them strongly of their responsibilities to ensure they only use images which are their own or for which they have obtained the owner's consent to use. We often get abusive calls and other action from reported infringers who are often aggressive, abusive and threatening. If eBay took the simple step of adding a suitable sentence to their notice, much of this type of problem would be avoided. It strikes me as typical that eBay persistently fail to act in a proper manner in this regard. eBay's lack of moral support on this matter in itself acts as a deterrent to the entirely proper reporting of copyright theft.
Please let us know what action if any you intend to take against this member.

Sincerely,
Lawrence Chard

1ELEANOR1
CHRIS PEARSON
63 ETWALL ROAD, BIRMINGHAM, WEST MIDLANDS, B2 80LF
0121 7777053

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