well w/o much info on that specific case I would guess they employed a simple phsing scam
see this address that I put here well if you click it your on my site
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250192301446
if you beleive that I now have you hook like & sinker i can change the address to look even more like ebay but this is the general idea ebay.somedomain.com 

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Etter" <detter@MAIL.AURACOM.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, December 03, 2007 6:31 AM
Subject: Buying Vans on e-Bay

> I sat up in bed this morning in horror and turned the radio up..
>         The CBC (Cdn. Broadcasting  Corp) aired an article about this
> poor man who bought a car through e-Bay but ended up with no car and
> was out $20,000.xx, AND he got less than no support from e-Bay
> concerning his loss. He reported it to the RCMP who then contacted
> e-Bay. The RCMP  representative said that e-Bay refused to talk to
> them and refused to acknowledge that "Criminal elements had figured
> out a way to highjack e-Bay web-sites". He also said.."I guess they
> don't want the public to know this is possible so they won't talk
> about it."
>         The man in question said that he trys to contact e-Bay then
> as soon as he gives them his I.D. name or password, he is
> disconnected.. everytime..
>         Now, I'm sure that 'criminals' are not going to highjack the
> site that sells a 1982 diesel radiator, but it does reinforce my own
> experience of getting no support from e-Bay or Pay-Pal for a deal
> gone bad even if it was a small transaction. Caveat Emptor !
>         I just thank my lucky stars that this VW forum and others
> like it have enough savvy members who are aware of what's out there
> for sale and whether or not it's a scam.
>         Several times I've read where members of our forum have
> identified and warned others of a possible scam. I just feel sorry
> for the poor fellow who lost $20,000.xx trying to buy a car on e-Bay.
> I think every member of the various VW forums should be grateful for
> the close support we get from one another. THANK YOU ALL !
> 
>                                                 David (dsl82westy)
> 
> P.S.:
>         Does anyone know how it is possible for "The Criminal
> Element" to do such a thing. I thought that with a vehicle purchase
> on e-Bay a buyer had the "Right" to retract a bid once he found out
> that the vehicle wasn't as advertised.