EBay has accused Amazon of using an "unlawful" scheme to tempt¹ sellers on its auction² site to move to the online retailer³.

近日，eBay指控亚马逊使用非法手段，引诱卖家从拍卖网站eBay转移到在线零售商亚马逊。

In a cease and desist letter, the auction site alleged⁴ that Amazon had used its internal messaging system to repeatedly contact traders.

该一封禁止通知函中，该拍卖网站称亚马逊曾利用其内部信息系统多次联系商家。

EBay warned that it would take "appropriate steps" to protect itself from the tactic⁵.

eBay警告称，将会采取“适当措施”来保护自己不受这种策略的影响。

Amazon said it had started a "thorough investigation⁶" of eBay's claims.

亚马逊方面表示，已经就eBay的该指控进行了彻查。

Details of Amazon's alleged activities emerged in a report published in the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday.

有关指控亚马逊行为的细节出现在了本周三《华尔街日报》发布的一则报道上。

In that story, eBay said it found out in late September that Amazon staff were contacting sellers on the auction site via its messaging system.

在该报道中，eBay称其在九月底发现了亚马逊的员工通过信息系统联系该拍卖网站上的卖家。

Its investigation revealed that about 50 Amazon employees had sent more than 1,000 messages to traders, suggesting that they abandon eBay and instead sell via the retailer.

调查表明，大约有50名亚马逊员工向卖家发送了超过1000条信息，建议他们放弃eBay，转而通过该零售商（亚马逊）进行销售。