I was just victimized this evening by this scam that targets YIM users. It comes from a YIM ID from your own buddy list, so it is easy to be taken. I lost a yahoo e-mail account that I've had for over 5 years. Be aware! http://news.zdnet.co.uk/internet/security/0,39020375,39192578,00.htm
Why anyone want your YIM account? I have recently received phishing message for bank accounts (which I am not even a member) and PayPal accounts(which I do have). They send a couple almost everyday, really pisses me off.
THANK YOU. How did you "lose it"? Did they change your password and it didn't allow you to change it back? I think you can explain it to Yahoo! Inc. if you can prove you were scammed. Can't you? I'd hate to lose my Yahoo account I've had for 10 years myself. You know, in fact, the last message I have in my Yahoo Inbox is from 2001... but that is from THEM, when I re-activated it.
You YIM account uses the same log-in as your yahoo account, so they get access to your e-mail, which could contain important information. Luckily the only thing of substance I had in mine was a couple of Amazon/eBay receipts. The phisher changed the password immediately (I got booted off of YIM and could not log back into either YIM or my e-mail). I e-mailed Yahoo's spam/scam department and have asked for them to shut down the account.