PayPal Fraud

[coop]

I've used and still use PayPal to pay for auctions and such. But I received a fraudulent email from someone appearing to be PayPal and needed my information updated. They wanted to know everything, even pass words. They even had the logo and format and everything. I noticed that the security lock wasn't on the site they had me go to so one flag went up. I had heard that fraudulent emails were out there, so I contacted PayPal and forewarded the email. They said it was fraudulent and I was glad I sent no information to the location. Just a heads up for those using PayPal, Check the site for information on emails. How they will contact you and what not to send in emails. Just a heads up as THEY will take you if you give them the chance!

[Bob P]

I am glad you used your common sense on that email Coop. I have received maybe a hundred of those types of emails from folks supposedly from PayPal, Ebay, Earthlink, credit card companies etc. A good rule of thumb is to NEVER answer any of those emails PERIOD! Other ways to identify those fraudulent emails are that they ask for you to go to a link that is not secure and input your info. If a link does not start with 'https:', then it's not secure. Also, if they do not identify you by name, but rather "Dear Customer", or Dear User" etc, then they aren't for real either. If they threaten to discontinue or terminate your service, then they are not worth dealing with. The safest way to deal with any of your service providers is to do so through their secured web site. Any other link provided under a seperate email is not safe, and those companies will tell you so. Do report those suspicious emails. I have reported so many of them that they have my email address commited to memory
Good job Coop. Thanks for the heads up.

[Doug]

Thanks Coop & Bob! That's a great "heads up" to help us all keep ahead of the lurking scammers.

[coppercoins]

Ditto that. I've had hundreds of them too, I just delete them without looking at them. There is little to nothing Paypal can realistically do to prosecute the offenders, and replying to the email simply tells the offenders that they've hit a valid email account and you end up with double the volume of spam. Just delete it - that's the answer.

[Dick]

This is for ALL members: If you receive an email from "PayPal", which you suspect is not genuine, do this: forward the whole thing to spoof@PayPal.com. I have have many attempts to " rip me off" this way, and it seems they originate in the UK! I even send the real ones, now! A word to the wise....
Dick

[murphy]

Yeah I get one ever once in a while - I just mail them to spoof@paypal.com.

[walkingdude]

The rule of thumb here is that the real web sites won't ask for your password, becuase they already have that info, usernames maybe to verify who you are but never a password.