PayPal Phishing Scam

[Jazzdogg]

I received an email - allegedly from PayPal - claiming that my PayPal account was about to expire. I was prompted to click on a provided link to remedy the problem, which set off my crap detector.

I contacted PayPal, who confirmed the email I received was a phishing scam; an attempt to gain information that would enable someone to steal my identity - starting with access to my PayPal password. I've pasted part of the response from PayPal below FYI.

"Phishing emails attempt to steal your identity and will often ask you to reveal your password or other personal or financial information. PayPal will never ask for your password over the phone or in an email and will always address you by your first and last name.

Take our Fight Phishing Challenge at https://www.paypal.com/fightphishing
to learn 5 things you should know about phishing.
You'll also see what we're doing to help fight fraud every day."

[guitfiddle0409]

Just took the quiz. It's good one for anybody not sure about how "phishing" works.

[fourstringdrums]

My rule is that especially with things like Ebay, Paypal etc.. I hover my mouse over the link to see if it's fake or not. Even if it's a real (or appears to be real) address, I enter it in the browser manually.

The other day I got an email from the IRS regarding my refund. Funny but I don't think they end their emails and letters with "Sincerely, the IRS".

[MonetBass]

I got the same email. In checking the address it came from, I noticed it wasn't from a paypal.com address. So I promptly deleted it.

[Lalabadie]

I'd say the most fruitful phishing is still email chains. People don't even know what it's used for.

[fenderhutz]

ALWAYS right click on the link they want you to click on and click on properties. If it isn't taking you www.paypal.com or www.bankofamerica.com for example, it's a phishing scam. You can test my theory by clicking on the ones I just posted, it clearly displays your target destination.

That's the easiest way to tell.

Just a helpful hint.

[dave64o]

Never respond to any cold call that asks for information.

I got a phone call claiming to be from my credit card company a few days ago. They said they were calling from the fraud division and the first thing they asked for was my social security number to confirm who I am. I told them I appreciate the call but that I'm going to call their fraud division myself to make sure it's legitimate.

I did and found out it was a legitimate call, but there was no way I'm giving my SSN to someone who calls me up and asks for it because of some suspicious activity on my credit card. Odds are that they're calling about some FUTURE suspicious activity.

[MonetBass]

Originally Posted by dave64o

Never respond to any cold call that asks for information.

I got a phone call claiming to be from my credit card company a few days ago. They said they were calling from the fraud division and the first thing they asked for was my social security number to confirm who I am. I told them I appreciate the call but that I'm going to call their fraud division myself to make sure it's legitimate.

I did and found out it was a legitimate call, but there was no way I'm giving my SSN to someone who calls me up and asks for it because of some suspicious activity on my credit card. Odds are that they're calling about some FUTURE suspicious activity.

That's the right way to do it. Definitely check it out first.

[Pilgrim]

It's very simple. Any time Ebay or any other vendor wants you to provide information online, you will see that request as part of your login on that site.

IGNORE ANY AND ALL OTHER REQUESTS. PERIOD.

If I got a phone call, no way would I provide sensitive info over the phone. I would look up their corporate website and return a call to them using THAT phone number.

[Spector_Ray]

Originally Posted by fourstringdrums

The other day I got an email from the IRS regarding my refund. Funny but I don't think they end their emails and letters with "Sincerely, the IRS".

I got the same email and it claimed I was getting a refund of £2500! Since when does the IRS give refunds in British Pounds?? I couldn't smell that one a mile away!