Email warning re;Paypal account!!! I got an email recently stating they my Paypal account

had been "compromised" and that I could "restore" it by clicking a link connecting to a "security" service... DO NOT DO THIS!!!

I have not used my Paypal for several months, and there was NO PROBLEM with it - am certain the link would have granted access to my credit card connected to my Paypal account. I have blocked that site's access to my email for what good it may do, and I want to make others aware of this possible fraud.

mark

Usually to an email account that is not even tied to my PayPal account.

I'm getting tons of Nigerian scam mail lately as well.

Luckily I don't seem to get any spam at all and I'm not sure exactly why.

so I wouldn't condemn them unnecessarily. I'm sure you get others too attempting the same scam. Current one here in the UK proports to come from UPS and has a zip file which carries a virus attached.

Why blame them?

Anyone who hasn't learned how to spot a "phishing" e-mail by now really needs to try to educate themselves or just quit using e-mail.

Here's a few things to look for:

1. Look at the e-mail address it came from. On most phishing e-mails it will NOT say "paypal.com", it will more likely say "paypal.xxxx.com" or something similar.

2. The links in the e-mail will not go to "paypal.com", they too will point somewhere entirely different (but will very likely go to a site designed to look like a Paypal page.

3. They will usually have grammatical and spelling errors that you would never see in an official e-mail such as "your account has been compromise" or "please clicking here".

I mean seriously, it is NOT hard to spot these things.

I always fill them out with whatever pops into my head.

I usually used George W. Bush, mother's maiden name-demonspawn, pin code 0666, and phone number I usually put the FBI's 800 number.

That was your fault for not being careful and falling for a very clumsy phishing scheme.

from Paypal etc just hit reply , address to spoof@paypal.com and wait for a response.

but it's like using a flyswatter on a pile of poo the size of the Gulf oil slick.

You'll never get rid of the scammers, all you can do is to not be stupid enough to be their victim.

I have never used Paypal and have no intention of doing so.

So if my account had been compromised..... Oh, darn.

and pretty much everybody who's been on the Internet for over a year now knows about it. If they don't, then they should consider themselves scam bait.

not "Dear Paypal User". They will not have a link in them but will suggest you log into your account.

I got one the other day from a widow with 10 million dollars. I hated to turn her down, but I have my standards

But I never get any money. And I am the beneficiary of that money. I'm almost broke now so I can't become a beneficiary any more until the relatives of those dead Nigerians start to pay me my share of the estates.

Anyone have a dime?

Send it to my PayPal account number IAM69RRU2. Thanks.

you're almost there.

So anytime I get a phishing email on any of my other 8 boxes, I know what it is.
And in my browser/email app, if I hover the mouse pointer over the link, it reveals where the link really goes.

The other give away is "Dear valued customer". Paypal and the banks know my real name and use it on legit correspondence. The other thing is if you suspect it, close the email and log on directly to Paypal or whoever and if the message is legit, you will see a copy of it on your account page.

I also get ones from the Bank of America, Wells Fargo etc and I don't have those accounts either. I delete em.

You'll hear back from PP and they'll deal with it.

Don't get fooled by online crooks. If you need any problems solved with your bank, paypal or any other business, just give me all of your personal information and I'll be glad to wipe you out, er, "help you out".

I can't believe how anyone would send a dishonest email to anyone. It's just unheard of...

But yes, it is the same. I can't believe people would fall for that Nigerian scam, but if it didn't work you would stop getting their letters. A fool and his money are easily parted...

I like to think I am smarter then most online scammers...There are a huge number of phishers now pretending to be "security" sites....


mark

:evilgrin:

Just kidding, I have great respect for lawyers. Most of them, anyway.

and they'll look into it.

I also get emails like that from banks that I have no relationship with at all.