Warning: New PayPal e-mail fraud

[Jorath Calar]

When ever I get one of those (not very often) I have some fun with it... write some total crap and send it lohohohohot of times, one time me and 2 friends sent so many that in the end it just gave an error... we hope we crashed their server... [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Larry_OHF]

I just got an e-mail today that I am sure is a fraud. The real PayPal never asks you to click on any link directly in the e-mail, rather they say for you to open the browser and write it in yourself. Here is what this e-mail scam looks like. I have broken the links up so nobody clicks on them erroneously.

From: clients@email.paypal.com
Subject: Please Restore Your Account Access

Dear valued PayPal® member:


It has come to our attention that your PayPal® account information needs to be
updated as part of our continuing commitment to protect your account and to
reduce the instance of fraud on our website. If you could please take 5-10 minutes
out of your online experience and update your personal records you will not run into
any future problems with the online service.


However, failure to update your records will result in account suspension.
Please update your records on or before July 19, 2005.

Once you have updated your account records, your PayPal® session will not be
interrupted and will continue as normal.

To update your PayPal® records click on the following link:
paypal.com...(Fake).../cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=p/gen/...(Fake)...restrictedaccounts.asp



Thank You.
PayPal® UPDATE TEAM

Accounts Management As outlined in our User Agreement, PayPal® will
periodically send you information about site changes and enhancements.

Visit our Privacy Policy and User Agreement if you have any questions.
paypal.com...(Fake).../cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=p/gen/ua/...(Fake)...policy_privacy-outside

[Larry_OHF]

PayPal writes back after I sent them the message to their spoof dept., saying

Thank you for contacting PayPal.

We appreciate you bringing this suspicious email to our attention. We
can confirm that the email you received was not sent to you by PayPal.
The website linked to this email is not a registered URL authorized or
used by PayPal. We are currently investigating this incident fully.
Please do not enter any personal or financial information into this
website.

[Link]

Standard reply, perhaps? I am not familiar with PayPal or any of their emails, so I trust your expertise in this whole situation, Larry

(do we have a bowing smiley?)

[Larry_OHF]

Originally posted by Link: Standard reply, perhaps? I am not familiar with PayPal or any of their emails, so I trust your expertise in this whole situation, Larry (do we have a bowing smiley?)

I am positive that this was a computerized response, but at least their system was able to detect the fraudulent sender information, since it would recognize its own URLs. At this time, there is no full-out investigation. I am betting the guys are at the donut shop right now...but that does not matter.

I was just worried about some of us IWers who use Paypal, the best way to send Ziroc donations for site upkeep.

Oh, and thank you for trying to bow to me...but please pay your homage to Choc. That is one jealous demi-god cat.

[Ladyzekke]

Yep I've gotten that one before too. I remember wondering about it for a second, as I have only used PayPal twice so am not familiar with PayPal much at all. But I get so many fake mails re Comcast or Ebay, etc. that sound all the same, i.e., "give us your personal information or you account will be suspended!" I figured it was another fakey and deleted it. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Q'alooaith]

Never had one of these, and I hope I never do.

I keep the addy I use for my paypal pretty close to my chest, I don't use it for regular emails.

Just got to keep your head on your shoulders these days.