Assess my Mail, Please!

[sincerely_helene]

Hey, I was hoping some of you clever authors could offer me advice concerning an email I recieved earlier today. A little history first: A long, looong time ago, I wanted to purchase a book online so I signed up with Paypal just to get a feel of it. I never ended up using the account and have since forgotten all the important log in information, but I simply wrote it off figuring it didn't matter because I would likely never put it to use anyway. Then this arrived in my inbox:

You have added ********@yahoo.com as a new email address for your
PayPal account. (I replaced the actual adress with asterixes so as to not violate any sort of privacy rules)
If you did not authorize this change or if you need assistance with
your account, please contact PayPal customer service at:

https://www.paypal.com/row/wf/f=ap_email

Thank you for using PayPal!
The PayPal Team

Please do not reply to this e-mail. Mail sent to this address cannot be
answered. For assistance, log in to your PayPal account and choose the
"Help" link in the header of any page.

----------------------------------------------------------------
PROTECT YOUR PASSWORD

NEVER give your password to anyone and ONLY log in at
https://www. paypal. com/ Protect yourself against fraudulent websites
by opening a new web browser (e.g. Internet Explorer or Netscape) and typing
in the PayPal URL every time you log in to your account.

----------------------------------------------------------------

PayPal Email ID ****

I have no idea if this is some kind of weird spam, or what, but I haven't a clue who that person is. I can't go through any kind of verification process to retrieve my account info either, being as it requires other information I provided at the time of sign up.

I don't recall if I gave any sort of bank information, but if I did can this person charge things to me or get access to specifics? Please tell me someone else out there has recieved something similar so that I can stop stressing about it.

I would hate to think it's so simple to pull something when it comes to websites like this.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

Hey, I was hoping some of you clever authors could offer me advice concerning an email I recieved earlier today. A little history first: A long, looong time ago, I wanted to purchase a book online so I signed up with Paypal just to get a feel of it. I never ended up using the account and have since forgotten all the important log in information, but I simply wrote it off figuring it didn't matter because I would likely never put it to use anyway. Then this arrived in my inbox:

You have added ********@yahoo.com as a new email address for your
PayPal account. (I replaced the actual adress with asterixes so as to not violate any sort of privacy rules)
If you did not authorize this change or if you need assistance with
your account, please contact PayPal customer service at:

https://www.paypal.com/row/wf/f=ap_email

Thank you for using PayPal!
The PayPal Team

Please do not reply to this e-mail. Mail sent to this address cannot be
answered. For assistance, log in to your PayPal account and choose the
"Help" link in the header of any page.

----------------------------------------------------------------
PROTECT YOUR PASSWORD

NEVER give your password to anyone and ONLY log in at
https://www. paypal. com/ Protect yourself against fraudulent websites
by opening a new web browser (e.g. Internet Explorer or Netscape) and typing
in the PayPal URL every time you log in to your account.

----------------------------------------------------------------

PayPal Email ID ****

I have no idea if this is some kind of weird spam, or what, but I haven't a clue who that person is. I can't go through any kind of verification process to retrieve my account info either, being as it requires other information I provided at the time of sign up.

I don't recall if I gave any sort of bank information, but if I did can this person charge things to me or get access to specifics? Please tell me someone else out there has recieved something similar so that I can stop stressing about it.

I would hate to think it's so simple to pull something when it comes to websites like this.

it sounds like a scam to me. You might check and see if the Url they gave you to log into your paypal account really takes you to paypal and not to some mock up where they hope you'll give them you rinformation, thinking you are logging in.

 

[JamesSD]

I get these all the time. They're spoofs, which will send you to a fake paypal page trying to get you to log in and give them your password.

It wouldn't do them much good if they got mine, as my paypal account is connected to a checking account I closed years ago.

Technically you can report them to paypal (if you go to paypal's website there's a whole page about security). But really, the most time effective thing is just to delete it.

 

[sincerely_helene]

it sounds like a scam to me. You might check and see if the Url they gave you to log into your paypal account really takes you to paypal and not to some mock up where they hope you'll give them you rinformation, thinking you are logging in.

Yes, I checked it immediately after reading the email. It brings me to the official customer service page, but tells me I have to log in.

I could just probably send them an email, though seems pointless since I can't verify who I am.

 

[jacintexas]

I'd log straight into PayPal and check your account.. then I'd find a contact link and email them the email you got and ask them. They'll let you know if there is anything you need to do.. and never click onto a url like that unless you know it's correct. Website can now phish you computer for information and you never know it. Even by just going there you can give them information about yourself. and everyone needs a good firewall especially if you have broadband.. A firewall not only helps keep adware/spyware and hackers out but it also keeps things and adware/spyware from sending out info as long as it's set properly.

 

[sincerely_helene]

I get these all the time. They're spoofs, which will send you to a fake paypal page trying to get you to log in and give them your password.

But then, how were they able to create a site using the paypal.com domain?

 

[lucky-E-leven]

Yes, I checked it immediately after reading the email. It brings me to the official customer service page, but tells me I have to log in.

I could just probably send them an email, though seems pointless since I can't verify who I am.

I wouldn't count on actually being at their main page. Scammers have found ways to duplicate the pages identically but the links take you to bogus pages to harvest your information.

Vella got one just last week from what appeared to be Chase or BankOne. In just a minute, I found something on the Chase or BankOne page that had the scam posted with screenshots to prove it and it was eery how exact it was.

 

[sincerely_helene]

I'd log straight into PayPal and check your account.. then I'd find a contact link and email them the email you got and ask them. They'll let you know if there is anything you need to do.. and never click onto a url like that unless you know it's correct. Website can now phish you computer for information and you never know it. Even by just going there you can give them information about yourself. and everyone needs a good firewall especially if you have broadband.. A firewall not only helps keep adware/spyware and hackers out but it also keeps things and adware/spyware from sending out info as long as it's set properly.

I can't log in and check the account. That is the problem.

 

[sincerely_helene]

I wouldn't count on actually being at their main page. Scammers have found ways to duplicate the pages identically but the links take you to bogus pages to harvest your information.

Vella got one just last week from what appeared to be Chase or BankOne. In just a minute, I found something on the Chase or BankOne page that had the scam posted with screenshots to prove it and it was eery how exact it was.

Yeah, I keep getting the chase ones too. What I'm not understanding about this paypal thing is how they would have managed to duplicate the same .com.

 

[jacintexas]

I can't log in and check the account. That is the problem.

k.. did you expain that in your earlier post. I didn' see it so forgive me but why can't you log in. I just checked and that is a valid url to paypal's log in page.. you can still go to paypal.com and send the a quetion about the email even is you can't log in

 

[Guest]

Yeah, I keep getting the chase ones too. What I'm not understanding about this paypal thing is how they would have managed to duplicate the same .com.

just make sure to make a deposit if colin firth's likeness is on the home page.
i got to meet him that way.

 

[Selena_Kitt]

They're phishing!

Forward that email, with full headers, to spoof@paypal.com

Here's what it says on the site:

At PayPal, protecting your account's security is our top priority. Recently, PayPal members have reported suspicious-looking emails and fake websites. These emails are not from PayPal and responding to them may put your account at risk. Please protect your PayPal account by paying close attention to the emails you receive and the websites you visit.

Please use the following tips to stay safe with PayPal:

* Safe Log In: To log in to your PayPal account or access the PayPal website, open a new web browser (e.g., Internet Explorer or Netscape) and type in the following: https://www.paypal.com
* Greeting: Emails from PayPal will address you by your first and last name or the business name associated with your PayPal account. Fraudulent emails often include the salutation "Dear PayPal User" or "Dear PayPal Member".
* Email Attachments: PayPal emails will never ask you to download an attachment or a software program. Attachments contained in fraudulent emails often contain viruses that may harm your computer or compromise your PayPal account.
* Request for Personal Information: If we require information from you, we will notify you in an email and request that you enter the information only after you have safely and securely logged in to your PayPal account.

Often, fraudulent emails will request details such as your full name, account password, credit card number, bank account, PIN number, Social Security Number, or mother's maiden name.

If you think that you have received a fraudulent email (or fake website), please forward the email (or URL address) to spoof@paypal.com and then delete the email from your mailbox. Never click any links or attachments in a suspicious email.

 

[sincerely_helene]

k.. did you expain that in your earlier post. I didn' see it so forgive me but why can't you log in. I just checked and that is a valid url to paypal's log in page.. you can still go to paypal.com and send the a quetion about the email even is you can't log in

Yes, I mentioned a few times, but I tend to ramble a lot so it could have easily been missed.

I can't log in because I forgot all the required information ages ago. I wasn't considering the possiblity of something like this occuring so I thought nothing of it.

Yes, I could email, but what is the point when I am unable to verify who I am to get this guy off my account?

 

[sincerely_helene]

just make sure to make a deposit if colin firth's likeness is on the home page.
i got to meet him that way.

!! !!

 

[sincerely_helene]

They're phishing!

Forward that email, with full headers, to spoof@paypal.com

Here's what it says on the site:

At PayPal, protecting your account's security is our top priority. Recently, PayPal members have reported suspicious-looking emails and fake websites. These emails are not from PayPal and responding to them may put your account at risk. Please protect your PayPal account by paying close attention to the emails you receive and the websites you visit.

Please use the following tips to stay safe with PayPal:

* Safe Log In: To log in to your PayPal account or access the PayPal website, open a new web browser (e.g., Internet Explorer or Netscape) and type in the following: https://www.paypal.com
* Greeting: Emails from PayPal will address you by your first and last name or the business name associated with your PayPal account. Fraudulent emails often include the salutation "Dear PayPal User" or "Dear PayPal Member".
* Email Attachments: PayPal emails will never ask you to download an attachment or a software program. Attachments contained in fraudulent emails often contain viruses that may harm your computer or compromise your PayPal account.
* Request for Personal Information: If we require information from you, we will notify you in an email and request that you enter the information only after you have safely and securely logged in to your PayPal account.

Often, fraudulent emails will request details such as your full name, account password, credit card number, bank account, PIN number, Social Security Number, or mother's maiden name.

If you think that you have received a fraudulent email (or fake website), please forward the email (or URL address) to spoof@paypal.com and then delete the email from your mailbox. Never click any links or attachments in a suspicious email.

Thanks for the reply. I'm used to scams in my mailbox, but this one just seems so official, leads to the proper .com, and follows all the guidelines you listed with the exception of greeting me by first name.

 

[Selena_Kitt]

Well I think the first name thing is kind of an important one...

Edited to add: If you email it to Paypal, they will send you a response email telling you whether it's from them or not.

 

[sincerely_helene]

Well I think the first name thing is kind of an important one...

Edited to add: If you email it to Paypal, they will send you a response email telling you whether it's from them or not.

Oh, don't get me wrong. I wasn't disagreeing with you, I just feel like such a sucker.

Yeah, I'll probably drop them a line. I'm just not sure they release any sort of information without me being able to provide anything other than my email address.

 

[sincerely_helene]

Thanks to everyone for the advice and opinions. I'm probably just worrying for nothing.

 

[English Lady]

Ebay, paypal a ton of American banks and a couple of English ones are always in my inbox and it's nigh on always this type of nasty spam. It can look really official. I fell for an ebay one once -not totally, I only clicked through to the link, I didn't give any of my details. However we dealt with it, and now I take all emails with a pinch of salt -so much so I queried an official Ebay questionnaire email *L*

If in doubt - check it out

 

[oggbashan]

I get these several times a week addressed to oggbashan who doesn't have a PayPal account because I closed it.

jeanne_d_artois and Fag-Ash_Lil also get them. They don't have PayPal accounts nor accounts with Chase, Barclays, Abbey National, Western Union...

The only way to check is to ignore the email and go to the https PayPal address.

Og

 

[CopyCarver]

Scam

It's a phish, intended to elicit enough information to enable them to clean out your account. I receive this new address crap several times a week--even several times a day, on occassion. I've forwarded it to Paypal's spoof bureau and received confirmation from eBay that it is a fraud originating in Asia and routed through servers in numerous Third World countries to muddy the legal waters.

DON'T give them any information. Forward the entire message to spoof and then delete it.