Mr. Luis from Madagascar - a SNEAKIER version

[Guest]

I got this email today.


To: sweetsubsarahh....
Subject: Receipt of payement to paypal@creative.com
From:service@paypal.com
Add to Address BookAdd to Address Book Add Mobile Alert ,
Date: Sun, 26 Mar 2006 23:17:53 -0800 (PST)
PayPal
Dear member,

This email confirms that you have paid paypal@creative.com $379.12 USD using PayPal.

This credit card transaction will appear on your bill as "PAYPAL *CREATIVE".

Payment Details

Purchased From:creative.labs

Item # Item Title Quantity Price Subtotal
8751475190 Creative Labs Gigaworks THX 7.1 S750 PC Speakers 1 $349.99 USD $349.99 USD

Shipping & Handling via USPS First Class Mail to 154XX
(includes any seller handling fees) $18.25 USD
Shipping Insurance (optional): --
Sales Tax (6.000% inPA) : $10.88 USD
Total: $379.12 USD
Note:Thank you!

Shipping Information

Shipping Info:
Wayne E Bakewell
16 elm st
Brownsville, PA 15417
United States
Address Status: Confirmed

If you have questions about the shipping and tracking of your purchased item or service, please contact the seller paypal@creative.com.

Do you confirm this transaction?

If this transaction was not made by you please immediately take the following steps:

* Login to your account by clicking on the link below
* Provide requested information to ensure you are the owner of the account
* Find this transaction in HISTORY and click 'Cancel Transaction

CANCEL TRANSACTION!

Thank you for using PayPal!
The PayPal Team

Please do not reply to this email. This mailbox is not monitored and you will not receive a response. For assistance, log in to your PayPal account and choose the Help link located in the top right corner of any PayPal page.

PayPal Email ID PP843

The HTML graphics in this message have been displayed.


This entire email has been fabricated.

If anyone does business with Paypal you may have seen something like this already. These are very smart people attempting to get their mitts on your information.

Although the graphics didn't show up in the cut and paste, this email looks identical to ones issued by Paypal - the real Paypal, that is.

I knew it wasn't legitimate because it didn't come to the appropriate email address, they didn't refer to my account number and name, and of course I didn't order more than $300 worth of electronics. Well, lately, that is.

But I wonder how many people would have clicked on the bright blue Cancel Transaction link out of fear and would have wound up sending personal information (and money) to these assholes.

I forwarded the email to Paypal - they have a department that looks into these types of things. And it has since been deleted as spam.

Talk about buyer beware.

Jerks.

 

[fieryjen]

I hate those.

When you have to look this closely in order to see it is a trick, it really makes you wonder how many only slightly more careless people fell for it.

 

[Belegon]

Lots of people fall for them...Lots of people that should know better...


and the ripples it can cause are scary...because crooks don't just cost money to the people they defraud directly. All of us end up paying for these losses...in subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) ways...

 

[sophia jane]

I had a paypal one like that, except evidently I bought diamond jewelry.

 

[Guest]

I had a paypal one like that, except evidently I bought diamond jewelry.

Well, this one hit me where I live. I DO buy electronic equipment, and lots of it.

Sneaky bastards.

 

[sophia jane]

Well, this one hit me where I live. I DO buy electronic equipment, and lots of it.

Sneaky bastards.

Yeah, I can see how it could be tricky if they were accurate. For me, it was a dead-giveaway since there's not a diamond to be found in my house.

 

[cantdog]

I get several a month of those, or did, last year. I have never used Pay Pal. They cast their bread on the waters, I guess.

 

[Guest]

Yeah, I can see how it could be tricky if they were accurate. For me, it was a dead-giveaway since there's not a diamond to be found in my house.

Well, I do have this truly nifty and most cherished purple brooch I received from my son for my birthday.

Yes, Amethyst is my birthstone, and no the brooch wasn't really amethyst. It was pretend amethyst, colored glass, or plastic - something.

Son was so proud (dang hubby anyway, for letting him pick it out!)

But I have worn it. Proudly.

 

[Evil Alpaca]

I know a couple of things to look out for is that most real emails (with companies you actually do business with) will use your actual name. Also check for spelling errors and improper grammar.

I just got one from citibank talking about a possible problem with my credit card. I don't have a credit card from them. Had the same thing happen with Wells Fargo.

 

[Guest]

I know a couple of things to look out for is that most real emails (with companies you actually do business with) will use your actual name. Also check for spelling errors and improper grammar.

I just got one from citibank talking about a possible problem with my credit card. I don't have a credit card from them. Had the same thing happen with Wells Fargo.

This makes me so angry.

Bastards!!

 

[The_Fool]

This makes me so angry.

Bastards!!

Yeah, I want to be the only one to take advantage of you....