warning paypal scam
Discussion
Cheers, I've begun to get a few at work the last 2 weeks or so. Lots purporting to be from banks, some written in Greek (I think). A mixture of quality, some very good. All seem to be doing a security check and asking the recipient to send their details back to them. The odd thing is, none have my email address on them, but they do have a colleague's showing who also knows nothing about them.
The best bet if you receive a suspect email is DON'T click the link in the email but instead log onto your bank/paypal/whatever site as usual via a bookmark, typing the address in (e.g. www.pistonheads.co.uk) or yor preferred route. This will get you to the genuine site and there should be a notice up if there are any issues or security problems. If nothing is mentioned then the email is bogus.
Even if you don't give any info, by clicking the link in the emails the scammers will be able to collect some useful data like how many people have clicked the link (shows email is convincing) your ip address etc. So just don't click those links.
Even if you don't give any info, by clicking the link in the emails the scammers will be able to collect some useful data like how many people have clicked the link (shows email is convincing) your ip address etc. So just don't click those links.
I've not seen this particular message, but I have seen ones in the past where the legitimate site is opened in the background with the correct URL etc. and the scam window is opened separately, thus appearing to be a pop-up from the legitimate site. The pop-up is then used to collect your details etc.
This only becomes apparent if you right-click on the window and look at the properties at which point you can see that the URL is nothing to do with the real site.
This only becomes apparent if you right-click on the window and look at the properties at which point you can see that the URL is nothing to do with the real site.
V8 GRF said:
It's simple really ANY email that askes you to log-on to a link to verify your details IS a scam.
No financial institution will ever ask you to do that and we are told that time and time again.
I have seen a PayPal one before - something along the lines ofNo financial institution will ever ask you to do that and we are told that time and time again.
You haven't used your account for 3 months, it will be closed/suspended unless you confirm ID etc.
To the unwary that would look quite legitimate, and it tends to be the people who only use a computer occasionally that get scammed.
RichardR said:
I've not seen this particular message, but I have seen ones in the past where the legitimate site is opened in the background with the correct URL etc. and the scam window is opened separately, thus appearing to be a pop-up from the legitimate site. The pop-up is then used to collect your details etc.
This only becomes apparent if you right-click on the window and look at the properties at which point you can see that the URL is nothing to do with the real site.
Out of interest a few years ago I looked at one I received 'supposedly' from Barclays.This only becomes apparent if you right-click on the window and look at the properties at which point you can see that the URL is nothing to do with the real site.
I logged onto the real site and then I compared the address details on the scam site and in the long convoluted address with all the numbers, folders and so on there was one extra "/folder/" or similar. It was very clever and was almost identical they even had linked to the real fraud and FAQ pages which of course opened new windows so as not to take you away from their site. Very clever, it's just a shame they don't put there skills to something more useful.
That said something more useful probably doesn't pay as much :-((
Edited by V8 GRF on Wednesday 5th December 15:17
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