Just got a very sneaky fake PayPal email

[BushOut06]

Most of the fake PayPal messages I get (I get them every day now) are fairly easy to spot - they want you to verify your account, blah blah blah. But today I get one that uses a new tactic. The subject states that "Your payment has been sent", and when you open the email, it says that you've just paid some guy several hundred dollars for a wristwatch. Then it gives you a link to click on if you want to dispute the transaction. Now I know better than to click on that link, but I can just imagine how easy it would be to snooker some unsuspecting person.

[librechik]

1. PHISH!!

those are bad news--But that one takes the damn cake!

[woodsprite]

2. I just got a wierd one from amazon.com. Same kinda thing

except when you expanded the headers, they spoofers forgot to change some of the address in the heading. They had ebay.com listed. So I sent a copy of the letter to abuse@ amazon.com and spoof@ ebay.com.

I usually have one or two sitting in my box spoofing or fishing for paypal info. Jeez I hate that. Wish I could thrust my fist into the ether and smack the crap outta them.

[oldtime dfl_er]

3. Honestly these things are rampant

--rampant, dangerous and extremely annoying. Why can't the perps be prosecuted?

[mongo]

16. Jurisdictional issues mainly

We had someone steal on of our business CC numbers. Knew exactly which company it was, knew who at the company it was even. Had his home address and everything.

But in order for him to be charged with a crime, we had to agree to fly (at our own expense) to Vegas for the trial. Not worth it for a few hundred dollars of CC charges that were taken off of our account when we explained the situation.

I imagine the internet frauds are similar

[datadiva]

4. I got one yesterday

that told me they suspected someone was fraudulently trying to use my account and to log in to check it out. I sent it to paypal, there are instructions on their website for this and they emailed me back and told me it was indeed a scam.

[alcibiades_mystery]

5. LOL: I get about 6 a day

I've seen that one before, too.

[physioex]

7. Same here....

I am a regular on ebay. And I literally get dozens a week. Most talk about my account being cancelled or some nonsense. Check the URL as you move your mouse, if you see some strange address don't click on the address. Also go to ebays website and read more about this.....

[alcibiades_mystery]

13. I've only used PayPal once

And I've never bought a damn thing off eBay. Not one thing. Can you believe it?

I'm honestly not clear where all this damn spam is coming from, or how I got on the radar, but there it is.

;-)

[physioex]

20. Now that is interesting....

Never bought off ebay yet they still send you email. Actually I don't use paypal either, I just send a certified check. :)

[salin]

6. Very sneaky, indeed.

At some point in there little scam - they will still have to ask for personal information - and hopefully that would tip-off folks who initially fell for this.

[bikebloke]

8. Been getting them lately posing as Chase Bank

But I've never banked with them. However, I'll make the extra effort to forward the messages to their fraud department. The same with eBay and Paypal. Though it probably won't do any good.

[UCLA02]

9. Ebay ones are like that, too, now

"I've been trying to send you payment, please let me know if you received it, yada yada yada"

Of course you need to login, and I play along.

My login for them is:
ID-nicetry
Pwd-asshole

True, if they send out 10,000 of them and only 1 person with any actual money in their paypal account replies with valid ID/pwd, all their money can be sent immediately.

But these PayPal ones are much more dangerous than the ebay ones, because there's actual money at stake, rather than just fucking up your ebay name.

[ThomWV]

10. You Can Click The Link - Just Go No Further

Because the link it takes you to will look just like the Pay Pal site, and it will ask you to log in. So all you have to do is fill in the box that gives your E-Mail address (Username) and password. See how long it takes you to actually long in once you do that ..... forever would not be long enough. The moment you hit the "Enter" button you have given away every bit of control over any accounts - including checking and credit card - you have on file with PayPal.

[napi21]

11. Yes, and there another fairly new one too that involves Ebay.

You get an email that looks EXACTLY like the ones you get when a member asks a question, complete with the respond button. I sell on Ebay as a part time business, but I know my products. The first one I got was regarding an item I never sell, so that was the tip off. But the other day, I had just had several auctions close, and I got an email regarding an item in the same catagory as those I sell, and the question was "I just won one of your auctions. Please send me the shipping charge and I will pay you right away."

I've received so many of the damn fake ones, I went to "My Ebay" and as I suspected, there had NOT been any messages from any buyers.

These crooks are getting more and more creative, and more convincing all the time!

Most of the time, I read the first line or two,, and just forward it to [email protected] or [email protected] and just delete the damn thing.

It's scarey how many people could fall for this crap though.

[Pharaoh]

14. Yes the crooks are getting pretty clever these days

I especially feel for the elderly who might more easily fall for this crap..........

[hobbit709]

12. I usually fill in the blanks with

User ID: liarliar
Password: pantsonfire
credit cardnumber: whatever 16 digit sequence enters my mind at the time
Pin number: 0666
Phone number:[phone] _This is the FBI number in DC
or other similar bullshit since i know these are phishing attempts.

[Duer 157099]

15. I like the ones that come with a re: line of:

"Walmart customer invoice #478023498"

as if

[jaxx]

17. I get those too, and now several from a Chase knock-off.

I send them to abuse @ whichever is the real company, and they come back with it's bogus. I wonder how many go ahead and give their SS and bank acct numbers.

[FooFootheSnoo]

18. My husband got one from paypal the other night

It said he had paid over $300 for golf cards. He was smart enough not to buy into it. He's also started receiving dozens from ebay. Actually, he's had lots of problems with ebay lately. Third party buyers and whatnot. I'm not sure of all the details, but it makes me nervous!!

[annabanana]

19. I hope you forwarded it to PayPal...

They want copies of the frauds...

[chaz4jazz]

21. As with all phony emails...

First, if they call you "a member" or "a user" or anything generic, it's bogus. They must address you by the name you are registered under. Also, never click a link where security information is desired. Always go directly to the site of your commerce (bank,PayPal, Amazon, Ebay, whatever) by typing in their real, known address in the address box of your browser and FUCK THESE PHONIES.