Examples of Suspected Fraud or Fake Emails

[PayPal_Andy]

Hey Everybody!

In an effort to make things easier to find and research, I'm going to consolidate as many threads as possible where we have examples of people trying to defraud hard working sellers (Craigslist emails, 'PayPal' emails asking you to send money outside of PayPal, etc).  This will also be used as a master thread for future posts regarding this same situation.

When you post your examples here, please remember to not include last names or contact information of whoever is sending these emails.  There's no way to confirm if that person has been defrauded as well and the name is being used fraudulently.

Thanks for your cooperation and remember, keep the conversation productive, on task, and above all, keep it clean. I know these things can be difficult and frustrating, but bleep filled posts or posts that look like government redacted files will never benefit anyone. 😄

Andy

[Seymour-]

I've never had any problems with Paypal in my 9+ years of using them. sorry you are.

Can I ask why your wife's name is on your business's Paypal account? Is she part of the business?

[RuccioRoche]

Hi everyone, today I received this email, its suposed to be from Paypal support:

Suspicious Transaction.

Your account take suspicious transaction, We've temporary limited your account due to this suspicious activity until the issue is resolved. If you didn't authorize this transaction, please dispute transaction soon.

(Link to fake paypal web page removed)

Here is transaction detail : To : (Name removed) To email : (removed) Transaction date : August 19, 2016 Transaction ammount : $78 USD Transaction ID : 1AB3AB200112PA899676Y Note : (shipping address removed)

Please login to your account and provide the requested information to dispute this transaction before August 23, 2016. If we don't receive the requested information soon, We can't refund your money and your account may be closed without any notification. Sincerely, PayPal

These **bleep** scammers

[Seymour-]

It's not from Paypal. The poor English is the big indicator that it's a scam.

ALWAYS login to your paypal account from www.paypal.com. NEVER click a link embedded in an email like this (or any email for that matter).

HINT: Hovering over the link, look in the bottom left corner of your browser. There you should see the address clicking the link will take you to. It won't be a paypal domain address.

[Rivera]

Thankfully they make English mistakes and often have sender addresses that could not be PayPal 

I have received a dozen email scam attempts in the last fortnight and receiving 4 in the last 12 hours is disconcerting - thus why I am here 

I forward them all to paypal but I don't know what they can do - it must be a worry for them too

[Seymour-]

Whenever I make a payment using my PayPal account, I automatically receive 2 fake emails within minutes. I suspect they've somehow setup a notification tied to my account to notify them I've made a transaction.

I also 'win' and/or have beqeathed to me millions of dollars worth of lottery winnings, inheritances, found &/or stolen money. lol.

After awhile, I've gotten so I can spot a scam a mile away.

[RokU2XS]

Trying to sell my motorcycle on Craiglist and got a (to good to be true?) reply almost immediatley. But it sounded Jamaican banker fishy to me...anyway I googled Paypal, Marine Engineer, Craigslist and found some archived conversation about this subject....it is archived since 2010 but they are still out there folks...buyer beware.

• Sep 5 at 9:49 PM

Message body

Thanks for getting back to me regarding my text...I hope it is in good condition? and there wont be any cause of disappointment if i purchase it from you? I want to buy it for my dad and I am ready to pay the asking price. I'm a Marine Engineer and am currently on sea right now which is strictly no calls. My Mode of payment is PayPal because i don't have access to my bank account online, but i have it attached to my PayPal account. Since I'm requesting this transaction to be done via PayPal, I will be responsible for all the PayPal fees/on this transaction, if you don't have an account with PayPal, it's pretty easy, safe charges e and secure to open one. Just log on to www.paypal.com I hope we can make this transaction as fast as possible. Less I forgot, I have a Mover that will come for the pick up once payment is cleared in your PayPal account and they will be handling the everything for me, as I look forward to hearing from you with your PayPal information as requested below.

Your PayPal e-Mail Address :
Full name:
Firm Price:
Direct #:
Address for pick up:

 

Many thanks

[kernowlass]

@RokU2XS

Yep scams been ongoing for years, glad you were not caught out.

Just remember >>

Paypal NEVER tell you to send trackable, they advise it for seller protection etc but it is not compulsory.

Paypal NEVER tell you to send an item before the payment is showing in your paypal account.

Paypal NEVER expect you to use a rival money transfer service.

[Hannabee]

Hi, I had this email last night. Thanks for your response, I want you to consider this a deal as i am willing to pay your full asking price! i actually want to buy it for my cousin who is urgently in need of it, i have checked through your advert and i'm fully satisfied with the size,color,designer,neckline and everything. It’s such a wonderful dress! Unfortunately, i would not be able to come personally to collect, i work offshore as an instructor on a oil rig so i don't have time at all, but like i said i am 100% OK with the advert. Also, if it has not been dry cleaned i will sort that out myself . I will pay you via PayPal once you are ready and send my courier agent to collect after you have fully received your money as that is the only means of payment available to me at the moment. I will contact the courier agent now so please get back to me with a suitable collection time. X Did you report yours to anyone? Thanks,

[pschwartz50]

Definitely a scam. That's the exact langiage they ise.

[Seymour-]

---

@Hannabee wrote:
Hi, I had this email last night. Thanks for your response, I want you to consider this a deal as i am willing to pay your full asking price! i actually want to buy it for my cousin who is urgently in need of it, i have checked through your advert and i'm fully satisfied with the size,color,designer,neckline and everything. It’s such a wonderful dress! Unfortunately, i would not be able to come personally to collect, i work offshore as an instructor on a oil rig so i don't have time at all, but like i said i am 100% OK with the advert. Also, if it has not been dry cleaned i will sort that out myself . I will pay you via PayPal once you are ready and send my courier agent to collect after you have fully received your money as that is the only means of payment available to me at the moment. I will contact the courier agent now so please get back to me with a suitable collection time. X Did you report yours to anyone? Thanks,

---

The scam comes after you give them your email.

You suddenly receive a (fake) email from PayPal saying funds have been deposited in your account. They then want you to send the agents collection fee, which is all they were after in the first place.

P.S. If they've got access to PayPal, they've got access to their bank accounts online so, I cannot believe the claim about only having PP available

REPORT TO: spoof@paypal.com     thanks..