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

[Aldo_Plumeria]

Depending on the browser you use, usually you can just place the cursor on top of a link - without clicking - to see where the link leads......usually. It has helped me avoid numerous bogus scam links. Remember, NEVER assume a suspicious link will lead where it says it will.

[sincitygambler]

Forward the email to spoof@paypal.com

This one is a scam, but if you ever get an email you're not sure of they usually respond within a day or two if the email is legit.

[JamieK397]

Yes I received one also, this morning for $16.41. When I tried to open another window to see the transaction it showed nothing, which raised many questions! I then did a search on this company and found this thread you posted! Thank you so much! I even searched my wallet for my paypal card! I hope by doing nothing will stop further action on their part, if not please inform me now .. thank you again! 

Jamie K. 

Sweet Dreams Emporium

[jamerz3294]

I just recieved a very official looking email that appeared to be from PayPal. The email said that my account had been hacked into, from a foreign IP address, and been compromised. Thus PayPal placed a limitation on the account, and it (thoughtfully) gave a link to where I could then (magically) have the limitation removed.

AS I said this really looked like a genuine PayPal email, complete with appropriate headers, footers, etc. But, since I don't use PayPal to access funds, or have it tied to my bank accounts in any manner whatsoever, this raised a red flag for me. Then, when I moused over the link, I saw the adddy was "Official Looking PayPa lAddy Up To PrettyFaceTinyWaist.com" (yes, I put in the caps and spaces). Then the From addy was better lookking "Service@PayPal-Cases.com"... Here's the body of the email...

Account Limited 

PayPal is committed to increasing your security and comfort level with every transaction. From our Buyer and Seller Protection Policies to our Verification and Reputation systems, we'll help to keep you safe. 

We recently noticed one or more attempts to log in to your PayPal account from a foreign IP address and we have reasons to belive that your account may have been comprimized by a third party without your knowledge. 

If you recently accessed your account while traveling, the unusual log in attempts may have been initiated by you. However, if you are the rightfull holder of the account, click on the link below, fill the form and then submit as we try to verify your identity. 


If you choose to ignore this request, your account may be locked until we can further identify you. 

We ask that you allow at least 72 hours for the case to be investigated and we strongly recommend you verify your account information in that time to prevent further account limitations. 

Sincerely, 
PayPal

[Kayla1993]

I'm so happy I read this! This is my first time here to paypal I had posted an ad on craigslist about selling a car. I got text message from "Steve" asking me to use paypal because he lived too far away and he would send an agent to pick it up. Well after I created a paypal account I went to help saw this and figured i'd read it just in case. I saw to see whats going on in your paypal account after you see your email so I did. My email said 21,000 dollars was put into my paypal account. When I was asking for 1,500. Saw nothing in my paypal activity or anything so I called paypal forwarded them the emails and "Steve" Called me back asking what was happening I told him I had talked to paypal, Sent them the messages from my email and he hung up on me. 

[imclueless]

number texting us!!! What jerks!   Same thing was fixing to happen to us! Saved by the paypal community forum!

[freedom1coach]

I received the following email but found nothing wrong in my account when I logged in from my own bookmark:

Here is the actual text pasted in:

This message has been sent to : xxxxx,

As part of our security measures, we regularly screen activity in the system. We recently contacted you after noticing an issue on your account.

We requested information from you for the following reason:

A recent review of your account determined that we require some additional

information from you in order to provide you with secure service.

Case Number: Complaint-727-504-767

This is last reminder to xxxxx

as soon as possible. Once you log

in, you will be provided with steps to restore your eBay & PayPal accounts access.

Be sure to log in securely by using the following link:

xxxxxxx

Once you log in, you will be provided with steps to restore your

account access. We appreciate your understanding as we work to ensure account

safety.

In accordance with PayPal's User Agreement, your account access will remain

limited until the issue has been resolved. Unfortunately, if access to your

account remains limited for an extended period of time, it may result account closure. We encourage you to log in to your

PayPal account as soon as possible to help avoid this. 

To review your account and some or all of the information that PayPal used to

make its decision to limit your account access, please visit the Resolution

Center. If, after reviewing your account information, you seek further

clarification regarding your account access, please contact PayPal by visiting

the Help Center and clicking "Contact Us".

We thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. Please understand that

this is a security measure intended to help protect you and your account. We

apologize for any inconvenience.

Thank You,

PayPal Accounting Department

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 click the Help link in the top right corner of any PayPal page.

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

Copyright © 1999-2014 PayPal. All rights reserved.

PayPal Email ID Complaint-727-504-767

[ronnie391]

I think the guy below is scaming me ? any clues?

Thanks for getting back to me regarding my text...I hope the bike 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 daddy 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/charges on this transaction, if you don't have an account with PayPal, it's pretty easy, safe 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 title 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:
Address for pick up:

Many Thanks

[serenityspeaks]

I just received an email from "Paypal" stating that I needed to change my security questions and I should click the link to do so. (I didn't click anything) The first red flag was that the email was from "Paypal" instead of service @ paypal . com like they usually are. Everything else looked correct except that the Paypal logo they used was blurry. 

[nabel]

This looks like a scam email??

  Information Regarding Your account:

Attention! Your PayPal account has been limited!

Our system detected unusual charges to a credit card linked to your PayPal account.

Reference Number: 

This is the Last reminder to log in to PayPal as soon as possible.

Once you log in, you will be provided with steps to restore your account access.

We thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

Please understand that this is a security measure intended to help protect you and your account. 

We apologise for any inconvenience..

Sincerely,

PayPal Account Review Department 

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Copyright © 1999-2014 PayPal. All rights reserved. PayPal Ltd. PayPal FSA Register Number: 226056.

PayPal Email ID PP801