New scam?

[jeepster2007]

I received this today. Probbly a scam - yes?

Subject: Robert, action recommended: update your browser today
To: *********************************
Date: Monday, June 6, 2011, 10:27 AM

Update your browser today to help keep your PayPal account secure. Having trouble viewing this email? View online or text version

		Hello <name removed>, It looks like you may be using an outdated browser with known security issues.  Help keep your computer and your PayPal account protected by updating your browser today.

	© 2011 PayPal Inc. All rights reserved. PayPal is located at 2211 N. First St., San Jose, CA 95131.

[Paul_]

I sent my email to spoof@paypal.com and they said it was a fake email.  I am still very confused over the email I recieved and the fact that they told me it was fake!

[eljayhalflife]

I almost forwarded this to you as a phishing attempt, mainly because the images of the browser icons don't just link us to the update pages for that browser.  Asking me to click "get started here" to update FF4 when I can just to go FF's website seems a bit fishy to me.

And then all the mysterious letters and numbers in that link set off my scam radar.  Why not just prompt everyone on their next login and provide clickable links to each browser's update page so we know it's you?

[Coolstraps]

I thought all their communications were supposed to have a little gold lock on them. This email didn't have one so I assumed it was fake. I've never come into the forums before, either, but this one concerned me. So, is there any final determination as to whether it is real or fake? Thanks!

[Tominphx]

This entire (now 5 pages) of customer complaints is a classic corporate blunder. In the sticky thread about phishing and scams, at the top of this forum, PayPal makes the following statement:

We also won't ask you to view an attachment or install a software update. 

Did the person who sent today's email fail to read his own company's internal policies?

I agree with the post that this has occupied WAY too much time for those of us who are already vigilant. PayPal owes us an apology.

[johnjet6]

I have been using PayPal for many years now and recently I have been averaging one scam supposedly from Pay Pal per month. Of course for most of the emails there is usually some misspelling to tip me off. The most common is the sender's email address listed as Paypall.com I just succeeded in removing a hijacking virus program from my computer which started by a pop up asking to update my Adobe programs. All the more reason why I will not click on a link in an email for PayPal. For one thing I know my browser is up to date and if I suspected it weren't I would go to the browser's website to check for updates (something I do once a month anyway). Sorry guys, I cherish my Pay Pal account and I am on a high state of alertness for anything that threatens it.

[kellie1127]

This goes out to Paypal_Andy the "moderator" as he was WRONG about saying the update browser email that many of us received was legitimate. That browser email everyone got today WAS A SCAM and was NOT sent by Paypal. I have  FF4.0 & IE9.0, so I sent the email to www.spoof@ypaypal.com which verifies all questionable emails and here was their reply...

Thanks for reporting that suspicious-looking email. The email you
received was not sent by PayPal and it links to a fake website. We are
investigating and working on stopping the fraud.

If you have already given any personal or financial information to this
fake website, you should immediately log in to your PayPal account and
change the password and secret questions. You should also tell your bank
about this problem.

To learn how to change your password, go to the PayPal website, click
"Help" at the top of the page, and enter "How do I change my password?"
in the search box.

You should report any unauthorized account activity to PayPal. Here's
how:

1. Go to the PayPal website.
2. Click "Security Center" at the top of any PayPal page.
3. Click "Start an unauthorized transaction claim" under "Report a
problem" on the left.
4. Log in to your account, or click "Continue" if you are unable to log
in.
5. Review the information about unauthorized transactions, and click
"Continue."
6. Complete the report and click "Preview."
7. Check the box to state that the claim is accurate and click "Submit."
8. Confirm that you're the account owner by entering the financial
information requested, and click "Continue."

Your account security is very important to us, so we appreciate the
opportunity to pass along this information.

Thanks,

PayPal

So to all reading this....DO NOT CLICK ON THE LINK in that email!  Your current version browser is more than likely just fine. The email IS A PHISHING EMAIL! And has been confirmed by Paypal Security.  It is ridiculous for anyone to think that Paypal keeps up with millions of peoples browsers individually and keeps them straight & then would actually send such an email. Do you really think Paypal keeps track of every users browser choice? When in doubt in the future, forward your questionable email to www.spoof@paypal.com. And they will email you back within 48 hours and let you know if it was legitimate or not. In fact, if you still have that email, forward it to www.spoof@paypal.com and you will see when you get their reply as I did. YOU'RE WELCOME EVERYONE!   P.S. Someone needs to fire "Andy".

[frankiedoll]

so is Paypal Andy a scam too?  is this whole forum (which required me to log out and then log in again to Paypal) a scam?

[kellie1127]

This is my first time to actually respond in this forum although I have been a member of Paypal for 6 years. But I just couldn't let the day go by without clearing this up for everyone.  So "frankiedoll", don't worry, the email WAS a Phishing email and was NOT sent by Paypal. Like I said in my original post, all you have to do is forward that email or any paypal email to www.spoof@paypal.com and when you get their reply, you will see that they will confirm that it was a fraudulent email or not, which in this case, it was. And again, as mentioned earlier, with all future questionable emails you get from paypal, just forward them to www.spoof@paypal.com. You don't have to click on any links or give up any private info. Just simply forward the email to the spoof website and they will verify whether ANY email is fake or not. As far as "andy" goes, he's probably just some underpaid guy, who answers what he "thinks" is the answer, without actually "knowing" the answer. And from his wrong information he gave earlier regarding this subject, it proves to me, that "andy" is an unreliable source for any real important info. I'm sure he works for paypal as a "moderator", but moderating a conversation/forum does not make him the sharpest crayon in the box. Of course, "andy" will probably delete this post now. So before he does, again.....he needs to either be re-educated on the workings of Paypal or he needs to be fired.

[drp2thehill]

@ kellie1127 - I just received the www.paypal.com/safebrowser e-mail. I tried to forward to www.spoof.paypal.com and the e-mail was rejected immediately as undeliverable. I did however, forward it to spoof@paypal.com and it was not immediately rejected.

---

[PayPal_Adrian]

Hello everyone,

I can confirm that the email that is the subject of this thread is legitimate.  On June 6th, PayPal sent out emails to customers who we believed may be using an outdated browser that could leave you vulnerable to phishing attacks.  PayPal is always concerned about helping to protect all of our customers, their computers, and your personal information.  In today's online environment, an outdated web browser can mean the difference between staying safe.... or having your identity stolen.  PayPal understands and recognizes that potential, and wants to see you stay as safe as possible online.

I understand that this email did ask you to go to a URL and did provide a hyperlink for members to click on.  In most scenarios, PayPal will not normally do this - we will ask that you go directly to our website instead.  As PayPal_Andy above pointed out, in this particular instance that simply wasn't as feasible to provide you a link within your account.  I can also confirm that www.paypal.com/saferbrowser and www.paypal.com/safebrowser are both pages maintained by PayPal and are not spoof pages.

With that information aside, we also have some house-keeping issues to address before moving on.  Personal attacks against other members in the forums and the discussion of edited or deleted posts will not be tolerated, and may result in the thread being locked or your own removal from the community.  My intention is not to stifle open and honest discussion - quite the contrary, I love to see it in the Forums - I only ask that we remain productive and positive.

Have a great night!

Adrian