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.

[arice1]

Since I always keep my browser up to date It apparently did not go out to users with "older browsers."  And yes, I keep patches up to date as well.

Art

[sarcasmic1]

For obvious reasons, I hate to click on any link that is sent to me via email.  I always go to the site and there has always been the same link provided, except in this case.  I searched the paypal website for an actual link to update the browser and couldn't find it. 

Yes, it would have been better if the same blue bar were present in our actual paypal account that reads update your browser.  Would have saved a lot of people a lot of time I'm sure.  I don't know why emails sent by paypal can't be accessed from our account either like they do with Ebay, facebook, etc.

[PayPal_Andy]

Hey everybody!

I'm glad to see that we have so many on the boards who are passionate about this situation. PayPal is just as passionate as you for stopping phishing schemes and keeping you safe online.  To referencemy original post, I alsoagree that having a link in the email was probably not an ideal solution. 

You can be assured that I am escalating this process for review internally.  And finally, to all of you who have current browsers, pleaseremember that this was an attempt to make sure that everyone is as safe browsing online as you are; I'm sorry that you got caught in the crossfire.  

Andy

[ac4]

I use IE8 and get messages about sites not supporting my "use" of IE6 and preventing me from continuing! I assumed this was spam and just googled the terms, which brought me to your statement.

   If you had tested which browser I was actually using, or listed what PayPal considers "old" browsers, I might not have assumed this was spam!

   "It's not what you say, it's what people hear." Test, test, test!!!

[kellie1127]

You don't need to test anything when it concerns an email from paypal. All you have to do is forward any email you get "supposedly" from paypal  to www.spoof@paypal.com and mystery solved  when you get their reply. 

[frankiedoll]

rather than put a link in the email wouldnt it make more sense to say "log in to your Paypal account and there will be a reference there"????

and why are all those folks with newer browsers getting the same message?  i'm on ie 8 as well although i have an old creaky computer, is that it?

[kellie1127]

It has nothing to do with your computer. More than likely those of us who got this message, have more than likely done something on ebay and that's how they were able to get our email address to send us this bogus browser email OR maybe a company paypal does business with, got a hold of a marketing list of emails and that's how they were sent to us. Regardless, don't worry about your browser being too old. And if you are worried, then just simply go directly to Mozilla website to download the latest version of firefox 4.0 or google internet explorer and get their newest 9.0 version. There is no reason to click on the link in that phishing email. And again, if ever in doubt, forward all questionable emails to www.spoof@paypal.com and if it is related to ebay, forward it to www.spoof@ebay.com

[wrong_answer]

Andy, 

Looks like you are misleading people.  I reported this email to Paypal.

Paypal says

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

[songlismom95]

So if this is valid why did I get an email from PayPal telling me it was NOT sent by PayPal and that it links to a fake website? I had reported it through their email spoof reporting and this is what they wrote me back.  There seems to be a serious breakdown off communicaiton here. 

[cougarinkc]

Thanks Andy.....Thought that might be the case.  I'll review my browsers and upgrade to the latest available versions.