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[Sorry but I posted this in the area for scams & frauds <> sorry for the repeat <> new here]
Hi Guys, new here,
Been using Paypal for a few years and am computer literate when it comes to phishing scams & ID theft. A few days ago, got an email from "info.paypal.com" and knew it was a scam. Sent the message source to spoof@paypal.com and they confirmed it was a phishing attempt [quote <> You're right - it was a phishing attempt, and we're working on stopping the fraud. By reporting the problem, you've made a difference! end quote].
The email had my first & last name in it that "gave" the impression it was from Paypal. The "info" in the addy WAS the give-away of the scam. Having my name was rather scary and I emailed Paypal again asking HOW they could have gotten my name in the first place!! Didn't get a satisfied answer, so, I called Paypal. We discussed a few possibilities of how my name was acquired in the first place. I contributed most of the "speculations" as to how:
The main way I think it was acquired is this: Let's first create a scenario:
You buy something on eBay. The transaction goes through Paypal. The seller ONLY has your Name <> email addy <> and physical address to ship the item to that you bought from them.
Paypal has ALL your banking / credit card info: the seller you bought from on eBay [or where ever] does NOT! BUT they have your email addy AND your name, so . . . . they send you an email with all the Paypal graphics to make it look "legit" and use a "spoofed-email addy" AND website to either reply to or go to the website [from links in the email] AND fill in "forms" that will ask for credit card <> bank <> username <> password info.
Getting beyond my LONG wind here, can anyone help me and confirm that this is possibly the way they got my name to begin with in the first place???
Also, can you suggest ANY OTHER way[s] these phishers get our full names?
It would truly help ALL of us in avoiding these scams & phishing attempts in the future. Please, can you give me a more inclusive answer then I recieved from either the spoof@paypal.com email or the Paypal phone call I made. I just want to know HOW they got my full name in the first place.
Thanks in advance, and I mean that sincerely!!!
Ellen
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I have same issue. Purchased from E-Bay in March 2011 and have had two emails (one rcvd today) that implied that there was issue with activity on paypal account.
First time in over year that I used paypal and ebay. Not big online shopper so there must be a breach somewhere.
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It's not a breach. Someone used your name and email address and took a chance knowing if you have a PayPal account. They'll know for sure if you click on the links in the email.
They're bogus and don't ever click on those links. Simply forward the email, along with the headers to spoof@paypal.com
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