** Spoof / Phishing Emails - Tips on how to identify & stay protected **

PayPal_Siobhán
Moderator
Moderator

Due to the increase in Phishing /Spoof Emails being reported to PayPal I thought I would post a few tips on this topic that might help.

 

You’ll know that an email is not from PayPal when:

 

  • The email uses a generic greeting like ‘Dear user’ or ‘Hello, PayPal member.’ We'll always address you by your first and last name.
  • The email requests financial and other personal information. A real email from us will never ask for your bank account number, debit or credit card number etc. Also we'll never ask for your full name, your account password, or the answers to your PayPal security questions in an email.
  • The email asks you to provide the tracking number of a dispatched item, before you've received the payment into your PayPal account
  • The email includes a software update to install on your computer.

 

Here are some security tips to help you stay protected online:

 

  • Even if a URL contains the word 'PayPal', it may not be a PayPal webpage.
  • When using PayPal, always ensure that the URL address listed at the top of the browser displays as https://www.paypal.com. The 's' in ‘https’ means the website is secure.
  • Look for the 'lock' symbol that appears in the address bar. This symbol indicates that the site you are visiting is secure.

 

If you think you’ve received a phishing email, forward it to spoof@paypal.co.uk and then delete the fake email from your mailbox.

 

Hope this helps,

 

Siobhán 

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137 REPLIES 137

dvalerie210
Member
Member

I have received 2 or 3 of this email. Today I followed instructions and my Norton security kept telling me not to open webpage but I ignored that twice and eventually did enter my email and password, then was timed out. I am nervous that I may have given them info they were looking for. Please advise me on what steps to take to ensure my identity is safe. I am copying/pasting email as well.

As part of our security measures, we regularly screen activity in the PayPal
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 ID Number: PP-453-290-123



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 in further
limitations or eventual 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.

Thanks,

PayPal Account Review 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 © 1999-2012 PayPal. All rights reserved.

 

 

 

 

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PayPal_lucy
Moderator
Moderator

Hey there,

 

If Norton was telling you not to enter its doing so for a reason.

I would change your password and security questions on your PayPal account. Also if you used the same password for any other online accounts, change them too.

 

You will also need to do a full virus scan on your PC to make sure that there are no viruses from clicking on the link.

Once you do the password updates and the scans on your PC you will be secure again.

 

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PayPal_lucy
Moderator
Moderator

Hey there,

 

If Norton was telling you not to enter its doing so for a reason.

I would change your password and security questions on your PayPal account. Also if you used the same password for any other online accounts, change them too.

 

You will also need to do a full virus scan on your PC to make sure that there are no viruses from clicking on the link.

Once you do the password updates and the scans on your PC you will be secure again.

 

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zizzykay
Member
Member

I received exactly the same email.

 

 

Identity Issue PP-658-119-347 Secure Transaction

Please complete the attached form to verify your Profile information and restore your account access.


Personal Information Profile Make sure you enter the information accurately, and according to the formats required. Fill in all the required fields.

Dear customer ,

As part of our efforts to provide a safe and secure environment for the online  community, we regularly screen account activity. Our review of your account has identified an issue  regarding its safe use. We have placed a restriction on your account as a precaution.

To lift the restriction we will require some further information from you.

If, once we review your further information and we're confident that the use of your account does not present a safety risk to our service and customers, we'll be happy to reinstate your account.

We have sent you an attachment which contains all the necessary steps in order to restore your account access. Download and open it in your browser. After we have gathered the necessary information, you will regain full access to your account.

We thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.


Very sincerely, PayPal Review Department

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zizzykay
Member
Member

I have recieved the same email

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Javierba
New Community Member

I have received this email today, I'm sure that's a phising mail.

 

          Attention! Your PayPal account was limited!

Dear PayPal Costmuer,

As part of our security measures, we regularly check the work of the screen PayPal. We have requested information from you for the following reason. Our system has detected unusual charges to a credit card linked to your PayPal account. PayPal account, you'll need to relog in in your account.

It's easy:

  1. Click the link below to open a secure browser window.
  2. Confirm that you're the owner of the account, and then follow the instructions.

Relog in your account now

 

Before log in your account will be activated let us know right away. Reporting it is important because it helps us prevent fraudsters from stealing your information.

   

 

Help Center | Security Center

Please don't reply to this email. It'll just confuse the computer that sent it and you won't get a response.

Copyright 2013 PayPal, Inc. All rights reserved. PayPal is located at [removed]

 

PayPal Email ID PP315

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Norbertthebig
New Community Member

The hackers using a coffe place IP address in Paris for the crime.

[removed]

 

You just have to track down the sender.I guess this is bunch of kids trying ther hacker skills.

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ruliglezi
Member
Member

pagar

 

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Paxdracona
New Community Member

I got one too! It was in my Spam folder but I almost fell for it (I had a negative balance for a few days and I thought to have read somewhere that this could negatively affect my Paypal account) but in the end the 'download this and fill it out' instead of a 'go to the website and fill something out' got me suspicious.

 

***********************

 

PayPaI [removed]
Oct 14 (2 days ago)
 
 
Be careful with this message. Similar messages were used to steal people's personal information. Unless you trust the sender, don't click links or reply with personal information.  Learn more (Thank you, Gmail!)
 
 
Dear Customer,

PayPal is constantly working to ensure security regularly screening the accounts in our system. We
recently reviewed your account and we need more information to help us provide you with secure
service. Until we can collect this information, your access to sensitive account features will be
limited. We would like to restore your access as soon as possible and we apologize for the
inconvenience.

Why is my account limited?
Your account access has been limited for the following reason(s):

* Unusual account activity has made it necessary to limit account access until additional
verification information can be collected. (Your Case ID for this reason is PP-029-183-716-107)
* Our system detected unauthorized use of a credit card linked to your PayPal account. (Your Case ID
for this reason is PP-028-183-716-427)

How can I get my account access restored?
* The restoration form is attached to this email. Please download the attachment, open it and follow
the instructions on your screen.

Once you complete all of the checklist items, your case will be reviewed by one of our account
specialists. We will send you an email with the outcome of the review.


Yours sincerely,

PayPal

----------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright © 1999-2013 PayPal. All rights reserved.


PPID PP026
 
  Restore_Your_Account.html
20K   View   Download  

 

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iuliana14
Contributor
Contributor
Hi I've got the same email checked my pay pal account couldnt see no notification still making payments ... I really don't know if this email is real ... Did u sort yours out ... Kindly Juliana
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