Examples of Suspected Fraud/Fake Emails

[PayPal_Adrian]

Hello everyone!

One of the greatest strengths consumers possess against fraud and phishing is education and collaboration.  To help support your safety online, I'm going to open this special thread up for you.  Here, you can post examples of what you believe to be attempts by individuals to defraud you or others of their hard earned valuables and money. 

Before we begin, a few housekeeping points:

• We will be using this as a "master thread," so if we find an example in other areas of the boards, we may merge the post into this one.

• For everyone's safety, please remove any last names or contact information (including email addresses) from your examples.  In many instances, the names provided by fraudsters are fake or may actually be the name of someone they already defrauded. 

• On that same note, please don't ever attempt to confront a fraudster or attempt to track them down.  Instead, turn the information you do have over to your local authorities. 

• Please also remove any links from your posts, as these could potentially go to spoofed or phishing websites.

Other than that, we only ask that you keep it productive and stay within the Forum Decorum and posting guidelines.  I'll be stopping in on a regular basis to clean house and comment on posts, so don't be surprised if you see my mug - or another moderator - stopping in to say hello! 

With that said, I'm going to start moving posts in, so you might see some older examples mixed in with the new posts.  I hope this thread becomes a great resource for everyone!

Stay safe,

Adrian

[kernowlass]

@re4sa

You can send the emails to spoof@paypal.com.

But to be honest this has been ongoing for at least the 15 years i have been helping on here, nothing paypal can do about it as none of the transaction is done using paypals site.

They use Ebay 'hijacked' all 'throwaway' user i.d.'s and they don't own a paypal account that is why they don't use Ebay checkout.

[elart]

It happened to me today...I believed it was PayPal...it was my first "transaction" and I did not know how it works; now I know! Roland Danny wanted to buy an item from me, he said he will send me extra money to PayPal , for the transport.  I 've got an e-mail from  paypal telling me the money is transferring after I pay the transport via MoneyGram  to Adebola Adeniji, USA.

So I did 🙂 

[kernowlass]

@elart

Paypal is a payment processor, why would they tell you to use a rival payment processor before you get your money? 

[elart]

Of course, it was a trick but I had no information, so I trusted; it was my fault. So, we should have big eyes everywhere!

[kernowlass]

@elart

If in doubt always use a forum to double check.

[elart]

Yes, now I know...Thank you so much!

[eloisestevenson]

SAME!

Was selling an iPhone 6 and was told it was a birthday present while he was on a business trip. Used the same ' I logged in from another device and it said I was a fraud excuse ' also. 5 Alves street was the address at first but was then changed to <removed>. also said he would pay an extra £100 for shipping. Feel like a right mug even offered to wrap it in birthday wrapping paper!! Anyway I noticed quick when ebay didn't say I had been paid and was being sent fake PayPal and eBay emails. Didn't even think for a second to send it out without payment in my bank. What a **bleep**ing load of tossers

[eloisestevenson]

hello, you can forward the email to spoof@paypal.com

[Krysiad]

Someone has just tried to scam me for £310 claiming to want to buy furniture for the asking price and without seeing it! Which I found strange - but thought I'd see where it would go. They claimed to be hard of hearing and just had heart surgery oh and then claimed to be in a wheelchair. Courier would come and pick up stuff from me but they needed paying via Western Union first and they credited my PayPal account with money for furniture plus the courier fee so I could pay the courier! Low and beyond an email from PayPal saying they have money being held for me which will be released ONCE I PAY the courier £300+. Yeah right - try again!!!

[ShanRob]

I received an offer for a phone I have for sale.  Person stated that they wanted it shipped and were willing to pay shipping on top of amount I had it listed for.  Said they could only pay by paypal and asked me to establish the account.  I stated that I would not ship until payment cleared my account. They stated that it didn't take long to clear and then I received an email stating that it had been deducted from their account but would not be credited to my account until I provided a tracking number or shipping verification.  Balance in Paypal shows $0.00 for me.  Was suspicious of this so started checking these forums.  Glad I did. I am assuming this is all a fraud at this point and glad I never shipped anything out.