Allotments 4 All

General => Computers / Internet => Topic started by: tim on December 30, 2006, 10:23:12

Title: HELP needed!!
Post by: tim on December 30, 2006, 10:23:12
Scam or true??

Title: Re: HELP needed!!
Post by: Admin aka Dan on December 30, 2006, 10:29:39
Hi Tim,

I would be very careful, the best thing to do is open a web browser yourself NOT via the link in the email and type in the paypal address.

If they are doing any 'investigating' they will tell you when you log in.

DO NOT CLICK ON THE LINK!

Dan
Title: Re: HELP needed!!
Post by: kt. on December 30, 2006, 10:30:30
If it was me, I would forward this email onto paypal and ask them to verify it. Copy it then click CONTACT US, & PASTE along with a memo from you. If its true they will get back to you. If it is not, they should still get back to you. Give them a reference too so you know its reply is authentic as long the reference is there.
Title: Re: HELP needed!!
Post by: Deb P on December 30, 2006, 10:31:06
Scam. It's not addressed personally to you. Forward it to Paypal for them to investigate.
Title: Re: HELP needed!!
Post by: Yellow Petals on December 30, 2006, 10:39:34
From paypal themselves:

They will NEVER send a customer any communication that DOESN'T include the customers full registered name. 

It will NEVER say Dear Customer, Dear Client, Dear Sir, Dear Madam, Dear Account holder etc etc., it will ONLY - and I cannot emphasise this enough - use your FULL REGISTERED NAME if it's authentic. 

This has been covered a few times on A4A in the past.

As Dan said, always open up a separate browser window and log into any secure account independently if you're in any doubt about information. 
Title: Re: HELP needed!!
Post by: tim on December 30, 2006, 10:48:33
Many, many thanks - I know it's been covered but, with the deadline given, I did need to be sure.
Title: Re: HELP needed!!
Post by: tim on December 30, 2006, 11:39:25
Great - but then there are 2 pages of instructions....................a bridge too far??

Dear Tim Elkington,

Thank you for contacting PayPal about a fraudulent (spoof) email or Web
site. We appreciate you bringing this suspicious email to our attention.

We can confirm that the email you received was not sent by PayPal. Any
website which may be linked to this email is not authorized or used by
PayPal.

Our fraud prevention team is working to disable any website linked to
this email. In the meantime, please do not enter any information into


Thanks again - Tim
Title: Re: HELP needed!!
Post by: Yellow Petals on December 30, 2006, 11:55:26
Quote from: tim on December 30, 2006, 10:48:33
Many, many thanks - I know it's been covered but, with the deadline given, I did need to be sure.
Apologies if my reply came across as rude, it certainly wasn't meant to be.  Was just indicating that it has been covered before on A4A if you need more info.

About this time last year I had my paypal account hacked (not via a hoax email though) and lost over £300 from my funds being used in online transactions, that's why I always try and emphasise the importance of security where online finances are concerned and as much as paypal pretend to be helpful, they certainly weren't helpful in retrieving my money :(

Title: Re: HELP needed!!
Post by: ipt8 on December 30, 2006, 16:28:36
When I get a message like this I forward it to spoof@ebay.co.uk.    8)
Title: Re: HELP needed!!
Post by: Garden Manager on January 13, 2007, 23:29:02
I had a nearly identical email some months ago. I sent it to paypal for verification and it was indeed a spoof/phishing email.

Whatever you do dont respond to it or do what it asks you to do.
Title: Re: HELP needed!!
Post by: tim on January 14, 2007, 17:36:58
No - had another yesterday.
Title: Re: HELP needed!!
Post by: funplants on January 15, 2007, 14:36:35
Better still.....I now have a program to automatically fill in these sites with random data. Whilst they are still up, I aim for about 50,000 fake identities per day:)

If nothing else, it's got to make it more interesting for those trying to abuse the data;)
Title: Re: HELP needed!!
Post by: Garden Manager on January 15, 2007, 17:00:09
Quote from: funplants on January 15, 2007, 14:36:35
Better still.....I now have a program to automatically fill in these sites with random data. Whilst they are still up, I aim for about 50,000 fake identities per day:)

If nothing else, it's got to make it more interesting for those trying to abuse the data;)

Ha ha, nice one. Like they say, 'Revenge is sweet'
Title: Re: HELP needed!!
Post by: louise stella on January 15, 2007, 17:17:55
Deffo a scam - as are similar ones from E-bay/banks/building societies etc....  Never click on anything sent in an e-mail as it can forward you to a site that looks perfectly pukka!

Louise