PayPal E-mail Address Alert !!

John De Maille · Post by **John De Maille** » 6 Feb 2006 5:40 am

I just received a "bogus" e-mail, supposedly from "PayPal", about adding a new address to my account. The E-mail looked totaly official. I contacted PayPal and told them immediately. They assured me, that, it was not them, and to forward the offending e-mail to their " spoof@paypal.com " division. Hopefully, this will put a stop to this crap. I have used PayPal in the past and have been satisfied. I just recently used the account and this happened, almost immediately. These bastards are out there, so, nothing is absolutely secure. I did not open anything from that e-mail, because it was notating something I had not and would not do. Be careful out there and double check every transaction you get.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 6 Feb 2006 5:54 am

John, there are many posts, on the forum, about Pay Pal scams. Probably the subject that draws the most posts. The bottom line, if it doesn't include your name it's a scam.

Legitimate Pay Pal messages will identify you by name (not to say that you couldn't get a scam with your name on it).

John De Maille · Post by **John De Maille** » 6 Feb 2006 6:08 am

Jack,
Yes, that's the ironic part about it. "They" used my name and oviously, my e-mail address. But, I must say, that, PayPal was right on it. I got a reply from PayPal almost immediately. Hopefully, it is resolved, for now.

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 6 Feb 2006 6:19 am

As a fairly active seller on eBay, I get those email often....like 2-3 a DAY.

Always forward them to spoof@paypal.com or spoof@ebay.com. They have a department that works with law enforcement to pursue the people that spread this junk.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 6 Feb 2006 6:37 pm

They assured me, that, it was not them, and to forward the offending e-mail to their " spoof@paypal.com " division. Hopefully, this will put a stop to this crap.

Don't hold your breath. Most of the crooks doing this are in other countries, well beyond the reach of our law enforcement agencies.

Bobby D. Hunter · Post by **Bobby D. Hunter** » 6 Feb 2006 8:25 pm

I forward ebay and paypal phishing scams to spoof@ebay.com, spoof@paypal.com, and to spamcop.net, where I have a reporting member's account. Spamcop will trace the sender and file reports with the sender's ISP and website hosting provider. This is often more effective than the reports you file with spoof@ addresses.

You can join Spamcop for free as a reporting member, by going to http://www.spamcop.net and joining as a Reporting Menber Only. You will need a valid email address to receive and reply to the confirmation message, which contains your login details. Be sure you read all the TOS before using the system. Do NOT report viruses to SpamCop. Only use it to report genuine spam (unsolicited commercial email (UCE)), phishing schemes, check kiting, lottery and 419 scams.

------------------
Bobby D. Hunter
Security for SGF
Hunting down Slimeball Game
Reporting member of SpamCop[This message was edited by Bobby D. Hunter on 06 February 2006 at 08:27 PM.]

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 8 Feb 2006 2:52 am

I think it is possible now that those of us that use our NAMES in conjunction with our EMAIL addresses may receive a spam addressed to you personally. It's a guess on the part of the spammers/scammers...and a good guess...

I think it is wise to change your PAYPAL and financial Institution log on names and EMAILS to an account address which is not necessarily your full name.

My EBAY and PAYPAL account EMAIL addresses are NOT my name..SO it's pretty easy to identify a wacky spam/scam when they address it to my primary EMAIL account which is my name. but is not even registered with EBAY or PAYPAL...that might be a clue !

EBAY, PAYPAL and Financial Institutions will still address there legit EMAILS to the Profile name in the account..at whatever EMAIL address you have provided...in your profile.

EX:

Dear Tony Prior at nutcasemusician@yahoo.com

------------------
------------------
TPrior
TPrior Steel Guitar Homesite


[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 08 February 2006 at 02:53 AM.]