Be warned! PAYPAL SCAM!
By jazzsue58
@jazzsue58 (2666)
July 6, 2009 1:31pm CST
I am - excuse the vernacular - quietly sh*****g myself. I ALMOST gave away my bank details to a scam "pay pal" email.
Basically, I got a mail saying $32 was about to be taken from my paypal account - I had to click on a link to "cancel" the transaction. I checked the transaction - it was going to a web page domain address. Naturally, I assumed it was my paypal that had been hacked, so like a twit I clicked the link.
The "usual" paypal log in page came up. So I tried to log in - I couldn't.
So I asked for a new password - which got emailed to me by paypal kosher. I entered my account via this means, then clicked again on the "cancel" link. This time, I got sent there straight away. It looked like paypal - but wanted my bank account details. It said it was the only way to cancel the transaction and paypal were upgrading their security measures.
Blithely I filled it all in until ... bank PIN number? No way! Then I looked at the link - no paypal address, just something I didn't recognise.
Quick as a flash I wiped the screen and hit cancel, to get a "Warning! you are unprotected!" type message flash up.
I didn't waste any time going to pay pal proper, logging in to report a scam.
but what do I get? A load of stupid "helpful" pages, none of which are relevant! can I send an email? like heck I can! I called paypal direct, only to get a robot voice. Eventually I got through to a real person who said that NO WAY should I have clicked the link and opened the page. It's a scam.
Now, I've given dirt brain access to my pay pal account - except I haven't cos PP have blocked it. but how do I know they didn't get in while I was calling PP? Now I'm really worried, cos via paypal they can get all my account details, I bet.
I'm paid via paypal so I can't cancel the account.
RULE: If you get a mail from PP, no matter what its for, they use your full name. "Dear ...." This one didn't. Also, watch out for: noreply@online.paypal-web.com
That's the scam address this came from. Biggest blow was the "addressed to:" (i.e. me) It was a totally fake name: 30227user@paypal-1. A genuine paypal post would have been "my name@my email address"
Why oh why did I walk right into this one? Because I let my guard down. Don't let it be you!
I'm now really worried my paypal account is open to someone to scam my bank details, even though it's now restricted so even I can't get in.
1 person likes this
5 responses
@littleowl (7157)
•
7 Jul 09
Hi jazzsue, thanks for the warning, it is amazing how these people do scam a lot of people and are getting even more clever at it..I sincerly hope that your account is now safe and won't of been touched when you were giving your details inthe email that was sent you...LoLo
@jazzsue58 (2666)
•
8 Jul 09
You're right, they are too damn clever. I'm the naturally suspicious type, but these guys have a PhD in human psychology, believe me. I just wonder how many people have blithely walked straight into this trap?
@littleowl (7157)
•
9 Jul 09
It would be really interesting to know the answer to that, but when I first got my computer and being online was a novelty to me, yes was aware of viruses etc, then one day I came on and came into windows this warning came up that I had trojans etc on my computer and should get rid of them as they could ruin everything on there...so silly me got the Mal Warrior trojan..it played havoc with my computer/laptop my bank account and credit card details were drained dry, on taking the laptop into have repaired the guy said they had been inundated having to get rid of this Trojan he was a guy in the States who had sent out the virus..thats my story now I am so wary of everything yet at the same time if I or anyone else get too scared of these morons then we would never use the 'net...LoLo
@jazzsue58 (2666)
•
22 Jul 09
Too true. I've got AVG but these bar stewards find ways round thibgs like that. Still, hopefully I've warned a few unsuspecting folk out there.
@bunnybon7 (50970)
• Holiday, Florida
22 Jul 09
im so sorry that no one had told you about this before. its been going around on the internet for years. also, they will say they are from your bank and maybe even name the right one you have your account in etc. i learned long ago about these buggers!! when you got them on the phone you should have proceeded to change your pw. that may help.
@jazzsue58 (2666)
•
22 Jul 09
I did that. How they caught me was by NOT asking for my details on the email - and by linking me into the genuine paypal site when my password didn't work.
I got another one, which I posted straight off to paypal "spoof" straight away. I'm annoyed PP call it that - it sounds frivolous. IT ISN'T!
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
13 Jul 09
OMG--so sorry to hear about all this and what you went through. I often get "scam" emails reportedly from paypal but as soon as I get something that looks suspicious I report it to the legit paypal address. Heck every once in awhile I get an email reportedly from, get this, the FBI saying I have money coming to me and to give them different vital info like my bank account number--right, sure. 
@argytrans (225)
• United States
8 Jul 09
I feel sorry for you. Try open another new bank account and close the last one and try make some new paypal account because you can verify with new debit or credit cards. Yes, I think too you got some fake paypal email. Jus try to be careful from now on for me too :). Thanks for sharing about this.
@jazzsue58 (2666)
•
8 Jul 09
The only way I'll get peace of mind is by doing that, my friend. Bit it's such a palaver, the bank won't just transfer all my DDs over, I have to do new ones. Halifax are sooo obligingly helpful at times like this.
Not.
Just be careful out there!
@derlilaStern (1756)
• United States
13 Jul 09
Thanks for the warning! Its amazing how much they can get from us even when we know better. Glad you stopped when you did!
I love the tags on this post. I hope their eyeballs fry in hell! 
Me too!
Me too!