Almost fell for a Paypal scam
By Joanie
@Freelanzer (10782)
Canada
April 9, 2017 10:55am CST
I can't believe I almost fell for a scam. The other day I received an email from Paypal thanking me for my payment to a company. I panicked. I didn't purchase anything. Then the email said if you didn't make this purchase then click here.
Now I should know better and I have got similar emails in the past and I know how to identify a real from fake Paypal email but since I hadn't got any in years I forgot about it.
So I clicked on the link which took me to what looked like a genuine Paypal page asked me to sign in and fill in a form with all my personal information including my mother's maiden name, my birth date. When it asked for my Social Insurance Number, a light bulb went on as I realized I did not use that number when I signed up for Paypal. Then I looked at the other information they wanted; bank account numbers etc.
I deleted everything and closed the page and then went back to the email and there it was. If Paypal sends you an email, they always put your full name in the email, all this said was "dear" and my email. Had I checked this carefully I would have known it was a spam.
Never click on a link from a site in your email even if you trust it. Go to the site directly and sign in from there. I knew this but I forgot. When I did this I found out my account was in tact and immediately reported the spoof to paypal and changed my password.
What if I had continued to fill out the form with my banking information? Have you ever fallen for a scam?
15 people like this
11 responses
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
9 Apr 17
Glad you did not fall for the scam. That is scary!
1 person likes this
@rebelann (117206)
• El Paso, Texas
24 Jun 19
The only thing paypal ever sends me are deals I could buy, I delete those without looking at them.
@Freelanzer (10782)
• Canada
19 Dec 17
Yes and thank goodness I was too lazy to go get the numbers which made me think something is not right.
@reskyyandi (3608)
• Indonesia
11 Apr 17
Glad you don't get fallen in a scam, I never get into a scam
1 person likes this
@workathomefan (8957)
• Prairieville, Louisiana
11 Apr 17
It probably wasn't a scam but it would be a way to steel your identity by wanting your social security number and bank account info.
1 person likes this
@Freelanzer (10782)
• Canada
11 Apr 17
well it actually was a scam because it wasn't paypal and as you say it was a way to get access to my accounts - that is a scam.
@Freelanzer (10782)
• Canada
9 Apr 17
They are so convincing that I can just imagine how many poor souls they scam.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
10 Apr 17
when i receive email i'm not sure about, i hover my mouse over the from/sender tab so the complete email address will show up. because sometimes i have to check the spam folder in case something legit accidentally went there. i also have a folder for all legit paypal emails.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (44560)
• United States
9 Apr 17
So glad you realized it in time. I almost fell for the infamous Microsoft Windows phone call, but thankfully stopped in time.
1 person likes this
@Freelanzer (10782)
• Canada
9 Apr 17
I still get those MS windows call but I have fun with them when they call asking all sorts of questions they should know if they know I have windows and when hey can't answer I tell them whee to go.
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
10 Apr 17
once too, i tried to log in on PayPal through the phone. my password was not correct. carefully, i typed it, then i was able to log in.
when PayPal informed us that they indicate our full names and not just "dear _ _ _" i knew that we have to make sure it is they who emailed us. ''phishing'' is what they termed it.
1 person likes this
