Paypal phishing email

Zanzib

Blulu wrote: »

I get these all the time and they're usually very easy to spot. This one was too, but there was a difference that I thought was worth passing on. It came addressed to me by name. It said the standard: "Your account has been limited" due to incorrect log in attempts.

However, one of the main ways to spot a scam is that it normally does not address the sender by name. Usually it either doesn't address the sender at all, or says something generic like "Valued customer." So if they are in the process of finding a way around this and are able to send phishing emails to targeted names, it could make them harder to spot - should they be more cleverly written than the one just sent to me.

Blu X

I can't remember what it was for, but I had a similar scam email that used my full name, a couple of days ago. It made me wonder at the time...

It was in my comping email box, and I don't use my real name in that email address, so I suspect it has happened because we both entered a competition that either has a leaky system or it was one that doesn't give you third party opt-out.

I only enter competitions listed on here.

thingamaBob

Paypal ask that you forward Phishing emails to them at spoof@paypal.com. I always forward them and usually get two replies, the first thanking for forwarding and saying it will be investigated, the second confirming that it was Phishing.

HMRC also ask that you forward them tax ones to phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk. These are also, usually acknowledged.

Most of the banks also have email addresses to forward them to. Check the security sections on their web sites.

mar30

I get them all too. I had the Inland Revenue one in May, right at the time when I was claiming a refund anyway. Weirdly, the amount they quoted was almost the same as what the real IR was going to pay me, so yes it's easy to be duped into thinking it's genuine sometimes. Happy to say I knew it was phishing, but others may not.