Posted: 11/20/2002 6:26:24 AM EDT
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I just received the following email: Welcome PAYPAL member, I am sorry to inform you that 300,000 of our data base has lost due to some technical problems. your account was one from those lost database so , we were temporarily unable to verify it as a registered user. Approximately 90 seconds ago, your verification was made void by loss of data. Now, due to PAYPAL verification protocol, it is mandatory for us to re-verify you. Please verify it by completing the form below. PAYPAL advises everyone to fill out the information so we won't have any misconfigured billing problems or termination of your PAYPAL account. Upon submitting your request you will not have to worry about the security of your account, and your information will be updated and stored again . please click the link below to complete the form within 2 minutes of reading this. Thank you. PAYPAL STAFF https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=verify If you get one, DO NOT click on the link or enter any info - this is a scam. I've reported it to Paypal - and no, I'm not stupid enough to go to the site either and hand over my account info :) |
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Quoted: Just curious how you can tell this is a scam. It smells like one, but is there s omething in the address or whatever that gives it away? I think the tons of gramatical errors give it away. Also, I doubt you will ever get an email from the PayPal staff stating that "[b]I[/b] am sorry to inform you..." or "please click the link below to complete the form within 2 minutes of reading this" ???? [b]2 minutes?[/b] what the hell is that shit? The only thing I don't understand is the link going to a paypal.com site. |
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Do not fear the link. You have requested an outdated version of PayPal. This error often results from the use of bookmarks. To enter the PayPal website please click on the Welcome tab. If you are already logged in, please click on the My Account tab to continue. |
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Scams like this come and go - I remember receiving a very similar link once that directed me to a site in a former East Bloc country - it asked for my password, and other info. If you ever get an email like this, simply open another window and go to the site - like Paypal - if there is a problem with their site, they'll tell you right then and there. After receiving this email I went to the Paypal site and had NO problems logging into my account - and all my payment history was there. This is a SCAM - you will NEVER get an email from Paypal or Ebay requesting info like this - and if you do, email them from the email address off their site and ask for confirmation. |
| I remember a scam going on a while back where they send you a fake "you got money" e-mail and then link you to www.paypa1.com, but in Outlook Express' default font you can't tell the L is actually a ONE. They'd get your info and flush your accounts. If it smells funny, it probably is. |