WARNING - Possible Paypal Scam

Post by **Rob Wilson** » 2003-11-20 06:52pm

I just recieved an E-mail claiming to be from Paypal Customer services, informing me that my Billing and account info had been lost and could I follow a link to provide them with the data again. The problem? I'm not a Paypal customer or user!
This smells like a scam, so if you are a Paypal user and you recieve a similar E-mail Don't follow the link. Go to Paypal's Website and see what they say - or use the link on their site to E-mail customer services.

Sorry if this has been mentioned before now, but the sooner and further the word gets out as to whether this is a scam (and it certainly seems like it) the less people will get hurt by it.

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2003-11-20 07:30pm

It's real:

http://www.snopes.com/computer/virus/paypal.asp

namdoolb · Post by **namdoolb** » 2003-11-20 07:45pm

Anything containing the phrase "Do not reply to this e-mail .....etc etc.." is almost assuredly scam.

That's just about the biggest giveaway there is for it.

Durandal · Post by **Durandal** » 2003-11-20 07:50pm

It's not a link. It's a .scr, which is a Windows screen saver. It's using Outlook Express' idiotic default behavior of hiding attachments to make it look like a .asp.

Hyperion · Post by **Hyperion** » 2003-11-20 07:57pm

I do use paypal, I got 2 of those things about 4 days ago or so, contacted PayPal immidiately since I know they will not terminate your account as long as you have a balance. People doing these scams really should do their research, anyone they want to get (those with money) are probably too smart, or know enough not to fall for it.

Vendetta · Post by **Vendetta** » 2003-11-20 08:10pm

Millions of people will fall for it.

Because the vast majority of people will just click on things in emails.

Anyway, this is MiMail.I or Mimail.J, yet another fun email worm. (with added phishing scam)

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2003-11-20 08:12pm

Actually, a lot of times scammers will do something like:

Code: Select all

http://www.paypal.com:z38490E3@IP_ADDRESS_HERE/

Most users just see the first part, not realising that its actually not going to paypal but another site.

Worlds Spanner · Post by **Worlds Spanner** » 2003-11-20 09:31pm

Never e-mail anyone anything sensative.

The asker is NEVER the real company.

Honestly. Think about it. Paypal LOST it's user data? So unlikely.

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2003-11-21 04:42pm

i remember hearing about a similar scam involving paypal a few months ago. it was saying that they had lost your user informaiton and needed to replace it, but they required you to fill out a form with your sensitive information, such as login pw, account number, etc.

that way people would inadvertently give them their account info so the scammers could leach away all the individuals' money. scary thing about this was that the website looked exactly like paypal's website. only difference is the URL was slightly off.

Faram · Post by **Faram** » 2003-11-21 06:40pm

Fuck I shold consider a new carrierr as a scamer.

Anyone that falls for that one would probebly but a slightly used bridge from me.

Any takers just $100000 for the bridge between Sweden and Denmark, shiping and handeling not included.

Kamakazie Sith · Post by **Kamakazie Sith** » 2003-11-21 09:53pm

This is very similar to scams targeted against AOL members.

Yes, lots of members fall for it....and lots of Paypal members will also fall for this.

Lord Pounder · Post by **Lord Pounder** » 2003-11-22 12:13pm

"Evil will always triumph because good is dumb"

The average computer user is a bit thick to be honest. He or she trust the system and the people who use the system, then are so suprised when the system bites them in the ass. If a person even sat back ans thought for one moment they'd see through half the scams they fall for.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2003-11-22 12:17pm

Lord Pounder wrote:"Evil will always triumph because good is dumb"

The average computer user is a bit thick to be honest. He or she trust the system and the people who use the system, then are so suprised when the system bites them in the ass. If a person even sat back ans thought for one moment they'd see through half the scams they fall for.

But if you know anyone who fell for the Nigerian scams, you can bet you have some funky friends.

Lord Pounder · Post by **Lord Pounder** » 2003-11-22 01:16pm

The guys and chicks i know laughed at people who fell for the Nigerian Scam, then again a few of my friends fell for the Pyramid scam the UVF ran.