FlickrJust a matter of days ago I was fortunate enough to receive an email informing me that there had been ‘unusual activity’ from my PayPal account – and I wasn’t alone…
Thousands of others also received the email, and while I personally didn’t find it too hard to figure that the email was a scam, a lot of people out there fell for it.
According to the Daily Mirror, the emails were sent by hackers and tricked many people into thinking it was a genuine PayPal email simply by using PayPal’s official logo.
PayPalThe emails asked receivers to log in to their accounts thus handing hackers more than enough information to log in to unsuspecting PayPal user’s accounts and literally drain them of their hard earned cash.
Even though the emails can look genuine – do not under any circumstances give them your login details.
PayPalPayPal themselves have even commented on the phishing scam, telling the Daily Mirror:
Like many other online banks, shops and services, PayPal can be targeted by criminals who use fraudulent emails to deceive users. We go to great lengths to protect our customers, but there are also a few, simple precautions we should all take online.
Fraudulent emails can sometimes be spotted by looking out for the following:
- Spelling mistakes are a common tell-tale sign of a fraudulent email
- Be aware of any emails and pop-up windows asking you to click on a link or provide personal information directly in response
- A genuine PayPal email will only ever address you by your full name at the beginning – anything that starts ‘Dear customer’ should immediately raise your suspicions
If you have any doubts about an email claiming to be from PayPal, don’t click any links in it. Instead, open your web browser, go to PayPal.com and log into your account normally. You will have a secure message waiting if PayPal does need you to take any action.
If any readers have concerns regarding an email they have received, they should contact our customer service team who will confirm its legitimacy or forward it to [email protected].
Don’t fall for it guys…
