FRAUDULENT ATTEMPTS TO GET MY CREDIT CARD OR BANK INFO!!!!

[cracker39]

Recently, I've received several emails that state that my PayPal account may be suspended, or was suspended and I am supposed to click on a link to reactivate my account.

First, I received these emails at an email address that I do not use in PayPal. Being suspicious, I did a reply and saw a Hotmail return email address, not PayPal. I reported these to PayPal and both were verified as being fraudulent. If you use PayPal, and get one of these, forward it to PapPal at [email protected] with your message if you want to add one. So far, there is nothing suspended or otherwise different with my PayPal account.

Today, I got one from a "FIrst National Bank" about my "online banking". I don't do any business with said bank. There was a link to click on to "reactivate" my online banking. I'm sure this one was to get credit card of bank numbers also. I deleted it. I guess I'm going to have to change my email address to throw these people off the trail.

CAUTION: Beware of these bogus emails. Don't click on any links in them. If it appears to be from some online business that you deal with, click on reply and see what the return email address is. Report this to the "Real" business that it is supposed to be from. After reporting it, or if you can't report it, delete the email ASAP. If you have clicked on the link in the email, and it's for PayPal or some other online business you deal with, change your password and verification questions IMMEDIATELY on their website. Watch your credit card or bank accounts for fraudulent debits.

There are so many people out there who would steal you blind, and using online services makes it even easier for them if you aren't careful.

[madjack]

DAle, I get several of these on an almost daily basis at one of my several email address...I either delete them or forward to the appropriate authority...you can get a new email address but they will find there way there as well...I just deal with 'em...and you are right...no legitimate bank/business/government agency etc. will ever send you an email asking for any sensitive info
madjack

[Leon]

When you forward it to the appropriate agency, do so with full headers so they can look at the path and see where it actually comes from.

[mikeschn]

I get several of these per day also...

I typically hold my mouse over the link that they want you to click, and read their URL in the lower left corner of the browser...

You can spot the scams a mile away... For example...

Here's the scam URL...
http://1500414813/https:/www.paypal.com ... in-submit/

And here's the real McCoy...
https://www.paypal.com/

Mike...

[TomS]

I get these all the time too. The practice is called "phishing". The crooks will direct you to a fake site made to look like PayPal, your bank or whatever.

One helpful technique is to mouse over the email message to see the true destination, for example, https://www.paypal.com/verify. Most email programs will show you the true destination of the email. Also, always contact your bank directly through your bookmarks and don't use any hyperlinks embeded in an email message.

[subtearanean]

Geez.....I'm starting to think this whole internet thingy is a wild and dangerous place.

What about all those emails that say they can make my, well, you know, that thing bigger? Do those work? Tom? Mike? Any experience with that?

Or is this a question I should be directing towards Ira?

[Steve_Cox]

Geez.....I'm starting to think this whole internet thingy is a wild and dangerous place.

What about all those emails that say they can make my, well, you know, that thing bigger? Do those work? Tom? Mike? Any experience with that?

Or is this a question I should be directing towards Ira?

Sub T,

All I can tell ya is be careful what you ask for.

[Jiminsav]

see..your not seizing the opertunity here...fill out the form with bogus info and vulgarities and send it on it's way..i'm such a kidder.

[TomS]

Geez.....I'm starting to think this whole internet thingy is a wild and dangerous place.

Crooks have always been quick to latch on to emerging technologies. The word "phoney" was originally coined to describe con artists who plied their trade over the phone in the early 20th century.

What about all those emails that say they can make my, well, you know, that thing bigger? Do those work? Tom? Mike? Any experience with that?

Seeing as how I'm the "Swedish Stallion". I don't need any "natural male enhancement". But, I've got a great deal on some Florida real estate if you're interested.

[subtearanean]

Geez.....I'm starting to think this whole internet thingy is a wild and dangerous place.

What about all those emails that say they can make my, well, you know, that thing bigger? Do those work? Tom? Mike? Any experience with that?

Or is this a question I should be directing towards Ira?

Sub T,

All I can tell ya is be careful what you ask for.

Sure....easy to say if you're name is Steve_Cox.........

That's a screen name, right?

[Dean in Eureka, CA]

Something I was wondering about today...
What's up with the emails (Usually in the spam or bulk files) that say they are from myself???
I notice they come in cycles, followed by emails from people I've never heard of, telling me to stop sending them this crap...
BTW-I've never opened any of these...
Kinda makes me wonder if someone is somehow using my email addy as the sender of that crap...

[TomS]

Something I was wondering about today...
What's up with the emails (Usually in the spam or bulk files) that say they are from myself???
I notice they come in cycles, followed by emails from people I've never heard of, telling me to stop sending them this crap...
BTW-I've never opened any of these...
Kinda makes me wonder if someone is somehow using my email addy as the sender of that crap...

Spammers hide their identities by forging return email addresses. Often, they will use adresses of legitimate people. Someone did this to me this weekend. As a result, my inbox is flooded with automated "out of office" replies.

[cracker39]

I've gotten messages from an eBay customer I never heard of, asking how to pay for something they claim they bought from me. These came several weeks apart. I had no way to reply that they didn't buy from me, so I reported it to eBay. Haven't gotten another one lately.

[Jiminsav]

Tom, your PC has been turned into a zombie..it's sending spam out by the dump truck load...shoot your machine now!!!

[Mary K]

Yeah I got an email from "paypal", clicked the link and it asked me for my account name and password... I got a little suspicious and checked the logo...it didn't have the trademark circle r thingie so I backed out real quick, and forwarded it to the Real PayPal. The Site looked very much like paypal, it was weird.. gave me a creepy feeling ya know.

Mk