KENILWORTH residents are being advised to beware of emails they may receive that purport to be from ‘Paypal’. The email looks very convincing and suggest that someone have been trying to use the recipient’s Paypal account.
Typically the email has one or two links in it which it requires the recipient to click on. Usually, the one link enables access to all your email contacts and addresses and the other link seeks your personal banking details on the false premise that this is needed to ‘reset your account’.
PLEASE DO NOT CLICK ANY LINKS in such an email. Delete the email from your system and follow up deleting the email by then emptying your trash folder on your computer or device.
Crown Watch has spoken to Paypal this afternoon and they have confirmed emails like that described above are a scam. They have set out how and when they send emails and what to look for. We have placed Paypal’s advice below.
Paypal is a popular and safe service that enables purchasers over the internet to buy services and good without divulging personal credit card details. There is no reason to stop using Paypal as their services are secure.
Here is one of the spoof emails received thie afternoon (we have removed the email address of the recipient)
Here is what Paypal have advised:
Fake emails, also known as ‘Phishing’ or ‘Spoof’ emails, attempt to trick you into revealing personal or financial information such as bank account details, credit card details and passwords etc. These fake emails often link to fake (spoof) websites where your information can be collected if you type it.
You’ll know that an email is not from PayPal when:
The email uses a generic greeting like ‘Dear user’ or ‘Hello, PayPal member.’ We’ll always address you by your first and last name or the business name on your PayPal account.
The email requests financial and other personal information. A real email from us will never ask for your bank account number, debit or credit card number etc. Also we’ll never ask for your full name, your account password, or the answers to your PayPal security questions in an email
The email asks you to provide the tracking number of a dispatched item, before you’ve received the payment into your PayPal account
The email includes a software update to install on your computer
The email asks you to make a money transfer using a third party
Here are some security tips to help you stay protected online:
Even if a URL contains the word ‘PayPal’, it may not be a PayPal webpage
When using PayPal, always ensure that the URL address listed at the top of the browser displays as https://www.paypal.com. The ‘s’ in ‘https’ means the website is secure
Look for the ‘lock’ symbol that appears in the address bar. This symbol indicates that the site you are visiting is secure
If you think you’ve received a phishing email, forward it to spoof@paypal.co.uk and then delete the fake email from your mailbox.
Kenilworth Watch 