Phishing Scams Surround PayPal Account Holders

Security experts at Better Business Bureau (BBB) claim that phishing scams targeting Paypal customers are on a rise. Supporting their research they elucidate the three latest phishing scams on PayPal.

One of the phishing e-mails that are presently dodging PayPal customers informs the recipient that his/her PayPal billing updates have expired. Updates will save the e-mail recipients from the problems in near future. The recipient is further told to update his/her information; failure to which may result in the suspension of his/her PayPal account. For this purpose, fake links are also given in the e-mail, which forward the user to a rogue PayPal website.

Interestingly, the aforementioned phishing e-mail was general, while the next one is personalized. This e-mail addressing Jane Doe informs her of her online credit card account with PayPal expiring shortly. It further states that in order to ensure uninterrupted services, the recipient should update her credit card details by visiting the PayPal website via the link provided in the e-mail and furnishing all the information asked therein.

Finally, the third phishing e-mail states that in wake of some recent fraud activities detected on PayPal accounts, PayPal is going to start a fresh security program so as to make its Internet accounts safe and secure. Before activating this new system, PayPal will be assessing all its accounts to verify the authenticity of the account-holder. The e-mail further tells that the account holders will be informed in case of stealing, hacking, suspension or freezing of their accounts.

The e-mail further asks the recipients to confirm the status of their accounts by clicking on the link provided within the e-mail, which ultimately directs the users to a phishing website appearing like PayPal.

Expressing his views on the issue, Judy Pepper, President at Orlando Better Business Bureau, stated that the phishing scam was spreading, as reported by wftv.com in April 2009's second week. She added that phishers use e-mail phony links to steal personal identities or money of the users.

Pepper noted that it is extremely tough for the detectives to trace such criminals as tracking someone by merely an e-mail account seems largely impossible. Thus, users must log on to a website only if they are confirmed about its authenticity.

Related article: Phishing With A Redirector Code

» SPAMfighter News - 4/21/2009