lonsal
Moderator
close
Jun 2, 2025
I recieved an e-mail today that had me going for a minute. I've cut and pasted it below:
I recieve the e-mails often saying that my PayPal (EBay, etc.), account has had suspicious activity and requiring me to log in at the link provided and re-set my password (yeah, right!). This one is very clever, going a round about way to get the same info, by saying that an e-mail address has been succesfully added to my account. WHAT? I clicked on the link just out of curiosity, but had no intentions of following the instructions. The re-direct really was suspicious. Instead I logged in to my PayPal account and confirmed that there was still only my e-mail addy. I just thought I'd share it so no one gets fooled into sharing their password. I had already sucked my account down to a vey low amount. It's just good to know that my $1.95 balance is still safe and sound.
Lon
Quote:
You have added bestwatc01@aol.com as a new email address for your
PayPal account.
If you did not authorize this change or if you need assistance with
your account, please contact PayPal customer service at:
https://www.paypal.com/row/wf/f=ap_email
Thank you for using PayPal!
The PayPal Team
Please do not reply to this e-mail. Mail sent to this address cannot be
answered. For assistance, log in to your PayPal account and choose the
"Help" link in the header of any page.
----------------------------------------------------------------
PROTECT YOUR PASSWORD
NEVER give your password to anyone and ONLY log in at
https://www.paypal.com/. Protect yourself against fraudulent websites
by opening a new web browser (e.g. Internet Explorer or Netscape) and typing
in the PayPal URL every time you log in to your account.
----------------------------------------------------------------
PayPal Email ID PP007
MXIVICDLXZVERESSOFIGDYEWYEKNMPMJDZGXMV
You have added bestwatc01@aol.com as a new email address for your
PayPal account.
If you did not authorize this change or if you need assistance with
your account, please contact PayPal customer service at:
https://www.paypal.com/row/wf/f=ap_email
Thank you for using PayPal!
The PayPal Team
Please do not reply to this e-mail. Mail sent to this address cannot be
answered. For assistance, log in to your PayPal account and choose the
"Help" link in the header of any page.
----------------------------------------------------------------
PROTECT YOUR PASSWORD
NEVER give your password to anyone and ONLY log in at
https://www.paypal.com/. Protect yourself against fraudulent websites
by opening a new web browser (e.g. Internet Explorer or Netscape) and typing
in the PayPal URL every time you log in to your account.
----------------------------------------------------------------
PayPal Email ID PP007
MXIVICDLXZVERESSOFIGDYEWYEKNMPMJDZGXMV
I recieve the e-mails often saying that my PayPal (EBay, etc.), account has had suspicious activity and requiring me to log in at the link provided and re-set my password (yeah, right!). This one is very clever, going a round about way to get the same info, by saying that an e-mail address has been succesfully added to my account. WHAT? I clicked on the link just out of curiosity, but had no intentions of following the instructions. The re-direct really was suspicious. Instead I logged in to my PayPal account and confirmed that there was still only my e-mail addy. I just thought I'd share it so no one gets fooled into sharing their password. I had already sucked my account down to a vey low amount. It's just good to know that my $1.95 balance is still safe and sound.
Lon
Senior Member
The scams look very real these days, you really have to be really carful. If it smells fishy it probably is, don't get caught off guard.
Senior Member
That same thing happened to me a few months ago... looked totally legit at first (PayPal banners, logos, etc.) but the address that it came from was not a PayPal address. I reported it to PayPal.
Senior Member
Yeah, last year I rec'd warnings from PayPal to watch out for the phony PayPal scams, sure enough sometime later I got a couple in the email. Don't respond in any way, just delete.
Bummer, I was really hopin' to cash in on that $1.95 
BTW you can forward bogus ebay and paypal emails to spoof@ebay.com and spoof@paypal.com and they'll let you know if emails are bogus or not.
BTW you can forward bogus ebay and paypal emails to spoof@ebay.com and spoof@paypal.com and they'll let you know if emails are bogus or not.
lonsal
Moderator
close
Jun 2, 2025
Quote:
Originally posted by Mr.84TransAmer
Bummer, I was really hopin' to cash in on that $1.95
BTW you can forward bogus ebay and paypal emails to spoof@ebay.com and spoof@paypal.com and they'll let you know if emails are bogus or not.
I do and did in this case. PayPal indicarted they are investigating it, but no further response yet from them. I know it's a fishing expedition, I just want them aware so they can take the appropriate steps.Originally posted by Mr.84TransAmer
Bummer, I was really hopin' to cash in on that $1.95
BTW you can forward bogus ebay and paypal emails to spoof@ebay.com and spoof@paypal.com and they'll let you know if emails are bogus or not.
Lon
Member
I believe both PayPal and ebay will use your first and last name in any official correspondence. If the email body is addressed to "Dear John Smith" then it's real - if it's addressed to "Dear PayPal Member" it's fake. Unless the phisher actually knows who you are instead of just emailing to a few million strangers, he/she won't know your full name.