Reading time: 3 – 5 minutes
If you’re a Paypal account holder then you better read on. As a morning routine, I normally start-off the day checking my emails and filing them out after reading them on my folders.
As part of the task, I also check the spam folder once in a while because I had it set to auto-delete only after two weeks because sometimes legitimate mails go straight to it which of course most of you are aware.
I was surprised when I suddenly got this email on my spam folder with the subject, “Alert: Account-Blocked!!!” which claims to be from “Paypal” but the sender email address was paypalalert@security.2internet.com which also uses the Paypal logo with a blurred or unrecognizable TM mark (see attached screenshot).
I continued to read-on and it says,
Dear Customer,
Your paypal account has been blocked for security reasons. Hence we request you to unblock your Paypal account by clicking on the link below immediately for uninterrupted services.
Paypal Phishing Attempt Email
Alright, while there had been security issues with Paypal before although at some point it may have something to do with hackers inserting key loggers into your computers to hack it by recording every keystroke that you do, it’s not impossible that they can get your Paypal account password.
But how can this be possible? If you are click happy with links especially those that are attached on your email whether it came from your inbox or spam folder then better think again. Vigilance is the key to safety.
If the sender asked you to click on the link especially if it’s suspicious, don’t do it because if you do, chances are you might be introducing a malware to attack the security of your computer thus compromising your privacy and valuable information not just simply wiping out your system with viruses. This had happened a lot in many instances that history has written about so don’t fall into the trap.
In order for you to get an idea on where the links are heading without clicking them, simply hover your cursors over the link while at the same time looking at the lower left hand corner of the browser window. There you will see the exact URL of the link and if you suspect something fishy or nasty redirect is going to happen do not continue. Firefox has the Interclue add-on that provides information about the links landing page plus other important details.
Based on the email I have received, the email address comes from paypalalert@security.2internet.com. The clue is that the domain where the email came from is security.2internet.com not paypal.com and even if they do use “Paypal” as the subject line, simply don’t rely on it because Paypal does not use undisclosed-recipients.
A few minutes after finalizing this post, Paypal has confirmed that the email I have received was a phishing attempt designed by identity thieves trying to trick me into revealing my password and other personally verifiable information through phishing emails and fake websites (see screenshot below).
Paypal Phishing Attempt Email Submission Response
If you ever encounter something similar, a phishing email or a fake email, forward it to spoof@paypal.com and delete it. Don’t be the last to know. Stop fraud.
Suggested for further reading:
- Ways To Easily Recognize Phishing Emails Reading time: 2 – 2 minutes As I have discussed on my previous post some of the useful ways on how to identify a phising site, this comes in as my second installment however this time is particularly focused on determining some of the most important components of phishing emails....
- Avoid Web Forgery Using Firefox Reading time: 2 – 4 minutes In addition to the many Internet security related measures I have written in the past, this succeeding post will provide another vital information that would benefit not just Firefox users but also those who were thinking about how your browser can help keep your...
- HOW TO: Protect Your Password from Theft Using Yahoo Sign-In Seal Reading time: 3 – 5 minutes I’ve been using Yahoo Mail for quite sometime and it was basically my trusted web mail service provider for years although my account was just free, I’m very much pleased with it. Back in the days when I was just starting to grasp the...
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
scary! always make sure it’s really from paypal
sue jenkins@sue jenkins´s last blog ..my first journal!
Hi Sue, thanks for your first comment. It really was scary so it pays to be vigilant at all times.
Hey Mathdelane, thanks for posting information about phishing emails for paypal.
I think its time for email services providers ( mainly free) to have some concrete plans to curb this phishing emails.
Phishing emails had been on the internet for quite long. We simply have to be vigilant. You have a point though that’s why most free email providers are focusing on spam protection. Most phishing emails go to the spam folder and that’s where I got mine.