Calling Launderess!!

[bobbyderegis]

Hello Launderess! I hope you can come to the rescue once again. I recieved a very strange e-mail regarding my paypal account yesterday, saying it will be "locked out" unless I give account info. Sounds very fishy to me, and I know you warned us all about this before, but I can't seem to locate the thread. Can you advise? Your kind help is always appreciated.
Bobby in Boston

 

[Designgeek]

Until Launderess gets here, I'll tell you this:

The email is BS. It's a scam. If you click on the link and fill out their form, they will clean out your bank account and you'll get a Darwin Award.

If you want to check status of your paypal account, open a new browser window and enter www.paypal.com, and that will get you a real login screen. Then log in as per usual. If you can access your account, it's not been locked down. I'd be willing to bet you half the money in your bank account, that your paypal account is fine.

 

[bobbyderegis]

I figured as much, Designgeek. I am no genius, but I was always the smartest kid in the dumb row. I think Launderess had a special link to the fraud dept. Thanks for the quick reponse!
bobby in Boston

 

[launderess]

DO NOT ANSWER!

That email.

Forward the entire thing, including headers to PayPal, then delete the message from your computer. Make sure you clear your deleted items folder as well. There is a special address to forward fraudlent emails regarding PayPal accounts, but do not have it handy. It is listed on PayPal's website.

Just to be safe, go to your PayPal account directly via their website and check on your account. While you are there, it would be a good idea to change your account password.

PayPal will contact you directly, though with me they put my account on "limited" status after I reported my fraudlent email. Took only a few minutes to lift lift the hold. Paypal only required I verify who I was and where I was, and change my password *again*. While a pain, understood the rationale and was fine with all the extra work.

L.

 

[bobbyderegis]

Thanks, Launderess!

I reported it to e-bay, and I have not heard back. The account seems to be fine. As always, you come to the rescue!
Bobby in Boston

 

[whirlcool]

The e-mail addresses to use are:

[email protected] If the e-mail concerns your PayPal account.

[email protected] If the e-mail concerns your Ebay account.

It is important to include all the headers in the e-mail before you forward the e-mail to each site above. In IE6 I believe it's View-Headers-All

IN Thunderbird it's VIew-Headers-All. Once you turn this option on THEN forward this e-mail to one of the above addresses, then do as Laundress suggests, delete the e-mail.

 

[bobbyderegis]

what exactly is a header? Sorry, I'm new at all this computer stuff.
Bobby in Boston

 

[whirlcool]

A header is information that is usually hidden from view that indicates from what server the message originated at, what IP address was used and the path of servers that was used to get the message to you. It can be used to track down the originating system from where the message was sent.

It looks like a bunch of really strange e-mail addresses and numbers to the untrained eye.

 

[launderess]

If using Windows OP, open the email, then click on "file".
From file, click on "properties", then click "details".
From details click on "message source". The information contined before the email content starts, is the "header".

You can see what it looks like in my original post on Paypal fraud.

L.

 

[bobbyderegis]

Interestingly enough I have not heard anything back from Paypal or E-bay.
Bobby in Boston

 

[launderess]

You probably won't, I didn't either, just found my account on "limited" status.

L.