New PayPal Online Ordering Scam - Security Alert!

Year 2008 Started with
New PayPal Online Ordering Scam

On Jan 4th, 2008 I got a message saying "Receipt for item DVD Player Sony DVP-NS 39" which definitely attracted my attention. Of course, I was not making the payment and it smelled fishy. As you will see from below, the creators of this PayPal scam understood that all other people would feel exactly the same and their natural desire might be to cancel the fake order.

This is exactly what scam creators want you to do, but wise people know - never click!!

For you to see the full picture I am copying and pasting part of that email below (I will make their URLs blue, but these are not URLs - they will be not clickable, so don't worry). The message was like this:

Dear PayPal Member,

This email confirms that you sent $62.75 USD to
********* @aol.com (real email hidden by Free Blogging Advice Guidelines project)

———————————–
Money Transfer Details
———————————–

Amount: $62.75 USD
Subject: DVD Player Sony DVP-NS 39

Note:
To modify or cancel this payment, go to the PayPal website at:To modify or cancel this payment, go to the PayPal website at:

Cancel transaction (Encrypted Link )

Thank you for using PayPal!
The PayPal Team

Speed through checkout whenever you shop online; just log in to your
account at https:/www.paypal.com .Send money to your friends and family.
Pay without revealing your credit card information.

Please do not reply to this e-mail. Mail sent to this address cannot be
answered. Lift your sales. Add PayPal to attract more customers
Get tools to make eBay sales simple.

As I told you - my natural (but stupid) desire would be to click the cancellation link as I was not making the purchase. But I knew it was some kind of scam, that is why instead of clicking the link I simply put my mouse cursor over it to see the URL. Surey the URL had nothing to do with PayPal…

BUT!

The scammers invented a smart excuse for the URL to look different. You see that it says "(Encrypted Link)" next to the link that was in the email, so that some folks would think it's some kind of re-direct or whatever!

In reality that would be some web form that will ask you to submit your PayPal account details and once you've done it - they will gain access to your account.

How to Get Protected Against
This PayPal Online Ordering Scam
And Other Scams!

There are few simple rules of a thumb that will save you from many problems.

• Never click!

Just forget that you can click when reading emails like this. Otherwise you might feel very-very bad.

• Don't use any contact details provided in the email!

Surely scammers understand that part of the people would like to clarify the situation and give a call. They will even provide you a number where their person will be sitting and telling you bshit, the same canbe done to any chat, ISQ or Yahoo Messenger, etc.

• Call PayPal directly!

Instead, go to the real web site of PayPal and find the official contact information provided on the site. Use only this info to call PayPal and explain them everything.