Huge PayPal email scam targets THOUSANDS of Brits – police reveal how to spot it
ACTION Fraud is warning the public about scam emails claiming to be from PayPal.
The UK's national reporting centre for fraud received over 1,000 reports of people receiving the phishing emails in just 24 hours.
The email tells recipients that their PayPal account has been "limited" due to a policy violation.
It then asked the potential fraud victim to click a link so they can update their account or check their security.
The link takes you to a genuine-looking websites you might think was the real PayPal.
However, it's been designed by cyber criminals to try and steal your personal details.
This includes bank details and identity information.
A PayPal spokesperson said: “At PayPal we go to great lengths to protect our customers in the UK, but there are still a few simple precautions we should all take to avoid falling victim to scams.
“Be aware of any emails or text messages that ask you to provide personal information directly in response.
"Scammers often use a false sense of urgency to prompt you to act on a phishing email.
"All communications from PayPal to account holders would be sent to the secure message centre within their PayPal account.
"You will have a secure message waiting if PayPal does need you to take any action.
“A genuine PayPal email will only ever address you by your full name – anything that starts differently should immediately raise your suspicions.
"Look out for spelling mistakes, which are a common tell-tale sign of a fraudulent message.
"If you have any concerns regarding an email you have received, you should send it to spoof@paypal.com.”
If you do receive a suspicious email, don't click any links and don't give away your personal information.
It's also advisable to have security software downloaded on your devices.
What is phishing?
Here's what you need to know...
- Phishing is a type of online fraud
- It's typically an attempt to nab some of your data
- Phishing generally involves scammers posing as a trustworthy entity
- For instance, fraudsters could send you an email claiming to be your bank, asking for details
- Scammers can also set up fake websites that look like real ones, simply to hoodwink you
- Phishing can take place over email, social media, texts, phone calls and more
- The best defence against phishing is to be generally sceptical of weblinks and emails, especially if they were unsolicited
In other news, an Amazon Alexa 'snooping-blocker' that jams the microphone of your Echo smart speaker has been developed.
Instagram users feared the app may have been filming them through their iPhone camera.
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Have you noticed any scams recently? Let us know in the comments...
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