Tip on spotting fake e-mail that seeks personal info

[kristine_elen]

I just received two emails that claimed to be from Paypal saying I needed to click on the links and update my info or my account would be closed. I figured they were fakes and didn't do this, but just learned (from Paypal's actual site) one way to determine if a link is bogus (and forgive me if this is old news to everyone but I didn't know...)

You put your cursor on the link, but don't click on it. While your cursor is on the link, at the very bottom of your page a Web site will be shown. For example, when I put my cursor over the site that said www.paypal.com (which seems legit), the address that came up said boboxman.go.(somethingorother)

Anyway, just thought I'd pass that along.

[Wife_and_mommy]

Thanks for sharing that. I didn't know it!

Elizabeth

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http://lilypie.com/days/060228/3/21/1/-5/.png

[geochick]

I got this a few months ago too. I think it's called "Fishing." Anyway, no bank or other company will ever contact you and ask you to submit that kind of personal info over the internet by clicking on a link. When in doubt, contact their customer service people by phone. Here's what Paypal has to say about it:
http://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=p/gen/email-security-outside

[tigalig]

My rule is that if it has a link in the e-mail, I delete it or send it to [email protected] or [email protected]. If there truly is a problem with the account, you should be able to address it by accessing the web first, loggin on to your account separately, and figuring it out from there. I never click on links on an e-mail.

[kristine_elen]

Yeah, I was just sharing this method of seeing what the link really links to. I never respond to these emails I get, but I just thought that little part was interesting.

[bostonsmama]

This exact same email came to my personal home account (which I NEVER give out). I kept seperately logging on to eBay from another browser and I couldn't find anything that said my account was about to be suspended. I updated my personal info from the seperate login, and a week later I got another "phishing" scam. I just said "screw it: if they're going to cancel my account, I've done my part, and I'll open up a new one." A month later I sent the email to [email protected] and they confirmed it was a scam. Phew! thank God I didn't use the link.

Anyways...smart you!

[KBecks]

I basically don't respond to any emails from paypal, ebay, etc. etc.

I go to the site directly and check my account there. If something is really screwed up, they can call me.

[dawell0]

Got the same email scam, and I don't even have a Paypal account. I knew that because of these scams, companies will be careful about how they contact you.