10 Ways to Spot Spoof e-Mail

What is a fraudulent email?

 

A fraudulent (spoof) email pretends to be from a well-known company, such as PayPal or eBay, in an attempt to get personal information from you. People who send spoof emails hope to use your information - such as credit and debit card numbers or account passwords - to commit identity theft.

 

You can prevent spoof from affecting you

 

Spoof, or "phishing," emails - and the spoof websites often associated with them - are deceptive in appearance. However, they contain content that reveals they're fake. The most important thing to do to protect yourself is be able to spot this misleading content.

 

Know a spoof when you see it

 

Frequently, a spoof email looks something like this:

What to watch out for

Generic greetings. Many spoof emails begin with a general greeting, such as: "Dear PayPal member."

A false sense of urgency. Most spoof emails try to deceive you with the threat that your account is in jeopardy if you don't update it ASAP.

Fake links. The text in a link may attempt to look valid, then send you to a spoof address. Always check where a link is going before you click. Move your mouse over it and look at the URL in your browser or email status bar. If the link looks suspicious, don't click on it. And be aware that a fake link may even have the word "PayPal" in it.

 

Learn more ways to spot spoof

 

Read PayPal's 10 ways to recognize fake (spoof) emails

 

Questions PayPal will never ask you in an email

 

To help you better identify fake emails, we follow strict rules. We will never ask for the following personal information in emails:

 

Credit and debit card numbers
Bank account numbers
Driver's License numbers
Email addresses
Passwords
Your full name

 

Ways to fight spoof

Report it. Forward the entire email - including the header information - or the site's URL to spoof@ paypal.com We investigate every spoof reported. Please note that the automatic response you get from us may not address you by name.

 

We're dedicated to protecting you

 

PayPal works hard to educate you on the best ways to recognize and fight spoof. Learn more about how PayPal fights fraud for you around the clock.

 

Steps to take to prevent spoof from affecting you

 

Keep your security software current. Update your firewalls and security patches frequently. Consider using software from companies like McAfee and Symantec.

Monitor your account. Check your account periodically to see if there is any suspicious activity.

Change your password often. And, if you think your security may have been breached, create a new password immediately.

Use a unique password. Your PayPal password should be one-of-a-kind, and not used on any of your other accounts. A good password contains letters and numbers. This makes it more difficult for people to guess it.

Take action. If your information is compromised, get a fraud alert placed on your credit report.

 

Get more information on how to prevent fraud

 

To download security tools, report fraud, and learn more about how we protect you, visit the PayPal Security Center today.