Scam Watch: Invoice PayPal Scam Explained + Example

Dear Readers,

(Last Update Sept 14, 2009 @ 1:46 pm EST)

Well for about 2 weeks or so I started getting this new version of a PayPal scam. Which I am going to coin as “THE INVOICE PAYPAL SCAM”…

What is an “THE INVOICE PAYPAL SCAM” ? This scam is where a bunch of blanket e-mails are sent out (Example below) where is looks like a legit Paypal invoice but missing the name you registered with. Meaning it just says DEAR PAYPAL MEMBER instead of Dear John Doe. The current version I have been getting is an invoice for an APPLE iPod Touch 16gb. the Invoice gives you all the information you’d expect but only I never made the purchase. So then IF YOU DID NOT MAKE THIS PURCHASE press THE DISPUTE TRANSACTION LINK (Encrypted)….

But it sends you to a cloned PayPal website…which will still your information…here is what it looks like…

This e-mail has been edited for privacy issues only. This is just an example the link have been changed, name changed, location changed,  e-mail address changed, and disclaimer removed.

Important Security Alert‏

From:	Paypal (paypal@security.com)
	You may not know this sender.
Sent:	November 17, 2008 10:08:56 AM
To:

Dear PayPal Member, This email confirms that you have sent an eBay payment of $148.23USD to John.Doe@fake.net for an eBay item using PayPal. Payment Details Transaction ID: ABCDE70XN5200000 Item Price: $148.23USD Total: $148.23USD Order Description: Apple iPod Touch 16 GB Item/Product Number: (000-555-555) Note: If you haven’t authorized this charge ,click the link below to dispute transaction and get full refund *  DISPUTE TRANSACTION LINK * (Encrypted Link ) *SSL connection: PayPal automatically encrypts your confidential information in transit from your computer to ours using the Secure Sockets Layer protocol (SSL) with an encryption key length of 128-bits (the highest level commercially available) Item Information eBay User ID: jdoe Name: John Doe Address: 000 Fake Lane City: WishBone, NY 13027 State: United States Important Note: Cheryl Blake has provided an Unconfirmed Address. If you are planning on shipping items to Cheryl Blake, please check the Transaction Details page of this payment to find out whether you will be covered by the PayPal Seller Protection Policy. If your email program has problems with hypertext links, then you may also confirm your email address by logging into your PayPal account at www.paypal.com/us. On your My Account page you will find a “Confirm Your Email Address” link. Click on this link and enter the following confirmation number: 1241-2524-9300-3895-5752 Thank you for using PayPal! The PayPal Team

Till my next post,

Remy “Se7en”