PayPal users, the email message below: "Latest Account Notification," is a fake and a phishing scam. The email message claims that the recipients' accounts will be limited unless they update their account information by filling out the attached form. But, the email message was not sent by PayPal, and is only a scam created by scammers to steal the recipients' PayPal username, password, credit card and personal information, which they(scammers) will use to hijack their accounts.
The PayPal Phishing Email Scam
From: PayPal [mailto:accounts @ppservices.com]
Subject: Latest Account Notification
This email will be brief. We would appreciate your prompt attention to this matter.
PayPal is constantly working to ensure security by regularly screening the accounts in our system. We recently reviewed your account and made adjustments resulting in the following changes.
Unfortunately, access to your account has been limited.
These are the steps required to restore your account access:
- Download the attachment from this email
- Open the attachment with your web browser (Option: Internet Explorer)
- Fill in the required details
Should access to your account remain limited for an extended period of time, it may result in further limitations on the use of your account or may result in eventual account closure.
Sincerely,
PayPal Account Review Team
The attached form will ask the potential victims for the following information, which will be sent to the cyber-criminals behind the phishing and fake PayPal email message:
Personal Information Profile
- Card Holder Name:
- Date of Birth
- Mother's Maiden Name
- Social Security Number
- Home Phone Number
Home Address Profile
- Address Line 1
- Address Line 2
- City
- State
- Zip Code
- Country
Credit/Debit Card Profile
- Card Number
- Expiration Date
- Card Verification Number
Any information entered on the attached form, will be sent to the cyber-criminals behind the scam. Once they have the victims' PayPal credentials, they use it to hijack their accounts and use it for fraudulent purposes. This includes stealing money from their accounts and using their PayPal and credit card to make fraudulent purchases.
If you have already entered your PayPal user name,password and credit card information on the fake form, please change your PayPal password and contact your bank immediately.
To avoid getting tricked by these phishing scams, never click on a link in an email message to sign into your PayPal account. Always go to www.paypal.com and sign into your account from there. PayPal will display important messages or notifications to you once you have signed into your account.
This PayPal phishing scam is similar to the following: