Emails have been sent out from “PayPal and addressed to “Dear Member” with attachments are scams, according to the Chicago Tribune.
The email claims that there has been suspicious behavior on PayPal accounts and it needs you to download the attachment and complete the steps it lists. Do not download the attachment and immediately delete the email. The email has been coming from info@Paaypal.com and is not from PayPal itself.
There are a few steps that PayPal takes for extra security when sending out emails.
- Look for your name in the greeting. PayPal always address you in emails by your first and last name or the business name connected to the PayPal accounts. Generic greetings are sign of a fraudulant email.
- No personal information asked through email. PayPal will only ask and share information about your account once you have signed in to PayPal’s website. Do not share anything over email.
- Don’t download attachments. PayPal never sends attachments and never asks you to install software onto your computer.
- Don’t click on links in an email. The safest way to access information is to go to the actual PayPal site. Do not click on links in your email because you do not know where they might lead.
- Don’t “Act now!” PayPal will never put such urgency when it needs information.
- Keep your browser updated.Internet browswers will block fraudulent websites even better with each update. Keep your software as up-to-date as possible.
The best way to protect yourself against these email frauds is to stay aware and be careful about anything online that might seem suspicious.
