Recognizing Phishing

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This update was reprinted from: https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=xpt/Marketing/securitycenter/general/RecognizePhishing-outside

If links don't work in this article, you may have to go to the original site (above) to access the links.

Be electronically safe!! 

Phishing Guide Part 2

Things to look for in scam email and websites.

Fraudulent email and websites are designed to deceive you and can be difficult to distinguish from the real thing.

Whenever you get an email about your PayPal account, the safest and easiest course of action is to open a new browser, type https://www.paypal.com/us, and log in to your PayPal account directly. Do not click on any link in an email that requests personal information.

How to spot a phishing email.

There are many telltale signs of a fraudulent email.

  1. Sender's Email Address. To give you a false sense of security, the “From” line may include an official-looking email address that may actually be copied from a genuine one. The email address can easily be altered – it’s not an indication of the validity of any email communication.
  2. Generic Email Greeting. A typical phishing email will have a generic greeting, such as “Dear User.” Note: All PayPal emails will greet you by your first and last name.
  3. False Sense of Urgency. Most phishing emails try to deceive you with the threat that your account will be in jeopardy if it’s not updated right away. An email that urgently requests you to supply sensitive personal information is typically fraudulent.
  4. Fake Links. Many phishing emails have a link that looks valid, but sends you to a fraudulent site that may or may not have an URL different from the link. Always check where a link is going before you click. Move your mouse over the URL in the email and look at the URL in the browser. As always, if it looks suspicious, don't click it. Open a new browser window, and type https://www.paypal.com/us.
  5. Attachments. Similar to fake links, attachments can be used in phishing emails and are dangerous. Never click on an attachment. It could cause you to download spyware or a virus. PayPal will never email you an attachment or a software update to install on your computer.

How to spot a spoof (fraudulent) website.

A phishing email will usually try to direct you to a fraudulent website that mimics the appearance of a popular website or company. The spoof website will request your personal information, such as credit card number, Social Security number, or account password.

You think you are giving information to a trusted company when, in fact, you are supplying it to an online criminal.

  1. Deceptive URLs.

    Be cautious. Some fraudsters will insert a fake browser address bar over the real one, making it appear that you’re on a legitimate website. Follow these precautions: Even if an URL contains the word "PayPal," it may not be a PayPal site.

  2. Out-of-place lock icon.

    Make sure there is a secure lock icon in the status bar at the bottom of the browser window. Many fake sites will put this icon inside the window to deceive you.

Part 3: Fighting Phishing

Additional resources for everyone.

To learn more Online Safety Essentials, go to: