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Attempts to make you reveal personal information which people can use to
steal your money are easy to spot if you know what to look for.
The following guidelines are taken from the PayPal site. A few of the
words have been highlighted. If you follow these tips you should not be caught
out by this or any attempted identity fraud:
 | Safe Log In:
To log in to your PayPal account or access the PayPal website, open a new
web browser (e.g., Internet Explorer or Netscape) and type in the
following: https://www.paypal.co.uk |
| Greeting:
Emails from PayPal will address you by your first and last name or the
business name associated with your PayPal account. Fraudulent emails often
include the salutation "Dear PayPal User" or "Dear PayPal Member".
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| Email Attachments:
PayPal emails will never ask you to download an attachment or a
software program. Attachments contained in fraudulent emails often contain
viruses that may harm your computer or compromise your PayPal account. |
| Request for Personal
Information: If we require information from you, we will
notify you in an email and request that you enter the information only
after you have safely and securely logged in to your PayPal account.
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What should you do if you are suspicious?
If you think that you have received a fraudulent email,
please forward the email (or URL address) to
spoof@paypal.com and then delete the email from your mailbox. All online
payment providers have a similar site to report your suspicions. Never click
any links or attachments in a suspicious email.
Another tip: If you hover over the
link the fraudsters have 'thoughtfully' provided, you will see where the link
will take you. Please be careful how long you hover as some computers,
and especially laptops, will select the link after a few seconds if you hover
too long or 'double tap'. It will not be to the site you were expecting. So don't
believe the text of a link you see on screen - look behind
it
Protect yourself
There is periodically a lot of hype surrounding identity theft and when it
does happen, it can be a nightmare.
Fraudsters are looking for easy targets. They want:
| the least risk, |
| highest returns, |
| the least effort ways to make money |
| the paths of least resistance. |
For any "card not present" purchases make sure you trust the person you are
doing business with.
Strictly limit the information you give over the phone to that which is
visible on the card - not any of your security information. (If they are a
legitimate organisation, the card acceptor will flag up if you are asking them
to deliver goods to an address different from the one for the card bill - so
they will already have your address.)
Some tips
| Never letting your card out of your sight |
| Destroy rather than discard your receipts - even some junk mail can be
revealing |
| Shred all card receipts |
| Take care of your financial information
 | Never reveal your place of birth to strangers - it is the key to much
else |
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| Be alert if anybody distracts you when completing a card transaction |
| Always cover your pin with your hand when you use an ATM and choose
numbers that don't require you to move your hand about poking numbers. |
| Ensure all mail is redirected to you when you move (in UK
www.royalmail.com). |
| Check your credit report once or twice a year |
| Check your bank statements |
| Don't carry credit card you use every few months. If it goes
missing, when would you notice? |
| Remember your name and address is probably in your wallet so perhaps keep
card separate from your driving licence or business cards. |
| Is your home address on your luggage when you travel? Why not cover it or
put a contact address. |
Identity theft
How about a Trojan? Watch out for worms
Checking emails
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