So today I got a "spoof" email which was an attempt to obtain my personal account information (i guess with paypal). It supposedly came from ebay telling me that my account was suspended and that I would need to "click the link to update billing information". Well I was totally unaware of what was going on and I clicked the link but (luckily) it didn't redirect me and my session timed out. So that's when I went to my ebay account and read about these spoof emails...they did confirm for me that I was not suspended and I did receive a spoof. So I changed my password over there and I went to change my email password but before it would allow that it told me there was an "error" of sorts and one of the possible reasons for this could be because "I am connected to a site pretending to be hotmail......blah blah" so now I am afraid to change my password because I am worried that someone else will intercept it. And even though I think I lucked out in not accidently giving my info to the "spoofers" I am still afraid that somehow they have my information or that they are somehow going to intercept it through anything I do in my email. Should I be worried? I don't know what to do as this has never happened before. I'm new to the world of computers. How do I make sure they didn't get any of my private info??????
Only time can tell you that. I would get the Voice phone number for PayPal, and contact them that way to change passwords and such. Also, contact your credit card company or bank, and put them on alert for charges YOU didn't make. Microsoft (Hotmail) has an 800 number I think. They can help you change your info too.
also, you could cancel your ebay and paypal accounts, and setup new ones. you got caught by what's called a 'phishing' scam. no company will ever send out emails asking for passwords and such.
Thanks. Do you think I am safe since I didn't actually type in any info (since for some reason the link didn't seem to work correctly) or is it possible they can obtain my info just from me clicking the link? I emailed ebay but they have not gotten back to me yet.
You're safe. Also, call your credit card people and ask about online billing. That's how I watch mine to make sure nothing happens.
I personally don't use them, but I do know that there are several programs which are supposed to detect spoofed websites, also known as phishing. If you are still worried about this happening again you might want to look into using one of them.
I've received numerous emails like you describe, over the last year or so.... most were reputedly from establishments like ebay and paypal... tho some purported to be from banks (some I use, some I'd never heard of...) NEVER click on any links in such suspicious emails! (There are a number of "variations on the theme" out there...most seem to include some sort of "threat" - like suspending or limiting your account if you don't respond immediately....I suspect this is included specifically to incite panic in the recipient, and short-circuit their rational thinking....) ebay and paypal both have official mechanisims in place for dealing with this - FORWARD THE MESSAGE YOU RECEIVE (don't copy & paste it, or alter it in any way - they want the original "path" intact) to: spoof@ebay.com or spoof@paypal.com , depending who the suspicious email is supposed to be from... They will actually investigate the source of the email, and claim to prosecute perpetrators... In any event, they will immediately send you a real email from their "trust & safety" department, verifying that you are being conned, and that the emails are NOT from them - and reassuring you that your account is really all ok.... (...which can reduce your blood pressure a point or two....) With the "bank notices", I suggest contacting the bank directly to inquire... I do this even if I've never heard of the bank....(sometimes "the bank" doesn't even really exist....) but I prefer to check and make sure that no one has opened an account or credit line using my identity, or some aspect thereof.... I usually change my log-ins and passwords on the accounts in question, anyway.... it's a pain, but, in cases like this, I subscribe to the theory that "just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they're not out to get you"... ...hope my learning-experiences help someone stay unconned....
I get bogus pay pal ones on a semi regular basis. Mine say someone was trying to access my account and they often list an email addy. Pay pal reccomends sending the info to them so they can investigate it. They also stated if its a valid email from them it wil be addressed to your name, not just your email name (such as John Smith)
