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Evolving PayPal Phishing Scam Snares Victims

By Mark Huffman
ConsumerAffairs.com

July 10, 2006
Another email phishing scam is duping victims because it seems more legitimate than past attempts, experts say. The emails attempt to gain the victims' credit card numbers and target PayPal account holders.

The success of the scam may lie in the fact that it's differently from past phishing emails that directed recipients to click on a link and enter password and account numbers. As more consumers have been warned about the ploy, scammers have changed their tactics.

The new emails tell recipients their PayPal account has been targeted by fraudulent activity. But instead of being directed to click on a link, they are told to call a toll-free number.

If they call, an automated voice asks them to enter their credit card number, and even asks for it to be re-entered if the first attempt is inaccurate. Callers who do as they are told are simply handing their credit card information to the scammers.

Many people are falling for it because it doesn't seem that different from the way they have done business with online companies in the past, and that's part of the problem. Graham Cluley of the cyber-security firm Sophos, says the continually evolving scams are beginning to pose a problem for legitimate companies and the ways they communicate with their customers.

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