Community First Credit Union has noticed an uptick of PayPal fraud disputes in recent weeks and wants to remind our members to be cautious when receiving emails to confirm any purchases.
We’ve all been there—with the ease of online shopping, it can be easy to forget how many orders we’re placing, and where! Scammers like to take advantage of this massive online marketplace to gain access to user accounts or personal information. While these scam attempts can occur across several channels like text, social media, or even phone call, many are through email.
Typically, these phishing emails look extremely convincing. With a PayPal logo, and spoofed PayPal email address, they claim that you sent money to an unknown vendor and ask you to verify the transaction. Many victims click on the links in the email in a hurry, wanting more information on this fake transaction. However, this is how scammers can lead you to a fake website to steal your login credentials, or even install malware on your computer.
While there are certain telltale signs that an email is a phish attempt, fraudsters are getting craftier with new advances in technology, allowing them to create incredibly convincing emails.
It is best to only click on emails with order details when you are sure you have made a transaction and recognize the vendor or the sender.
If you are worried that your account was truly compromised and a fraudulent transaction was made, the best course of action is to login to your account by going directly to the vendor’s website, not by clicking on any links in the email. This way you can safely verify if your account has a fraudulent transaction and reach out for assistance through verified channels.
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