Category: Exchange

I had receive the following spam email which seems to come from Paypal:

At first glance, it looks very legitimate but after close inspection, it was discovered to be a spam. This provides the opportunity to highlight some indications that the email received is a spam and how to mitigate against it.

• Check the email address that it is coming from. Not the one that is displayed at first glance but when it is opened, the email address that is between these symbols <>. In the example above, it says it is coming from service@paypal-int.co.uk. (Paypal correct address is service@intl.paypal.com).

• Check where the link that you are asked to click on is point to by just hovering the mouse pointer over the hyperlink and look at the bottom of the browser. The spam email said the following:
  

  If you did not initiate this payment, we recommend that you go to Manage/Cancel Payment

  The Manage/Cancel payment was pointing to an unknown URL and not to the Paypal website so you know that it is a malicious website it is asking you to click on.

• Usually the greeting will include the email address it is sent to. In this case, I was address by my email address (*****@gmail.com) and not by my full name which the Paypal will have on record.

Now for those who are unsure if this event actually happened that the email is stating. Verify the transaction by logging on directly to your website or portal (not using the email links) in my case Paypal.com and check if any such event has occurred.

I hope this is helpful and don’t be fooled by well crafted spam emails.

Keep safe…Keep secure