Is this a PayPal scam?

Printable View

19th April 2011, 01:56 AM
heroic_decepticon

Is this a PayPal scam?

Today I received $15 from "PayPal Private Limited" (my PayPal account is 'located' in Singapore, hence 'Private' instead of 'Proprietary').

The message it came with said:

"As our way of saying thank you for choosing Paypal as your preferred secured payment provider, kindly note that we have credited SGD15 into your Paypal account as a token of our sincere appreciation. Continue to enjoy the security and ease of payment through Paypal. We look forward to your continued support in 2011!"

Invoice ID: Bpep_3131_2862
Payment type: Instant

That's it. Nothing else. Didn't ask me to send anything. No address, no nothing.

As per usual, there is an 'accept'/ 'reject' option.

Now that I have chosen 'accept', I'm afraid its a scam and somehow someone can get my details by me accepting the money.

Anyway, I have delinked my credit card from PayPal, so all they can get is what little funds is left inside.

Any thoughts, please?
19th April 2011, 02:07 AM
SkyWarp91

Quote:

Originally Posted by heroic_decepticon

Today I received $15 from "PayPal Private Limited" (my PayPal account is 'located' in Singapore, hence 'Private' instead of 'Proprietary').

The message it came with said:

"As our way of saying thank you for choosing Paypal as your preferred secured payment provider, kindly note that we have credited SGD15 into your Paypal account as a token of our sincere appreciation. Continue to enjoy the security and ease of payment through Paypal. We look forward to your continued support in 2011!"

Invoice ID: Bpep_3131_2862
Payment type: Instant

That's it. Nothing else. Didn't ask me to send anything. No address, no nothing.

As per usual, there is an 'accept'/ 'reject' option.

Now that I have chosen 'accept', I'm afraid its a scam and somehow someone can get my details by me accepting the money.

Anyway, I have delinked my credit card from PayPal, so all they can get is what little funds is left inside.

Any thoughts, please?

Funny cos earlier today I started a thread asking people if Paypal is safe LOL. Well $15 does sound a bit rich from an anonymous person isn't it? And would a corporation risk sending out $15 to many of its members - wouldn't it cost too much on their end?
19th April 2011, 02:13 AM
kristofferrer

Hi Guys,

a work colleague's paypal account was used as a mule to ferry cash. A paypal member would put several donation of money into his account, then after the threshold was reach e.g. $100 the person who hacked his account would then transfer the money to another paypal account. Nothing bad was really done to his account. When he contacted paypal regarding this issue they opened up a investigation for fraud immediately.

I would recommend changing your security details (e.g. passwords) for paypal and associated emails. If it bugs you, you could always contact paypal themselves (they're pretty responsive to these things).
19th April 2011, 02:15 AM
heroic_decepticon

PayPal has been relatively safe for me and I have been using it since 2000 (so about 11 years now). It's safe as long you always access it through the PayPal website and not through links.

However, in my 11 or so years of using PayPal, they have never once actually gave me money (I mean, who would?).

I searched Google for PayPal rebate, cash back and etc. Apparently it has happened to a number of people, so getting $100 and as much as $1000. No one seems to be able to figure out why, but the most plausible explanation is PayPal rewarding customers who has generated a lot of fees for them and hope that you will use their service more.

I don't know. I have no idea. That's why I am asking.
19th April 2011, 02:31 AM
Tober

Quote:

Originally Posted by kristofferrer

I would recommend changing your security details (e.g. passwords) for paypal and associated emails. If it bugs you, you could always contact paypal themselves (they're pretty responsive to these things).

Yeah, I'd be doing that. PayPal have email, live chat or phone numbers you can call in their 'contact us' section.
19th April 2011, 02:45 AM
heroic_decepticon

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tober

Yeah, I'd be doing that. PayPal have email, live chat or phone numbers you can call in their 'contact us' section.

I have changed my password to a very complex one.

I will be calling them when their offices open tomorrow. Really perplexed by this... :confused:
19th April 2011, 02:51 AM
Tober

Quote:

Originally Posted by heroic_decepticon

I have changed my password to a very complex one.

I will be calling them when their offices open tomorrow. Really perplexed by this... :confused:

If you're that concerned, they seem to have a live chat section in their 'Contact Us' section. Maybe give it t try.
19th April 2011, 08:53 AM
Skullcruncher

Paypal once sent me a $10.00 voucher - the ones where you put the code in at the ebay transaction. Thats it :D Will be interesting to see what they say.
19th April 2011, 09:13 AM
UltraMarginal

I have heard of them sending out vouchers like Skull cruncher mentioned, I think it is definitely worth contacting them, and good plan changeing your password, like mentioned above, I'd also change your related email password as well.

hope it's nothing
19th April 2011, 12:29 PM
KaRNiV8L PRiME

I also have received a $30 voucher for being a valued customer. No issues thus far in 8 yrs
19th April 2011, 12:33 PM
jaydisc

It's cause you're such a high roller HD :D

There is no substitute for strong passwords that you change regularly, and a call to Paypal should clear up any related confusion.
19th April 2011, 05:34 PM
Zippo

My scam meter would be running very high with that email
Did you accept/reject after logging into your Paypal account or via the email?
19th April 2011, 06:29 PM
canofwhoopass_87

I received $31.29 (or so) directly from Paypal a couple of years back. It was just deposited straight into my account, no accept/decline option. Supposed to be an "aud to usd conversion miscalculation". No trouble presented itself after that, so I guess it was pretty safe.

Your case sounds similar, but I strongly agree with the guys - It seems very odd that they offered you $15 just like that. The email address you have attached to this specific paypal account might be compromised too. I think that in all likeliness, if this is some sort of scam then it would have stemmed from your email.

I encourage everyone here to only link secondary debit accounts which are capped at $0 (Cannot go below this amount if a withdrawal attempt is made). I just don't feel safe using a credit card online.

Anyway, hopefully just a false alarm and it turns out you really did receive a $15 cash gift from paypal :p

Let us know how you go HD!
19th April 2011, 08:08 PM
SkyWarp91

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zippo

My scam meter would be running very high with that email
Did you accept/reject after logging into your Paypal account or via the email?

I think he said in his first post that he did accept the money...
19th April 2011, 08:25 PM
Zippo

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkyWarp91

I think he said in his first post that he did accept the money...

Reading is for wimps :)