Latest Phishing Scam: Account Update Warning Notification From PayPal

Beware! Its a Cyber World -- Account Update Warning Notification From PayPal

Today I received the following warning notification, apparently from PayPal, asking to update the PayPal account information. It's a latest Phishing Scam and a 100% complete attempt to fool the recipients. 

It is not from PayPal. One way you can tell is that it does not contain your name, exactly as it was given in your PayPal account. PayPal always uses that information in all communication with you.

A link is provided in the mail to update Paypal account information which leads to a fake (look-alike) Paypal website. Screenshot is sown below:

Fake (Look-alike) PayPal Account Update Website Homepage

First go through the contents of the mail below, before jumping to the conclusion at the end:

==========================================================
From: PayPal (noreply@paypal.com)
To:
Sent: Tuesday, October 18, 2011 7:56 PM
Subject: Warning Notification

Warning Notification

Dear PayPal Customer,

It has come to our attention that your PayPal account information needs to be updated as part of

our continuing commitment to protect your account and to reduce the instance of fraud on our website.

If you could please take 5-10 minutes out of your online experience and update your personal records

you will not run into any future problems with the online service.

However, failure to update your records will result in account suspension. Please update your records

before October 20, 2011.

Once you have updated your account records, your PayPal account activity will not be interrupted and

will continue as normal.

Click here to update your PayPal account information (Link removed by author)

Sincerely,

PayPal

© 2011 PayPal Inc. All rights reserved. PayPal is located at 2211 N. First St., San Jose, CA 95131.

==========================================================

Account Update Warning Notification From PayPal -- Conclusion

When I opened the original Paypal website, I found quite different homepage shown below:

Original Paypal Website Homepage

You can see the difference in original and fake (look-alike) Paypal website.

Fortunately, I don't have PayPal account because this service is not available in my country of residence. Therefore, I'm one hundred percent sure that its a trap set by cyber scammers. 

Furthermore, I got enough evidence that it is a Phishing Scam  by going through following links:

http://www.virtu-software.com/anti-spam/scam_paypal.asp

http://www.newblood.com/developers/phishing-scam-alert-service.php

http://www.auditmypc.com/pay-pal.asp