Yesterday saw the release of a sophisticated attempt at indentity theft, an email is in ciculation claiming to come from paypal stating that your paypal account has limited access. It then prompts you to unlock your account by veryfying your identity and emailing some documents to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , it asks for a scanned copy of your passport and a copy of a utility bill. This is not a valid paypal email, it is someone attempting to pose as Paypal.
We have submitted this email to paypal and almost immdiatley got a response confirming it was bogus.
For your information we have included a copy of the email text below. If any of our clients are unsure of the validity of any email of this type, please forward a copy of the email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it and one of our security specialists will be more than happy to confirm if its valid or a spoof.
Copy of email
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From: Paypal service [mailto: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ]
Sent: 25 December 2008 20:05
To:
Subject: Notification of Limited Account Access
PayPal Resolution Center: Your account is limited.
(Your case ID for this reason is PP-0064310.)
PayPal is constantly working to ensure security by regularly screening the accounts in our system. We recently reviewed your account, and we need more information to help us provide you with secure service. Until we can collect this information, your access to sensitive account features will be limited. We would like to restore your access as soon as possible, and we apologize for the inconvenience.
This is done for your protection only you, the recipient of this email can take the next step in the remove limitation process.
Why is my account access limited?
December 23, 2008: We have reason to believe that your account was accessed by a third party. Because protecting the security of your account is our primary concern, we have limited access to sensitive PayPal account features. We understand that this may be an inconvenience but please understand that this temporary limitation is for your protection.
(Your case ID for this reason is PP-0064310.)
How can I restore my account access?
Please scan the following documents, attach them to your email and forward them to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
- A copy of your passport (the page displaying your photograph, date of birth and full passport number),
- A copy of a utility bill (for example - an electricity bill) or a bank statement - displaying your name and address and dated within the last three months. Please note we do not accept on line screenshots.
Completing all of the checklist items will automatically restore your account access.
Thank you for using PayPal!
The PayPal an eBay Company
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Please do not reply to this email. This mailbox is not monitored and you will not receive a response. For assistance, log in to your PayPal account and click the Help link located in the top right corner of any PayPal page.
PayPal Email ID PP-PP-0064310.
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Yarm Computers Ltd Network Security Team
