PayPal tips, video and advice to fight phishing

Following the news this week that 77% of people in Britain have been targeted by internet phishing scams during the past year and 88% of UK internet users are unable to distinguish a phishing site from an official page when presented side by side, Garreth Griffith, Head of Risk Management at PayPal UK comments:

"Phishers are using increasingly sophisticated ways to design phishing emails to lure people into thinking they have come from a trusted provider, such as their bank or credit card provider. If anyone is ever in doubt about the authenticity of an email, and concerned it may be a phishing scam they should never click on the link in the email. Instead open up your internet browser and type the link to the trusted organization directly into the browser. If they have an urgent message for you, they will let you know when you login to your account on the legitimate website. Always remember, the actual website that you go to when you click on a link in an email is not always the same one as the email link describes."

Garreth Griffith continued, "Forewarned is forearmed. With more people than ever banking online in the UK it's really important that people remain vigilant whenever they are making financial transactions online and don't inadvertently leave themselves open to becoming a victim of a scam or fraud. There is now a wealth of information available, particularly through initiatives such as Get Safe Online (getsafeonline.org), which explain exactly how to ensure maximum safety whilst engaging in a range of online activities. Consumers everywhere can stay one step ahead and better protect themselves online by just following a few simple tips."

Consumers who are reluctant to share bank or card details can shop online and pay with PayPal without having to give any personal details.

Tips on how to spot a phishing email:

1. Generic greetings. Many spoof emails begin with a general greeting, such as: "Dear PayPal member." If you do not see your first and last name, be suspicious and do not click on any links or button.

2. A fake sender's address. A spoof email may include a forged email address in the "From" field. This field is easily altered.

3. A false sense of urgency. Many spoof emails try to deceive you with the threat that your account is in jeopardy if you don't update it ASAP. They may also state that an unauthorised transaction has recently occurred. Always remember, if it is so urgent, the real organisation will let you know when you go directly to their website rather than clicking on any links in the email.

PayPal works closely with the internet industry in the fight to keep consumers safe from phishing and cybercrime. PayPal is a partner in the UK's internet safety awareness initiative, Get Safe Online (getsafeonline.org). PayPal works with internet service providers to stop fraudulent emails from reaching consumers: Yahoo! Mail and Google's webmail service GmailTM both block emails wrongly claiming to be from eBay and PayPal from reaching their customers.