New PayPal Scam Hits at WA Motor-Drivers

WA Consumer Protection has issued an alert to the state's motor-drivers about one scam e-mail that asserts that the renewal of driver's license may now be done through PayPal, published computerworld.com.au dated October 9, 2014.

Reports have been coming to the consumer regulator from the Transport Department of Western Australia telling that the fake electronic mail that contains one web-link is landing inside people's inboxes as it asks for recipients' name, credit card particulars, mother's pre-marriage name, and address.

But, WA's Transport Department never utilizes PayPal to conduct any payment as well as doesn't ever request personal information from consumers over e-mail.

Therefore, David Hillyard, Consumer Protection's Acting Commissioner urges all recipients of the e-mail to instantly erase the message without opening it. Commerce.wa.gov.au published this, October 9, 2014.

Hillyard explains that the above scheme is called phishing scam wherein the fraudsters try to collect users' financial and other personal information so they may carry out card fraud alternatively filch cash from the victims' A/Cs.

According to him, following web-links inside any scam e-mail may as well mechanically download malware/spyware onto the user's PC that would enable the scammers gain admission into the device. Therefore, any e-mail that directs for clicking an embedded web-link must be carefully assessed and made sure it's authentic prior to acting on it.

As per rule, payment of authentic government bills is only via the mode recommended on the authorized online site, with such sites suggested being hunted independent of the electronic mails looking suspicious, Hillyard indicates.

Additional details along with suggestions for avoiding scams are provided on Western Australia's ScamNet website obtainable via manually entering the URL -www.scamnet.wa.gov.au into the Web-browser. Reports of scam or any enquiry may be done through e-mailing at wascamnet@commerce.wa.gov.au alternatively via dialing the 1300-30-40-54 helpline number.

An Australia PayPal Office Spokesman stated that the office was examining the e-mails as also that it had requested the online payment service's fraud team for doing the needful to shutdown the scam. Computerworld.com.au reported this.

The Spokesman advised PayPal customers to forever read the e-mail carefully to ascertain its sender and to not click any web-links if present.

» SPAMfighter News - 10/14/2014