Originally Posted by quiltluvr

They are looking to collect personal information, it's commonly known as a "phishing scam". It's still absolutely stunning how successful this crooks are, but it's literally a numbers game.

To respond to these bogus emails helps further their crimes. To reply in anyway validates your email so they can recycle your address, sell it to other scammers, and well, it just gets worse from there.

I received the "Paypal" bogus email too, along with one from the "IRS". Both were pretty good compared to many that get thru, but the format, wording and spelling gave it away.

One of those news shows, 20/20, Dateline or 60 minutes, showed how these types of emails originate with people in foreign countries typing away in computer kiosks, who in turn, were "working" for other scammers in the pyramid.

If I can pass along just one thing.............if a legitimate company or business that you have or have had dealings with before is attempting to contact you via email they will NEVER, EVER ask you to submit personal identifying information under ANY circumstances. If for any reason you feel it is legit, before you do anything, CALL the business first. However, DO NOT use the numbers that may be contained in the questionable e-mail. Go the the business' OFFICIAL website and call from there.

It pays to protect yourself so that you are not the next statistic.