I have just been sent an email warning me my PayPal account has been limited. It states: “PayPal recently contacted you after having identified a problem.” It all looks quite official, but something told me not to click on the link. When I logged on to my account, all seemed normal. What’s going on? CB, Hitchin
Whenever you are sent an email that purports to be from a bank, PayPal or similar, you need to be on alert. These emails are sent out by scammers in their thousands – if not millions – and are designed to try to get the unwary to log into their account using a fake link embedded in the email. Had you clicked on it and inputted your PayPal log-on and password, your account would almost certainly have been used to start buying items or worse.
Bank customers are also particular targets – the tone is designed to panic account holders into a quick response. The scammers operate on the basis that a small percentage of recipients will fall for it, and hand over their details. Ignore any links to the company’s website in the email. Instead, open a new browser and log in to your account as normal.
We welcome letters but cannot answer individually. Email us at consumer.champions@theguardian.com or write to Consumer Champions, Money, the Guardian, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU. Please include a daytime phone number
