from the I'll-bet-that-they-are-pleased dept.
PayPal Upsets Microsoft as Phishers' Favorite Brand
Several factors edged the world's most popular payment service into the top spot.
PayPal was the most frequently spoofed brand in the third quarter of 2019, unseating Microsoft, phishers' usual favorite, which held the top spot for more than a year, Vade Secure reports.
Microsoft has been the most impersonated brand for five consecutive quarters, or as long as Vade Secure has published its quarterly Phishers' Favorites report. PayPal has consistently been a popular target; however, this year saw an uptick in PayPal attacks. Unique PayPal phishing URLs spiked 167.8% and 111.9% year-over-year in the first and second quarters, respectively. This quarter saw 69.6% growth with 16,547 unique PayPal phishing URLs, or nearly 180 per day.
[...]Phishing campaigns have capitalized on PayPal's popularity. One discovered by Vade researchers targeted more than 700,000 people, primarily located in Europe, with emails threatening legal action and requesting a small amount of money from recipients.
(Score: 2) by PartTimeZombie on Wednesday November 13 2019, @11:50PM (1 child)
I get a lot of Phishing emails from Netfilx telling me my subscription has been suspended as the payment didn't go through.
I can understand how people might get caught by that, if they're not paying attention.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday November 14 2019, @12:41AM
You just demonstrated why I am so concerned about privacy in the net.
Phishing and blackmail.
We have so many damm wish-lists out there, codified into law by lobbied congressmen, that existing is damn near impossible without violating someone's wishlist. Enforcement is optional, and it's pretty hard to tell if that dog that's got you in it's sights has any teeth.
I just got through reading a couple of stories from this one about what's going on in San Francisco. People getting assaulted and none of the authorities do anything.
While our congressmen ponder more law for us, I sure wish we would organize and ponder if we will support their salary, benefits, and pension plans - and how much authority they should be granted.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by Appalbarry on Thursday November 14 2019, @03:37AM (2 children)
I just had to set up a PayPal account to get a paid for a writing gig. [smashingmagazine.com] Holy hell!
Setting up the actual account was complex enough, and I guess that I can live with that, but the actual payment process went:
I now remember why I abandoned PayPal fifteen years ago. If they had been open and upfront about all of the nonsense, and if there was anything resembling "customer service" to contact I might be more forgiving.
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Thursday November 14 2019, @04:20PM (1 child)
PayPal is the reason why people actually started paying for things online. Sure, there were some people who used their credit card to pay online, but people were a lot less willing to do that back when PayPal was first getting going.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 2) by Appalbarry on Thursday November 14 2019, @09:43PM
I forgot to mention that they also nailed for $8+ dollars!
Yes, way back when PayPal was the thing that made so much of e-commerce feel safe, but it surely has outlived its usefulness.