Sponsored by
Couple's web of fraud ordeal
One Leeds couple have lost all faith in the PayPal sytem. Andrew Hutchinson finds out about their bad internet experience
IT'S the online money transfer service run and recommended by auction site eBay and used by millions of buyers and sellers worldwide.
PayPal works by acting as a middle-man, allowing transfer of funds between accounts without revealing actual bank details to protect all parties from possible fraud.
But one Leeds couple have lost all faith in the payment system and vowed never to use it again after falling foul of a PayPal scam.
David Driver and girlfriend Emma Harrison decided to sell an old mobile phone with an asking price of 50 on eBay last week.
With no bids placed on the flip phone they received an email out of the blue from a woman offering them 230 and 20 for postage and packaging if they removed it from sale.
The mystery buyer claimed that due to the nature of her work she was unable to wait until the end of the auction but would send payment through PayPal.
The following day the couple received an email saying payment had been approved by PayPal and they would receive the money once they had sent a recorded delivery tracking account number for the package. Emma, 18, said the con was made even more convincing as the fraudster claimed the mobile phone was a birthday present for her fiance who worked at an embassy in Nigeria.
"She emailed us a birthday message which we wrote out and put in the parcel and I even put birthday wrapping paper on it for her," said Emma, from Garforth in Leeds.
Fraud
A few days later they received an email from PayPal saying they had been the victim of a fraud.
And when they rang the firm their worst fears were confirmed.
"I was going to tell them about what had happened," said 18-year-old David, a HGV mechanic, from Colton in Leeds. "But they told me what had happened before I had a chance to explain the circumstances. That makes us think that this is happening to a lot of people."
Emma said the experience had left them feeling angry and embarrassed.
"We are both really mad that we have been conned. We just hope our story makes people extra cautious. We have tried to get the parcel back but it had already left the country.
"As for PayPal we won't be using it ever again. They claim that it's really safe and the best system to use but we feel badly let down."
A PayPal spokesman told Consumerwatch: "Although 'phishing' or spoof emails are clearly a concern, it's still the smallest form of fraud in the UK.
"If a PayPal user is ever sent an email which seems suspicious the immediate and most basic action to take is to log into your account and verify any activity before going ahead with any transactions."
How to spot fake message
Generic greetings: Many spoof emails begin with: "Dear PayPal member." If you do not see your first and last name do not click on any links or button.
A fake sender's address: A spoof email may include a forged email address.
A false sense of urgency: There may be a threat that your account is in jeopardy if you don't update it ASAP or that information is needed to update your account.
Fake links: Always check where a link is going before you click. A fraudulent link could direct you to a spoof website that could install spyware on your system to enable a hacker to steal passwords or credit card numbers.
Emails that appear to be websites: PayPal never asks for personal information.
Deceptive URLs: Only enter your PayPal password on PayPal pages. These begin with https://www.paypal.com/. Even if a URL contains the word "PayPal," it may not be a PayPal site.
Misspellings and bad grammar: Spoof emails often contain misspellings.
Unsafe sites: The term "https" should always precede any website address where you enter personal information. The "s" stands for secure.
Pop-up boxes: PayPal will never use a pop-up box.
Attachments: Never click on an attachment. It could download spyware or a virus.
If you receive a spoof email, forward the entire email to spoof@paypal.com.
Don't be fooled by mock auction sales
CONSUMER experts in Leeds today warned householders about the risks of attending mock auction sales.
Morley-based Consumer Direct Yorkshire & the Humber has received a number of complaints from consumers who have let curiosity get the better of them, and allegedly paid inflated prices for worthless goods.
Organisers of mock auctions usually book a venue for one day and then advertise the event as a clearance sale or stock liquidation.
They often distribute leaflets advertising expensive branded goods such as PCs, TVs and hi-fis at greatly reduced prices.
However, these items are not always available, and the products that are on sale are often cheap, of poor quality and in some cases counterfeit.
Many people who attend these sales are drawn into "bidding" for goods that they don't even see, only to discover when it's too late that they have paid over the odds for cheap and low-quality merchandise.
John Field, manager at Consumer Direct, advised people to be suspicious if they saw promotions for sales at ridiculously low prices.
He told Consumerwatch: "We would like people to think carefully before parting with their money at these sales.
"The goods you see advertised on display may not be those you get when you hand over your cash.
"My advice would be that if you're easily persuaded, you should try to avoid these types of sales, as more often than not people come out disappointed."
l If you are aware of any such sales taking place or if you have been caught out, then advice is on hand from Consumer Direct by phoning 08454 04 05 06 or by visiting their website at www.consumerdirect.gov.uk.
At the double...it's all sorted
CONSUMERWATCH's Get It Sorted column is celebrating a double success.
A children's playground has now been repaired and restored and land neglected council-owned garages have also been cleaned up after we stepped in to help.
Workmen began work to replace safety mats and damaged swings early last week on the playground off Hesketh Lane at West Ardsley. Broken glass which littered the site has also been swept away.
Local resident, Ron Earnshaw, 71, said: "We are all really pleased with the work which has been carried out. And a big thank you to Consumerwatch. I doubt it would have been sorted so quickly if you had not stepped in to help."
Consumerwatch reader Richard Kirby has been keeping a close eye on progress of the clean-up operation around council-owned garages on Queensway at Rothwell in Leeds.
Spotlight
He said: "It is fantastic so see it tidied up at last. The workman who came did a superb job – my wife even gave him a cup of tea. Can I say a big thank you to Consumerwatch for getting it sorted."
The consumer desk continues to be inundated with requests for help from readers wanting to clean up their neighbourhood.
Get It Sorted aims to give you, our readers, the chance to turn the spotlight on public areas in Leeds that are in disrepair or have been damaged.
We will then seek to put the pressure on the relevant authorities to get it sorted.
Each complaint will feature in Monday's award-winning Consumerwatch column and will continue to appear each week until it's sorted. And there will be a running reminder of how long it's taking for action.
So are you a Consumerwatch reader being forced to play the waiting game?
Or perhaps sick of waiting for faulty street lights to be repaired? Is there a burst water main which is leaking? Or piles of rubbish which need removing?
Then Consumerwatch's Get It Sorted column could be the solution you are looking for.
Yorkshire Evening Post Consumer Reporter, Andrew Hutchinson, said: "We all know of things that have taken ages for the authorities to sort out.
"We hope this new column will help readers tackle those irritations that blight our communities."
OAKWOOD
Two drains opposite each other on Gipton Wood Road, near its junction with Easterly Road, which have been blocked for a month. Residents say when it rains the water runs down and floods Easterly Road.
Who is responsible? Leeds City Council's highways department on 0845 124 0113
First reported: Today
ROTHWELL
The area surrounding council-owned garages on Queensway which residents say are in desperate need of a clean up and general tidy.
Who is responsible? Leeds City Council's housing and repairs office on (0113) 3984701
Days passed: Four
SORTED
WEST ARDSLEY
Residents are calling for a children's playground off Hesketh Lane to be repaired and restored. Swings are broken and safety mats have been pulled up while broken glass needs to be removed.
Who is responsible? Leeds City Council's parks and countryside department on (0113) 3957400
Days passed: Seven
SORTED
OAKWOOD
Residents are unhappy with the state of pothole riddled Rossington Road which they say desperately needs resurfacing.
Who is responsible? Leeds City Council's highways department on 0845 124 0113
First reported: August 21
Days passed: 21
GET IT SORTED
If you have an item you want to nominate, let us know.
Contact Andrew Hutchinson
on (0113) 238 8122, giving your name, address and telephone number and the nature and location of the item you feel needs to be fixed.
We will take it from there and do our best to get it sorted.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Leeds
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 9 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
