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PayPal users beware; watch out for scam emails

There's a new reason to be nervous about buying things online.

The world's most popular auction site's own payment system may have been compromised. eBay's own payment method called PayPal has been exploited to serve as a way to get into your finances.

While the people who are behind the scam probably didn't break into PayPal to get your credit card information they did get your email in the effort to steal your identity.

If you've ever bid on eBay you know the company encourages you to use its secure pay system, PayPal.

But in the past 10 days many people with PayPal accounts have received a suspicious email.

It said that PayPal launched an anti-fraud initiative that requires verification of personal information.

But the email isn't from PayPal; it's from an unknown source that wants your real PayPal information hoping to steal money from your online pocket. Dennis Golik said the email is very convincing with PayPal's logo and computer identity numbers.

But when it asked for his credit card and bank account information including his personal identification number he knew something was wrong.

"Especially when they asked for my PIN number on my ATM card. That was very suspicious because all of the banks I work with tell me don't even tell us your PIN," said Golik.

KATU News received nearly a dozen emails asking if the PayPal request was real.

Following repeated requests to PayPal, KATU finally heard back from them stating that the email is not theirs and no one should give out any of the information it's requesting.

Golik said that he didn't give out any information to the scam email.

When asked what he thought would happen if he sent the information, Golik replied: "I think I'd be looking at getting new I.D. number and I think I'd be a victim of identity theft. I think I'd be getting a hold of banks to stop unauthorized withdrawals."

PayPal has given out little information regarding this scam, but they do say they are investigating it.

The Oregon Attorney General said the email is definitely a scam and you should delete it immediately.

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