Is this email a Paypal scam?

[polk county]

Dear XXXXXXXX

Our records indicate that we are holding unclaimed property in the amount of $18.88 due to the person listed above with the email address XXXXXXXXX The owner may claim this property by contacting us at the address and/or telephone number listed below or by logging into the account.
PayPal, Inc
ATTN: Unclaimed Property
P.O. Box 45950
Omaha, NE 68145-0950

Phone number: 1-866-648-5854
If we do not hear from the owner by April 18, 2012, the law requires us to submit this property to the Florida Treasury Department Unclaimed Property Division.
Please take a minute to call us at 1-866-648-5854 to claim your property. Our customer service team can assist you with logging into your account if you need assistance, or transfer the funds to your current account upon request.
If you received a notification but the PayPal account listed does not belong to you, please disregard the email.
Sincerely,
PayPal

? 2012 PayPal Inc. All rights reserved. PayPal is located at 2211 N. First St., San Jose, CA 95131.

 

[polk county]

Re: Is this email a Paypal scam?

Back when I was ebaying I had everyone send money orders. I only used Paypal to buy, never to sell. Why would Paypal have to give the money to the government. It should be paypals money right?

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Is this email a Paypal scam?

I think so . . .

PayPal would send an email to the person of record on the account right? So, that would be you?

Why would they want you to clean out your account?

Do you have a PayPal account?

 

[bassman284]

Re: Is this email a Paypal scam?

Unclaimed Property
Excerpt from link:

"Acting in the best interest of consumers, each state has enacted an unclaimed property statute that protects your funds from reverting back to the company if you have lost contact with them. These laws instruct companies to turn forgotten funds over to a state official who will then make a diligent effort to find you or your heirs."

I'm sure PayPal frequently has "abandoned" accounts and it's less trouble and paperwork if they can get you to clean out the account before they have to turn the property over to the state. Believe me, it will be less trouble for you as well.

Every state maintains a database of unclaimed property (searchable from the link I provided) and there are several different ways their searh is handled.

Iowa has what they call the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt. Every year the publish lists of names in local newspapers of people with unclaimed property. One my name was on the list twice. In 1998, I rented a place for about 6 months while I was looking for a place to buy and as a result had a utility refund and an insurance refund that did not get forwarded to my new address. Since thy were both under $100, I was able to claim them by providing a utility bill with the rental address on it. Over $100 takes a little more.

 

[rivermouse]

Re: Is this email a Paypal scam?

If it is impossible for you to get a real contact number and name and be able to reach them to talk about it WITHOUT USING A COMPUTER FORGET IT..iTS A SCAM Scammers always hide behind untraceable computers .always

 

[oops!]

Re: Is this email a Paypal scam?

phone pay pal

 

[bassman284]

Re: Is this email a Paypal scam?

Or log in to your PayPal account if you can remember the password.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Is this email a Paypal scam?

Just call paypal.

Was the message addressed to you by name? Paypal never contacts you with a general letter, they always use your first and last name as registered when you signed up for your account. Your best bet is to phone them at the contact number and see what is going on.

If it is addressed to "Dear Paypal user" it is a scam.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Is this email a Paypal scam?

log into paypal, then email the customer service people

 

[62 ROYAL SCOTT]

Re: Is this email a Paypal scam?

HELL-O and YES YES YES it is a scam i get email all the time saying i won millions DON'T FALL FOR IT . BLOCK SENDER AND SEND TO SPAM tha's about all you can do or send to cyber police i dont have thier web site handy but you can google it

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Is this email a Paypal scam?

I am on the phone with paypal as I type this

 

[aspeck]

Re: Is this email a Paypal scam?

And what are they saying?

 

[buildmark]

Re: Is this email a Paypal scam?

just log into your paypal account and check it out there. if you see nothing, then it's not official. I see this kind of stuff all the time.

 

[aspeck]

Re: Is this email a Paypal scam?

just log into your paypal account and check it out there. if you see nothing, then it's not official. I see this kind of stuff all the time.

LOL!!! There is just something wrong with Mr. Magoo saying "I see this kind of stuff all the time." Sorry, just struck me funny looking at your avatar as I read your post.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Is this email a Paypal scam?

And what are they saying?

They are working on a goof up they did for me, I have three types of paypal accounts and somehow information got merged between them in an incorrect manner, I have a regular paypal business account, a bill me later account and a Paypal Credit account and somehow my Bill me later got linked to my business account and un linked my papay credit account from my business account, so they are realigning things for me!

But again, I had no problem getting a hold of them on the phone.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Is this email a Paypal scam?

I did ask them about your email and if it was not personally addressed to you by name, then it is a phony and should be forwarded to spoof@paypal.com so they can investigate.

 

[joed]

Re: Is this email a Paypal scam?

Go to the actual Paypal website and use the contact information there to call them. Do not use the contact information from the letter. Or least confirm that the contact information in the letter is the same info on the website.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Is this email a Paypal scam?

Forget about it.
It's $18.

So what if they do turn it over to the state? Then the state will contact you in about 4 years.

If you need the $18 that bad, then sell your computer.

 

[LouisStewart]

It's obviously a scam, paypal would just keep the money lol.