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E-mail phishing scam poses as notification from StubHub about ticket purchases for a boxing match.

Published Oct. 27, 2011

Claim:

Phishing bait:   E-mail notification from StubHub about ticket purchases for a boxing match.


Example:   [Collected via e-mail, October 2011]


Email from StubHub Orders re: Order Placed - Ticket Order #47223311

Thanks for your order! We've instructed the seller to confirm your order within the next 48 hours. After the seller confirms your order, you can expect your tickets to be delivered by the date below.

Expected delivery date: Monday, 10/31/2011 (based on seller estimate)

Note: Your card has been authorized for the amount of your order but has NOT YET BEEN CHARGED. You will be charged when the seller confirms your order.

Please review the information below. Thanks for shopping at StubHub!

Login to StubHub! to view your order confirmation.
Order info
Order #: 47223311 | Order date: 10/27/2011
Manny Pacquiao vs Juan Manuel Marquez Boxing Tickets at MGM Grand Garden
Arena, Las Vegas, NV
Saturday, 11/12/2011 03:00 p.m. (PST) (Event time subject to change - Check local listings)
Quantity: 2 tickets
Section: Lower 17
Row: S | Seats: 16, 17
Shipping info
This shipment will be sent to:
A Smith
5953 S Denker Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90047
US
Shipping method: FedEx Standard Overnight
We don't have a FedEx tracking number for you yet. We'll send it with your order confirmation email.

Billing info
Price per ticket: $1250.00
Quantity: x 2
Subtotal: $2500.00
Service fee: + $250.00
Delivery services: + $16.95
Order total: $2766.95

Credit card:
The credit or debit card has been authorized but has not yet been charged.
Your card will be charged within the next 48 hours.

Thanks for using StubHub!
If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please contact us.
StubHub Customer Service
Weekdays: 5:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. (Pacific time)
Weekends: 6:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. (Pacific time)
CustomerService@StubHub.com
https://www.StubHub.com
StubHub! Where fans buy and sell ticketsTM



 

Origins:   In October 2011 spammed e-mails went out purporting to be notices of impending purchases of expensive tickets to a boxing match through the StubHub ticket reseller site. The notices were part of a phishing scam intended to capture personal information from alarmed recipients who attempted to use the phony links embedded in the messages to log in to their accounts and cancel charges for what appeared to be mistaken or unauthorized purchases.

StubHub has since posted a warning about the scam on its site:



We are aware that some people have received an email regarding order number 47223311, which they did not place. The email is a phishing email, and was NOT sent by StubHub or any affiliate. Your credit cards have not been charged. Please DO NOT click on any link in the email. If you have logged in to your account via one of the links in the email, you should log into your StubHub account immediately (https://www.stubhub.com/account/) to change your StubHub password.

If you have not clicked on any of the links contained in the email, you can safely delete it.


Last updated:   27 October 2011

David Mikkelson founded the site now known as snopes.com back in 1994.