Greetings,

I received an email a few days ago (pasted below, with name X'ed out), which appeared to be from Paypal, saying my "subscription to ALI-PAC Yearly Membership" of $25.00 USD had failed due to lack of a "back-up funding source for your instant transfer" and would be re-attempted on September 30th.

Needless to say, this set off MAJOR ALARMS in my mental financial security department.

One of two things is going on here:

1.) This is a phishing scam directed at ALI-PAC members to try and get them to click on the link in the email and log in to a phony Paypal site thus giving up their Paypal login information to hackers (I removed part of the URL in question below so no one will do just that, if in fact that is the case)

or...

2.) ALI-PAC is trying to auto-debit yearly subscriptions of $25.00 USD to the Paypal accounts of people who have donated to ALI-PAC through Paypal. I am unable to find any record of me having given ALI-PAC permission to do this. I didn't even have an account on ALI-PAC until just now, created one just to post this message. Yes, I did donate to ALI-PAC some time ago, probably via Paypal. If ALI-PAC is in fact trying to auto-debit the Paypal accounts of former donaters per a "subcription" justification, it is *completely* unacceptable and NEEDS TO STOP NOW.

My hunch is it is in fact #1, a Paypal phishing attempt, however a particularly well formed one (I am used to seeing Paypal phishing scams; they are usually easy to identify).

I would appreciate it if someone there at ALI-PAC would clarify this matter for me.

Details of apparent Paypal email below:

Dear XXXX,

The payment for your subscription to ALI-PAC Yearly Membership failed because you do not currently have a back-up funding source for your instant transfer payment.Americans for Legal Immigration has been notified of this failed payment.

We will try to make payment again on Sep 30, 2006.

To correct this problem, you must update your funding source to be an eCheck or a credit card.

Please change the funding source for this Subscription by clicking this link and following the steps below:
https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-binXXXXXX ... @alipac.us

1. Click the link above to go to log in and go to your Subscription Details.
2. Under 'Subscription Funding Source' choose a credit card or eCheck funding source from one of the drop-downs.

If there are no other funding sources available, add a new credit card:

3. Click on the 'Profile' subtab
4. Choose the 'Credit Cards' link from the Financial Information column
5. Click 'Add'
6. Follow the on-screen instructions to add a new credit card to your PayPal account

After adding a new credit card, follow steps 1 and 2 above to change your subscription funding source.



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Subscription Details
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Amount: $25.00 USD
Date of payment failure: Sep 27, 2006
Date of next payment attempt: Sep 30, 2006
Subscription Name: ALI-PAC Yearly Membership
Subscription Number: S-1VE55396WK229810K
Item Number: ALIYEAR