Unauthorised transaction & phishing emails -linked?

[Cobretti]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this website I am looking for some clarity on my situation as paypal & my bank aren't exactly helpful.

This morning I woke up and i had about 200+ emails, all random phishing emails. I have listed a few below:

classof1956-request@sciencehill .org
announce-request@lists.openmoko .org
dhs-csed-request@lists12.state.mn .org

etc etc

I then checked my paypal and I have seen a transaction for 1$ and im not sure if this is linked ....
the transaction on paypal was a donation to:
FBI LA CA AA
FBI LACAAA | Los Angeles Citizen's Academy Alumni Association
rumanes@fbilacaaa .org

which is quite unnerving and bare in mind im from the UK.

I have since changed all passwords on my email accounts/paypal and moved all senders of the email to my junk folder.
I have opened a dispute through paypal & I contacted my bank and they said it may not be anything to worry about since the amount of 1$ hasn't left my bank account.

I have ran a scan on my computer (no malware) etc and all programs & the OS is fully up-to-date.

It was just strange how both of these events have occured on the same day.

Any help at all or insight would be greatly appreciated!

-DM

 

[carnageX]

Keep a close eye on your accounts - the $1 purchases are a lot of times used as "tests" to make sure an account is valid. Such as when credit cards get stolen, there will be a $1 (or similar) charge to check the account.

The $1 is also used as a placeholder in non-stolen cards as a way to authorize a card (such as at gas pumps).

 

[Cobretti]

thanks for your response, it's the first one i have ever saw to be honest, and for the address of the website to be the "FBI LACAAA | Los Angeles Citizen's Academy Alumni Association" is strange considering i live in the UK.

However like i stated my bank said no money has left my account, I'll keep an eye on it .

-thanks
DM

 

[Cobretti]

Just to update my post. It ended up being linked to the phishing emails. The thief managed to get into my account first time of trying and tried using the 1$ as a placeholder. Paypal (after manyyyy attempts of finding a human being to talk to) i found one and they sorted it and clarified that it was a phishing attack.
As stated previous i've changed all passwords/security Q's/answers to re-secure my account.

 

[carnageX]

Good to hear - just as a precaution, keep an eye on your accounts still.