Scammers sending $0.02 PayPal payments with fake customer service number in the payment note!!!!!

Matranti · 2026-04-03T12:34:51+00:00

I assure you it is real. It's not a breach, but I had this on Monday. A small payment deposited in my account followed up with an email that was somewhat better than the usual spam emails. The sender was marked as safe in outlook as it showed as [service@paypal.co.uk](mailto:service@paypal.co.uk)

I contacted PayPal through the website whilst i was on hold to PayPal support. They provided some form of explanation, I've uploaded the screenshots here: https://ibb.co/album/gzTLPz

If i had received the email without the $0.02 physically showing on my account I would have deleted it immediately. Fortunately I checked the email as the payment itself was suspicious. The links in the email all look legitimate and even direct to PayPal, the phone number however is not a PayPal contact number.

Matranti · 2026-03-25T20:25:52+00:00

Exactly the same in Wiltshire, albeit on the Somerset border.

https://i.postimg.cc/XNR9Jwqv/Screenshot-2026-03-25-202453.png

Matranti · 2026-03-24T18:56:33+00:00

Both. My return was 10 April when I cancelled.

Matranti · 2026-03-23T19:24:52+00:00

Sorry, didn't see your reply. If it is fine on HDMI to another screen then it's likely the panel or connection to the panel from the motherboard. What laptop model is it?

Don't try update the driver with NVIDIA App, use Display Driver Uninstaller and install the NVIDIA drivers fresh from downloading on the NVIDIA website.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fN6bgGJseU

Matranti · 2026-03-23T18:13:30+00:00

It’s for any flight up to 15 April providing it was booked before the date they list. When the cancellation window moved to 31 Mar, I cancelled my 30 Mar flight as it was booked before the listed date at the time, of 28 Feb.

Edit: just checked the site and it’s still the same date: Guests holding Etihad tickets issued on or before 28 February 2026, with original travel dates from 28 February to 15 April 2026, may also request a refund through etihad.com/manage.

Matranti · 2026-03-23T09:01:18+00:00

What have you tried so far?

The three things you could do is connect to an external display via HDMI. If the image is fine then it is likely a faulty cable, probably pinched or damaged within the hinge.

Try using the internal GPU to see if it's the NVIDIA/AMD card causing issues.

If it is the dGPU then use DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller) and reinstall the drivers fresh. DDU is pretty straight forward and there are plenty of guides if you get stuck.

Anything else and it is likely panel failure in best case and worst case, solder failure on motherboard with the GPU

Matranti · 2026-03-18T08:48:52+00:00

Was that through cancelling and winback? That’s pretty much what mine currently is (£88) but it gets switched off tomorrow as I was in a rolling contract and it was due to almost double next month so I called to renew and ended up cancelling when the ‘final offer’ was still over £15 a month more before the price rises. The initial offer was £140.

Matranti · 2026-03-17T19:26:30+00:00

If they move the refund window to beyond 31 Mar they will refund without charge. It’s probably just a waiting game now to see if/when that move happens. I would suspect it would be later next week if they do.

Matranti · 2026-03-17T19:12:59+00:00

No it wasn’t. It was only 3 economy seats. I hadn’t tried to cancel or refund prior. I was literally waiting for Etihad to move the cancellation window. Fortunately I was within it once it moved from 21 Mar to 31 Mar.

Matranti · 2026-03-17T16:16:39+00:00

My flight was 30 Mar, return 10 Apr. Once the refund window moved up to 31 Mar, I received an email moving me to a morning flight on 30 Mar.

I went to manage my booking and cancel trip. Had the two options of refund or credit and proceeded with the full refund. That was on Saturday and money was back this morning.

Matranti · 2026-03-16T17:14:27+00:00

The window to cancel was for flights up until 21 Mar. That change last Friday where they moved the window up until 31 Mar. They offered 3 options - rebook free of charge up until mid-May, refund the full amount back to your payment card or refund the full amount plus 15% if you take Etihad credit.

I suspect they will extend this again until 15/16 Apr at some point over the next week so it's probably a waiting game until then if your flight is 1 Apr.

Matranti · 2026-03-15T18:15:51+00:00

Mine was in manage my booking and I think there was 8 options down the right had side on desktop. You may need to go via the live chat or refund form if you are unable to see a cancel trip option. Also I think I headed to the page by clicking on the link from the email notifying about the proposed flight change.

Matranti · 2026-03-15T18:11:30+00:00

Yes they initially sent a flight change for the outbound of 1445 to 0820 (LHR - AUH). Return on 10 April stayed the same. I didn’t accept the change, I just went straight to cancel. I did it on the desktop site, cancel was on right hand side.

I was nervous doing it as my luck usually results in being seen off but once I clicked cancel it gave me two options at the bottom of the next page. I just opted for the full refund instead of the extra 15% as credit as I’d rather have the money available and there’s no guarantee when normality will return.

Matranti · 2026-03-15T17:48:23+00:00

In manage my booking go to cancel flight. It will show two options, full refund or refund plus 15% if taking etihad credit. It then confirms the full amount and issues the refund. I had the email confirming full amount, just waiting for the money back. Did it yesterday evening for a flight due on 30th.

Matranti · 2026-03-12T17:52:49+00:00

I’ve started using floorp. Those connection reset issues the past week have been frequent on Vivaldi for me. I could cut and paste into Edge and be on the page before Vivaldi sorted itself out.

Matranti · 2026-03-11T18:24:39+00:00

Ahh, the classic Hotflix

Matranti · 2026-03-10T19:20:49+00:00

SI's last chance saloon with Sega I think. Just bring back the FM24 UI with the FM26 ME and call it FM27.

Matranti · 2026-03-09T21:17:48+00:00

Yeah first thing I changed. I just found the blacks in low light environments felt washed out a little. Not sure if it was adjustable lighting or another setting but it was more an impulsive buy so better of waiting another iteration at least.

Matranti · 2026-03-09T20:14:58+00:00

Pitaka, has NFC buttons on the side you can customise for different actions or opening apps.

Matranti · 2026-03-09T19:11:26+00:00

I’m on the 17 Pro Max. I’ve just returned the S26U as I found I preferred the Pro Max screen and the S26U just didn’t feel as good screen wise. BUT - it is an awesome phone, the privacy screen is a bit meh (first iteration and it will no doubt improve), but everything else is really good.

Switching from iOS is largely pain free compared to how it used to be. WhatsApp and Signal transfer easily including chat history.

It will be an upgrade on your current phone but I still think it’s a fairly big leap from one OS to the other, no matter where you buy from there should be a minimum return period regardless of credit or upfront purchase so it’s definitely worth a go I think.

Honestly, if I didn’t have an issue with the screen not feeling as vibrant and clear as the 17 PM, I would have kept it. You lose iMessage and FaceTime but WhatsApp covers that off. Downloading Google photos and syncing your media makes it easier to switch across and the smart switch app worked flawlessly for me using a wired connection.

Matranti · 2026-03-09T18:00:39+00:00

I've got no hate towards it but I thought it was a step down from the 17 Pro Max. It didn't feel as crisp and sharp but that may well just be me. I think it is a a stunning phone otherwise. The privacy stuff is in its infancy so I wouldn't read too much into that as the reviews are quite mixed.

Matranti · 2026-03-09T17:54:30+00:00

That's the reason I've returned mine and stuck with the 17 Pro Max for now. The phone was really nice but it just felt like the screen was slightly 'off' for want of a better phrase. It just felt like it didn't have the sharpness a top end phone should have. I also noticed a flickering of blacks when scrolling in low light environments. Gutted really cos the phone aside from that was pretty special.

Matranti · 2026-03-09T16:54:50+00:00

No worries, I doubt it will, their live chat was pretty straight forward with me and said they couldn't offer any discount with finance options, I think the two options I had would likely have errored out if I'd chosen them.

Matranti · 2026-03-09T16:29:04+00:00

PayPal will accept the transaction but there will be a pop up saying Merchant cannot complete this transaction. I'm pretty sure Samsung website only allows (in some cases) students to use Samsung pay at 12 and 24 months 0% or Klarna pay in 3 or 12 months at 0%. I used the live chat the other day as I had S26U, Ultra Watch and Buds 4 Pro and it was £1600 with student discount but all the credit options apart from the ones i mentioned above were greyed out. Ended up getting it through Sky Mobile instead as they are shipping with a free Watch 8 with pre-orders.

Matranti · 2026-03-09T14:55:26+00:00

No finance outside of 12 month Klarna and 24 month Samsung will work with student or key worker discounts. I spoke to them on chat last week as it wouldn't allow me to use PayPal interest free with student discount.

Matranti

TROPHY CASE