PayPal is an online payment system based in the United States.
About PayPal scam texts, emails and phone calls
PayPal scams are usually sent through email, but can also arrive through text messages. These scams are typically designed to panic a recipient into thinking something suspicious, unwanted or malicious is happening to their PayPal account.
Scammers will use this panic to trick a recipient into compromising their security by clicking a link to a spoof website or downloading harmful files. These scam messages can take on many guises, such as –
- The claim that someone has tried to access the recipient’s PayPal account
- The claim that the PayPal account will be disabled or suspended over violations of security concerns
- The claim that a new payee was added to the recipient’s PayPal account
- The claim that the recipient has authorised a payment to another person via their PayPal account
- The claim that a charge has been made against the recipient’s PayPal account
In all the above cases, these messages are design to panic a victim into compromising their security by clicking a link in the message that leads to a spoof website or downloading harmful files.
Some real world examples of PayPal text scams are below.
And below is a typical PayPal phishing email.
Report a PayPal text and email scam.
How to report a PayPal scam text?
Details about scam text messages can be forwarded to PayPal on spoof@paypal.com
How to report a PayPal scam email?
Scam emails and phishing emails can be forwarded to PayPal on spoof@paypal.com
If you're in the UK, you can ALSO report scams...
- Scam emails can be forwarded to The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) at report@phishing.gov.uk
- Scam texts can be forwarded to your phone carrier on 7726
- All types of cybercrime and fraud can be reported to the police via ActionFraud by calling 0300 123 2040 (or 101 in Scotland) or by using ActionFraud's online reporting tool here.
If you're in the USA, you can ALSO report scams...
- Scam texts can be forwarded to your phone carrier on 7726
- All types of cybercrime and fraud can be reported to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) by using their complaint assistant here or by calling 1-877-382-4357 (9am-8pm ET)
From a different country? Click here.
You can also forward SMS or email scams to us at scam@thatsfake.com
Avoiding PayPal text and email scams
The best course of action, as with nearly every phishing scam conducted through email or text message is to simply avoid clicking links in these messages, and don’t download any files they may link to. You should also never reply.
If you’re unsure whether a text or email is from PayPal, go to your Internet browser, go directly to PayPal.com and login. If PayPal need anything from you, you can find out once you’ve logged in to your account. If you do click a link in an email or text message, always check if the website you’re on is PayPal.com and not an impostor site.
PayPal has some more information on identifying scam emails on their safety page here.