PayPal is an online payment system that allows users to send and receive money, as well as make purchases at a variety of online stores. Now there’s a new scam that appears to be one of the most clever yet. People are receiving emails telling them that payment is due for a purchase, a payment was not processed because of a technical error, or with the line: “Reminder. You’ve still got a money request!” It looks real because it was sent through PayPal’s platform. PayPal allows anyone with an account to send an invoice, which scammers exploit to make it seem legitimate. In the invoice notice is a phone number you can call for support. Calling the fake support number is the worst thing you can do. The scammer might ask for your login details or payment card information to resolve the issue, and in some cases will install malware on your device to steal your passwords and financial details. PayPal reminds consumers that they will never send invoices for random purchases you didn’t authorize. If something seems off, trust your instincts and double-check before taking action. Here are the things you can do to protect yourself:
- • Check the details: Look at the sender’s email and transaction history. If it’s not a company or person you recognize, it’s likely a scam.
- • Double-check the invoice recipient: That’s another glaring red flag in this case. Someone other than you will be listed in small text at the top. Look carefully.
- • Don’t call any of the phone numbers listed: This is smart with any strange invoice, call, document, email, text, whatever. Don’t use contact information that’s included. Go to the official website to find it. PayPal’s real support number is 1-888-221-1161 and they take calls from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. PST 7 days a week.
To report a scam, log in to your PayPal account and visit the Resolution Center, where you can report suspicious invoices. Even easier, forward the email to phishing@paypal.com to alert their security team. If you’re not using 2-step verification, set it up on PayPal by visiting the Security section of Settings.
