PayPal scams are scams carried out through fake emails or links to a fake PayPal site that asks you to enter personal payment details.
Scammers often use social engineering tactics to persuade users to click fake PayPal links and enter their credit card details or send them money. Generally, PayPal is a safe online payment system, because end-to-end encryption and two-factor authentication secure transactions.
How do I know if the PayPal email is genuine?
PayPal sends emails only for payment notifications, receipts, and promotional purposes. Any emails that PayPal does send out will address you by name, rather than an impersonal address like “Dear User.” The primary email address for PayPal is paypal@mail.paypal.com, and this is the address that’s usually used to send account statements and notifications of changes. PayPal sends receipts using service@paypal.com. The email address paypal.me is also a legitimate domain.
What are the most common PayPal scams?
PayPal scammers have a lot of different ways to scam unsuspecting users on the online payment platform. Like all scams, they use social engineering tactics to trick you into thinking the order or payment is real. Below are the most common PayPal scams to watch out for.
• Phishing scams
• Overpayment scams
• Shipping address scams
• Advance-payment scams
• Fake or hacked account scams
• Fake payment scams
What to do if you are scammed
If you think you’re the victim of a PayPal scam, secure your account immediately. Change your account password to something strong and secure and notify PayPal if you’ve lost money as a result of the scam — sometimes they’ll refund you. Go to PayPal’s Resolution Center to report the scam. Finally, report the scam to the police, although it will do little to help recover your funds after a scam, it may help prevent the scammer from striking again in the future.
How can I avoid being scammed on PayPal?
Always verify the authenticity of each email and transaction before you share personal or financial information, or before you send goods to a buyer.
Additionally, follow these basic steps:
• Check for spelling errors or an unusual domain in the email address, such as .vip, .gdn, .win
• Be skeptical — if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.
• Don’t click links in emails appearing to be from PayPal, instead log in to PayPal directly and go from there.
• Don’t use delivery services you’re not familiar with.
• Don’t share personal information such as passwords or other login data.
• Sign up for PayPal’s Seller Protection Program for additional fraud protection if you’re an online seller.
