PayPal Scams
Fake PayPal emails, texts, and invoices designed to steal your login or trick you into paying or calling.
Think a message like this reached you? You can check it right now.
What this scam is
Scammers imitate PayPal with fake payment notices, invoices, or 'account limited' warnings. They want you to log in on a fake page, call a fake support number, or pay for something you never bought.
What it usually looks like
- An email saying you paid for something expensive, with a number to call to cancel.
- A warning that your account is limited until you 'verify' by clicking a link.
- A PayPal invoice or money request from a stranger.
Common warning signs
- The link does not go to paypal.com.
- It pressures you to call a phone number to dispute a charge.
- It creates panic about a purchase you did not make.
Example wording scammers use
“You sent a payment of $499.99 to CryptoStore. If you did not authorize this, call 1-888-000-0000.”
“Your PayPal account has been limited. Verify your information to restore access.”
These are illustrative examples written by ScamSplain, not real messages.
What the scammers want
- Your PayPal login.
- To get you on the phone so they can talk you into paying or granting access.
- Your card or bank details.
What to do
- Do not click links or call numbers in the message.
- Open the PayPal app or type paypal.com yourself and check your account.
- Report suspicious messages to PayPal.
What to do if you already responded
- Change your PayPal password and turn on two-step verification.
- Contact PayPal through the official app or website.
- Watch your linked bank and card accounts for unfamiliar activity.