PayPal scams
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PayPal typically uses email to contact its customers. The information below can help you make sure it’s really PayPal, and not somebody trying to gain access to your account.
Fake email addresses:
- Fraudsters can easily fake the PayPal name in the sender’s email address. For example, an email can appear to be from “PayPal Services,” but is actually from spfr2013qz7@nomail.com.
- If you mouse over the name or click “Reply,” you should be able to see the full email address of the sender. Sophisticated fraudsters can fake the entire name to look like a legitimate sender, so be careful.
- If you do click a link in an email, be sure to review the URL of the site where you land. It is easy for bad guys to copy the look of a legitimate website, so you need to check that you are on the correct website.
An email from PayPal won’t:
- Ask you for sensitive information like your password, bank account, or credit card.
- Contain any attachments or ask you to download or install any software.
PREVENTION TIPS
- Don’t give out personal information to a person or company you don’t know.
- Be suspicious of any offer that doesn’t pay a regular salary or involves working for an overseas company.
- Check the company with the FTC, Better Business Bureau, or state Attorney General.
VERIFY THROUGH YOUR PAYPAL ACCOUNT:
- If you receive an email that says that you’ve received a PayPal payment, take a moment to log in to your PayPal account before you ship any merchandise. Make sure the money has actually been transferred, and that it isn’t a scam.