“Reminder: You still have money to pay!” That was the subject line of a message that flooded her husband Barry’s inbox for weeks. The first couple were worried, but after that it was just a nuisance.
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He's not the only one getting them. There's a sneaky scam going around that seems perfectly legal. Because it's actually from PayPal.
Let's take a closer look at how it works so you don't get fooled.
Don't fool yourself with tricks that hackers don't want to teach me
this is how it happens
Fortunately, scammers use the same trick. This is becoming fairly common, so it's easy to spot if you're careful.
First, you will receive an invoice via PayPal. You may see a message such as “Your payment is past due for your purchase” or notify you that your payment was processed due to a technical error.
It looks authentic because it was sent through PayPal's platform. They want you to panic and act without thinking. PayPal is a trusted platform, so it's easy to get caught off guard when you see the PayPal logo and familiar format.
A woman is shown using a phone. (image)
Related: Don't be fooled! the hacker is trying to trick you
Of course it's a fake invoice.
PayPal allows anyone with an account to send invoices, but scammers take advantage of this to make invoices look legitimate.
Your bill notification will include a phone number to call for support. It's listed as a PayPal number, but that's someone trying to steal your money and information. All the scam emails I saw had different numbers attached.
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Calling a fake support number is the worst thing you can do. Scammers may ask for your login or payment card information to “resolve the issue.” In some cases, they can even install malware on your device and steal your passwords and financial information in the background. ”
Related:
How to find and stop it
This March 10, 2015 file photo shows a sign outside PayPal's headquarters in San Jose, California. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)
PayPal won't send you an invoice for random purchases you haven't authorized. If something doesn't seem right, trust your instincts and double-check before taking action.
- Check details: Check the sender's email and transaction history. If you don't recognize the company or person, it may be a scam.
- Double-check the bill recipient. In this case, this is also a clear red flag. Every email I saw had someone other than my husband listed in small print at the top. Please look carefully.
- Please do not call the listed phone numbers. This is smart for all sorts of strange bills, phone calls, documents, emails, texts, etc. Please do not use the contact information included. Visit the official website to find out.
I looked it up for you. PayPal's actual support number is 1-888-221-1161. Calls are accepted daily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pacific Time.
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If in doubt, your best bet is to contact customer service. They are more familiar with fraud patterns than most people because they see them every day. Additionally, they will look at your account and tell you what is a legitimate request and what is not.
If you're sure the invoice is fake, delete it. But first…
Please report it to PayPal. Consider this your good deed today. Reporting a scam doesn't just help you, it helps everyone. Reporting fake invoices to PayPal allows the PayPal team to track patterns, close scammers' accounts, and warn others about similar tactics.
- Log in to your PayPal account and visit: resolution centeryou can report suspicious invoices.
- Even easier, alert your security team by forwarding an email to phishing@paypal.com.
Related: 3 steps to take immediately if you get scammed
A person is shown holding a stack of $20 bills. (St. Petersburg)
Lock down your account for added security
If you don't have two-factor authentication set up, please wait. It only takes 1 minute. Now you can get the code when you log in. a bit. But for accounts related to finances, it's worth taking an extra step.
- Log in to your PayPal account in your browser. Click. settings icon > safety > 2 step verification. You can use an authenticator app or receive a code as a text message. Pro tip: Authenticator apps are a more secure option.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete.
These scams are sneaky, but easy to spot if you know what to look for. Please share this with your friends and family so they don't get fooled.
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