PayPal is a popular payment service, but scammers have also discovered it. Customers are currently reporting attempts at fraud via email. Even the consumer center warns of the mesh.
The more popular a service, the greater the chance that scammers will use its name to obtain customer data. PayPal has also been struggling with this phenomenon lately. Scammers are constantly trying to lure unknowing PayPal customers into a trap with new e-mails. On this page, TECHBOOK therefore provides information about the current phishing mails and scams on behalf of PayPal.
Email about suspicious PayPal transaction
The consumer advice center is currently warning of false e-mails on behalf of PayPal that are intended to indicate an alleged suspicious transaction. The sum of 695.72 euros was debited from the account, which is why the PayPal account was temporarily blocked. The e-mail reveals that it was an alleged purchase from the electronics retailer Alternate, and a post box in Kazakhstan is also given as the delivery address.
At first glance, the e-mail looks authentic, it contains the PayPal logo and a professional listing of the allegedly debited invoice amount. A closer look, however, reveals a few comma errors that make you suspicious. Also included in the email is a button with a link that allows those affected to cancel the debit via PayPal, which is unusual. If you click on it, users will be redirected to a website where they will be asked to enter their user data. However, the site is fake and allows scammers to intercept passwords, usernames and other data.
If an alleged security warning from PayPal lands in your e-mail inbox, you should delete the message immediately and never click on the link it contains.
Also read: Does the tax office actually have access to PayPal accounts?
PayPal scam on gambling site
Another scam uses alleged info mails from PayPal. The emails state that the user’s PayPal account was used to pay at a gambling site. You should still be able to stop the payment if you log into your PayPal account right now via a link provided in the e-mail. This is also an attempt at fraud, or phishing for short.
Anyone who is currently receiving one or similar e-mails should not believe the message and should never click on any links in it. The warns the consumer protection portal “Watchlist Internet”. Behind the message were criminals trying their hand at phishing. They want to snatch away the access data for their account with said payment service and their credit card data from PayPal users.
Well Fake Alleged PayPal Pages
As different as the stitches, they have one thing in common. Using the links contained in the e-mails, fraudsters redirect unknowing users to an alleged PayPal site. They’re often fairly well faked, but can be identified by a strange web address if you pay attention.
In general, if you are unsure about messages that suggest account blocking or dubious transactions: First of all, calmly log into the account in question in the usual way and have a look. In this way, it can be quickly clarified that the claims made in the e-mails are fictitious.
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What victims can do
PayPal itself offers extensive information on its pages on how to recognize fraudulent e-mails and tips on what customers should do when they receive such a message. PayPal phishing emails can also be forwarded to [email protected] prior to deletion to allow the company to investigate the message and scam.
Anyone who has been taken in by the scammers and has disclosed their data on the phishing sites should change their PayPal password directly and inform their bank about the credit card. If amounts have already been debited, you should try to have the bank recover them. If the financial damage caused cannot be reversed, the only option is to report it to the police.