PayPal is a useful way to send money securely, but service users need to be alert to scams using spoof emails pretending to be from them. Typical examples are:
- Emails stating that your account is about to be suspended. The email will direct you to a copycat page and ask you to enter your password so that the fraudsters can steal it and access your account. PayPal advises that they will only ask you to enter your password on their login page.
- Emails stating that you have received a payment. These are used to trick you into thinking you have received payment for an item/order and sending the item to the fraudster when no money has actually been sent. Always check your account activity, not using any links that may be in the email, to check whether money has been received.
- Emails stating that you have been paid too much for an item. Fraudsters send a copycat email claiming that you have been paid too much for an item. The sender asks you to send them the item together with the overpayment. If you do, you will lose both the item and the money you send them.
Suspicious emails and websites should be forwarded to phishing@paypal.com and reported to Action Fraud using https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/