PayPal Scam

PayPal is commonly in purchases and sending money to friends and family. While this is a great tool, it can unfortunately be exploited.

The scam:

This one starts with a fake email that comes from a trusted company, in this case, PayPal. It will state something along the lines of “There has been an unauthorized charge” or to “Confirm this large amount.” Then it lists a phone number or a link for you to call to dispute the charge.

Sound familiar?

Once you have called the number, there is a scammer on the other end of the line that impersonates a PayPal employee. They get you to install a program, usually by going to a website and entering a code. This program is a remote access program, allowing full control over your system.

Once the hacker has full control, they are able to search for sensitive files (IN THE BACKGROUND) to include passwords and financial records. They can and will install other malware to maintain long term access to your system.

What you can do:

  • Keep an eye open for the fake emails. They are getting harder to spot because of the use of AI. They also copy the logos and formatting of the real deal.
  • PayPal will ALWAYS address you by name. If your name is not present in the email, then it is FAKE. (saying something like “Dear PayPal Member or User”)
  • ALWAYS double-check the email address that the email was sent from BEFORE clicking on any links.
  • NEVER call the number listed on emails that you are not quite sure about
  • Look out for odd instructions such as “Buy Gift Cards” to pay back an unauthorized deposit
  • Install strong antivirus software (we can help with that)
  • Use ID Theft protection (we can help with that)
  • Use 2-Factor Authentication
  • Use a password manager (we can help with that)
  • Patch your systems regularly (we can help with that)
  • NEVER GRANT CONTROL TO AN UNKNOWN PERSON

I know a lot of that sounds familiar, as we preach it all the time. Please do take it to heart as, WE PREACH IT ALL THE TIME.

As always, please feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns.
Stay Safe Out There!