What are payment request scams on PayPal?

Payment request scams often try to trick you into paying a fraudster. Or they may ask you to call their phone number, hoping you’ll divulge your personal or financial details over the phone.

Be wary of alarmist messages in payment requests warning you to call them quickly to resolve an “issue” on your account. Always log in to your account on the PayPal website or the PayPal app to verify if any action is needed.

Payment request scams can happen in numerous ways:

1. You receive a payment request through PayPal, but for a product/service you never ordered. Don’t pay it.
2. You receive a payment request through PayPal containing an alarmist note. The note may ask you to call their fake customer service number in the hope they can obtain your personal/financial details over the phone. 
3. You receive a fake payment request by email, designed to look like a real PayPal email. Never click any links or call any phone numbers in a suspicious email.

How to avoid these scams:

• If you receive a suspicious payment request, don't pay it.
• Don't call any phone numbers in the note or open suspicious URLs.
• Never send a payment to a cryptocurrency wallet mentioned in a payment request.

What to do if you receive a suspicious payment request:

Report any unwarranted payment requests by logging into your PayPal account on our website or the PayPal app.

To report a suspicious email or website, forward it to phishing@paypal.com and we’ll investigate it for you. After you send us the email, delete it from your inbox.