In the digital world, convenience is king. We use PayPal for everything—from splitting the bill at dinner to running our small businesses. But where the money flows, the scammers follow.
Lately, there has been a massive surge in fraudulent emails from scammers impersonating PayPal. These emails are designed to look official, create a sense of urgency, and trick you into handing over your login credentials or financial information.
At TrixieTricks, we want you to stay tech-savvy and safe. Here is everything you need to know about spotting these scams and how you can fight back.
How to Spot a Fake PayPal Email
Scammers are getting better at mimicking official branding, but they almost always leave “tells.” Look for these red flags:
- Check the Sender’s Address: A legitimate email from PayPal will always come from
@paypal.com. Scammers often use addresses that look close but are slightly off, likepaypal-support@gmail.comorservice@paypalsafety-notice.com. Click or tap the sender’s name to reveal the actual email address behind it. - Generic Greetings: PayPal knows your name. If an email starts with “Dear Customer,” “Dear User,” or “Hello [Your Email Address],” it is highly likely a scam.
- False Urgency: “Your account will be suspended in 24 hours!” or “Unauthorized activity detected—verify now!” Scammers use fear to make you act quickly without thinking.
- Spelling and Grammar: Professional companies have editors. If you see awkward phrasing, weird capitalization, or typos, hit delete.
The Golden Rule: Never Click the Link
The most important thing to remember is this: Never click a link or download an attachment in a suspicious email.
These links lead to “spoof” websites that look exactly like PayPal. When you “log in” on a spoof site, you aren’t accessing your account—you are giving your username and password directly to a criminal.
The Pro Tip: If you get an email saying there is a problem with your account, don’t use the link in the email. Instead, open a new browser tab, type [www.paypal.com](https://www.paypal.com) manually, and log in there. If there is a real issue, you will see it in your account notifications.
Become a Scam Fighter
Don’t just delete those fraudulent emails—help shut the scammers down! You can be a part of the solution by reporting the phishing attempt directly to PayPal’s security team.
Forward the scam email to: phishing@paypal.com
By reporting these emails, you help PayPal identify new scamming patterns and take down the fraudulent websites linked in the messages.
How to Forward Like a Pro
To give PayPal the best chance of tracking down the source, don’t just hit the standard “Forward” button. The security team needs the “metadata” hidden in the email to trace where it actually came from.
There are two “pro” ways to forward a scam email:
- Forward as an Attachment: Most desktop email clients (like Outlook or Apple Mail) allow you to drag the scam email into a new message as an attachment. This preserves all the technical data.
- Include the Full Header: If you can’t forward as an attachment, select the option in your email settings to “View Original” or “View Entire Message Header.” Copy that block of technical text and paste it into the email you send to PayPal.
Stay Safe Out There
The internet is a playground for scammers, but they can’t win if you know their tricks. Stay vigilant, protect your password, and always double-check the source.