Beware: Convincing new PayPal invoice scam

December 8, 2024

By Kim Komando

“Reminder: You’ve still got a money request!” That was the subject line of the messages flooding my husband Barry’s inbox all week. He’s not the only one; there’s a sneaky scam going around that looks totally legit … because it actually comes from PayPal.

Let’s take a closer look at how it works so you don’t fall for it:

1️⃣ You receive an invoice via PayPal. It might say something like, “Payment due for a purchase” or tell you a payment was processed due to a technical error. Uh-oh.

2️⃣ It looks real because it was sent through PayPal’s platform. Here’s the catch: It’s a bogus invoice. PayPal allows anyone with an account to send an invoice, which scammers exploit to make it seem legit.

3️⃣ You call the number on the invoice to resolve the problem. They say it’s PayPal’s number, but it’s really the scammer, who has a big bag of tricks once they get you on the phone.

How to spot and stop it

PayPal will never send invoices for random purchases you didn’t authorize. If something seems off, trust your instincts and double-check before taking action.

• Check the details: Look at the sender’s email and transaction history. If it’s not a company or person you recognize, it’s likely a scam. Double-check the invoice recipient, as well.
• Don’t call any of the phone numbers listed: PayPal’s real support number is 1-888-221-1161. They take calls from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT every day.

You can also just ignore the email. If you’re sure the invoice is fake, delete it. But first …

✅ Report it to PayPal. Consider this your good deed of the day.

• Log in to your PayPal account, then visit the Resolution Center, where you can report suspicious invoices.
• Even easier, forward the email to phishing@paypal.com to alert their security team.

Stay safe out there — and share this post to warn your friends!

Don’t get left tech-behind – Stay tech-ahead

Award-winning host Kim Komando is your secret weapon for navigating tech.

• National radio show: Find your local station or listen to the podcast.
• Daily newsletter: Join over 650,000 people who read The Current (free!).
• Watch: On Kim’s YouTube channel.
• Podcast: “Kim Komando Today” — Listen wherever you get podcasts.