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Actual messages, from what looks like PayPals real system.
Scammers are outsmarting PayPals automated email delivery system and its working.
Theyre sending invoices or purchase confirmations through PayPals official platform.
That means the email doesnt come from a weird address.
It comes from service@paypal.com the real deal, Cristescu explained.
The email may say something like: Youve just paid $749 for a MacBook.
If this wasnt you, call this number.
And thats where the trap is, he added.
Scammers are now using PayPals own system to trick people.
But that number connects you to the scammer, not PayPal, he added.
That pressure isexactly what scammersare counting on, he added.
Instead, take a breath, slow down and go straight to the source before clicking or calling.
Never trust what an email says at face value, especially when it involves money, he said.
Instead of clicking a link or calling a number, go to Paypal.com directly.
Once youre logged in, you could find out if the invoice or payment is really there.
No invoice in your account?
Then the email is just a scare tactic.
2FA adds a double lock to your account.
It makes unauthorized access way harder.
PayPal doesnt use invoices to settle disputes, he explained.
They wont ask you to call out of the blue.
They dont throw around panic buttons like Call now or your money is gone.
Knowing what real communication looks like makes it easier to spot a scam when one lands in your inbox.
The phone number in the email is the whole point of the scam, Cristescu said.
Use only official PayPal contact methods found on their site or in their app.
Scammers often createfake customer servicelines to trick people into calling them directly, Karnik added.
You should slow down, expect the unexpected and trust your gut, he explained.
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