PayPal’s widespread adoption means it’s popular with scammers looking for a victim. Though these scams aren’t necessarily exclusive to PayPal, they flourish in the service due to its ease of use and preference among online sellers.
Every Type of Phishing Scam
Phishing is a technique used by sellers to deceive victims into giving up their login credentials, usually using a fake web page that might look identical to the real thing. These scams usually take place over email, but scammers may also use text messages and social media since all they need the victim to do is click on the fake link.
These scams take many different forms, but the end goal is always the same: to get you to log in using your username and password. If you have two-factor authentication (2FA) enabled on your account then you’re much better protected against this sort of scam, but be aware that even one-time login codes sent over SMS can be intercepted.
Be on the lookout for email messages that tell you there is a “problem” with your account, that you’ve won some sort of PayPal credit, or that you’ve received an unexpected payment. These messages will be accompanied by a link or a linked button that you can use to log in.
You can avoid falling for this by always logging in by typing the PayPal address into your browser’s URL bar or using the mobile app on your smartphone. Even if you have 2FA enabled, if you think you’ve fallen for a phishing scam make…
