DEAL WITH SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY
Protecting your data is our top priority, and we’re working 24/7 to ensure that. It’s important you familiarise yourself with a few ways you can keep yourself protected. At PayPal we know you, so any email from us will address you by your first and last name or your business name in the body of the email. We will never address you as “Dear valued customer” or “Dear buyer”. An email from PayPal won’t ask you to send sensitive information like your password, bank account, or credit card details. If information is required to confirm or maintain your account, you will be asked to visit PayPal.co.uk to login securely.
Scam Emails & Phishing: Is that email really from PayPal?
"Phishing" is an illegal attempt to "fish" for your private, sensitive data. It works by using false pretences to trick you into revealing personal or financial information such as bank account details, credit card details, and passwords etc.
One of the most common phishing scams involves sending emails/SMS that fraudulently claims to be from a well-known company (like PayPal). These often link to fake (spoof) websites where your information can be collected if you type it
Here are some helpful tips on how to spot Scam Emails:
The Senders Address The "From" line may include an official-looking address that mimics a genuine one.
Generic GreetingsBe wary of impersonal greetings like “Dear User”, or your email address. A legitimate PayPal email will always greet you by your first and last name.
Typos/Poor GrammarEmails sent by popular companies are almost always free of misspellings and grammatical errors.
False Sense of UrgencyMany scam emails tell you that your account will be in jeopardy if something critical is not updated right away.
Fake LinksCheck where a link is going before you click on it by hovering over the URL in an email, and comparing it to the URL in the browser. If it looks suspicious, don’t click it.
AttachmentsA real email from PayPal will never include attachments. You should never open an attachment unless you are 100% sure it’s legitimate, because they can contain spyware or viruses.
Tracking numberThe email/SMS asks you to provide the tracking number of the dispatched item, before you’ve received a payment into your PayPal account.
Clicking on linksNever click on a link in an email that requests personal information. Any time you receive an email about your PayPal account, open a new browser, type in www.paypal.co.uk, and login to your account directly.
Scam Emails & Phishing: Is that email really from PayPal?
- Credit card numbers
- Driver’s license numbers
- Email addresses
- Bank account numbers
- National insurance number
- Date of birth
Suspicious emails
If you think you’ve received a phishing email, follow these steps right away:
Forward the entire email to spoof@paypal.com
Do not alter the subject line or forward the message as an attachment
Delete the suspicious email from your inbox
Here are some security tips to help you stay protected online:
Even if a URL contains the word 'PayPal', it may not be a PayPal webpage.
If you provided any personal information in response to a phishing email or on a spoof website, change your PayPal password and security questions immediately.
When using PayPal, always ensure that the URL address listed at the top of the browser displays as https://www.paypal.com/uk. The 's' in ‘https’ means the website is secure.
If you provided any financial information, contact your bank and your credit card issuer and tell them about the situation.
Look for the 'lock' symbol that appears in the address bar. This symbol indicates that the site you are visiting is secure.
Review your PayPal account history to check that you recognise all recent payments.
Unauthorised Account Activity
If you think someone has used your account without your permission, tell us right away and we’ll help you as much as possible. We can protect you if you report an eligible unauthorised transaction within 60 days of it appearing on your statement.
Suspicious SMSSMS SPAM (also known as smishing) can be more than just annoying – it may contain suspicious content. Many carriers will let you report SPAM by simply forwarding the message to ‘7726’ (which is the keys for SPAM on most phones). Check with your service provider to see if this service is supported.
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