Watch Out for PayPal Invoice Phishing Scams

Recently, there’s been an increase in fake invoices sent through PayPal by scammers. Because these fraudulent invoices are dispatched via PayPal’s own system, they often bypass spam filters and lack many of the usual signs of phishing emails. The scammers sign up for a PayPal account and are actually using PayPal to send these out the same way a legitimate business would. However, you can still spot them by checking for unfamiliar or suspicious names and email addresses at the top.

Some scammers even disguise their invoices to appear as if they’re from reputable companies like Apple. It’s crucial never to pay a PayPal invoice that you can’t directly link to a purchase you’ve made. Also, avoid calling any phone numbers listed on these invoices—the scammer may try to convince you the invoice is legitimate or initiate a different scam altogether.

If you receive one of these fraudulent invoices, click the “Report this invoice” link at the bottom to help protect others who might have received it. However, do not mark the invoice as spam in your email client, as this could lead to legitimate PayPal messages being flagged in the future since the email itself is legitimate; it's the content of the email that isn't.

Stay vigilant and always double-check any unexpected invoices or payment requests you receive.

(Featured image by iStock.com/Moostocker)