Stay Alert – Fake PayPal Invoice Scams are on the Rise

The AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline has recently seen a rise in reports of PayPal scams. Cybercriminals use the payment system's invoicing tool to send victims fake invoices for large purchases. When the invoices are sent, PayPal sends an official notification email to the recipient, which makes the otherwise fake invoices appear legitimate. The scammers include an official-looking message in the "seller note to customer" section of the fake invoice, encouraging the victim to call a fake customer service line to prevent the charges from being processed.

If the victim calls this line, the scammers attempt to fool them into paying the invoice or giving them credit card or bank information. In some cases, victims are asked to install software they claim will help with the recovery process. Instead, this software records the victim's keystrokes or gives the cybercriminals remote access to the victim's computer.

How to avoid PayPal scams:

• If you receive a suspicious invoice or money request, don't pay it.
• Don't call any phone numbers in the invoice note or open suspicious URLs.
• Never send money to a cryptocurrency wallet mentioned in an invoice or money request.

If you receive a suspicious invoice, you're encouraged to report it by logging into your PayPal account at paypal.com or by using the PayPal app.