9 PayPal Scams We Can’t Believe People Actually Fell For

If you ever end up mailing bundles of money throughout the nation to a stranger, take a deep breath and ask your self, “Is this a scam?” as a result of we guarantee you it’s nearly actually a rip-off. And Gizmodo has the paperwork to show it.

We’ve checked out loads of heartbreaking scams over time on platforms like Tinder, Venmo, and Airbnb. Today, we’re looking at apparent scams on PayPal—all filed as client complaints with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and obtained by Gizmodo via a Freedom of Information Act request. Many contain surprising quantities of stolen cash.

One of the most typical scams of the 2020s, and one which popped up repeatedly within the complaints Gizmodo obtained, is the Accidental Overpayment Scam, a kind of grift the FTC has been warning Americans about since at the least 2004. Essentially, the scammer pretends to be a part of some large monetary establishment like PayPal and deposits cash into your account. Sometimes the deposited cash is a “refund” for a cost that solely existed on a faux bill delivered through electronic mail. This large deposit was a mistake, the scammer says, so that you’re requested to pay the cash again differently. Often, the scammer will ask to be paid again in present playing cards from Target, Walmart, or Apple. But the boldest of scammers will ask for money to be mailed, as one did in maybe the strangest complaints we obtained. The hapless sufferer complied, in response to the criticism.

“My wife kept on saying it was a scam but I really thought I was the one who had messed up the deposit amount,” the sufferer mentioned in paperwork obtained by Gizmodo.

Unfortunately for many who acquired duped, the large deposit was by no means actual, despite the fact that it was listed as pending of their on-line banking apps. The scammers almost definitely used a stolen bank card to make the deposit and, by the point the sufferer despatched the cash as a “refund,” the sufferer’s personal financial institution was already nixing the deposit that appeared as pending within the account.

Another widespread thread in most of the complaints is that individuals known as a cellphone quantity that was listed together with the faux invoices and costs they acquired. These numbers have been scammers. You ought to at all times go to the official PayPal web site to seek out contact data, even when an electronic mail appears legit. If the handle of an electronic mail doesn’t finish “@paypal.com,” it’s best to take additional steps to find out whether or not the message is de facto from the corporate.

“Phishing attempts are common and can take on many forms,” a spokesperson for PayPal instructed Gizmodo in an electronic mail. PayPal itself has revealed a list of common scams to be careful for, too.

“We continue to take all the necessary steps to protect our customers. Nonetheless, we always encourage users to remain mindful when being asked to participate in a transaction. We also encourage customers to be vigilant of who messages are from (via text, email, phone, or social media) to protect themselves when sharing information, clicking links, and opening attachments,” the spokesperson continued.

Gizmodo couldn’t independently confirm any of the scams under, because the complaints have been closely redacted by the FTC to guard client privateness. Enough patterns emerge from disparate complaints to point that PayPal customers ought to be careful for such habits. We suppose it’s essential to let individuals know these scams do exist, even when they’re extremely apparent in hindsight. Gizmodo has calmly edited the complaints for spelling and readability.

Be secure on the market, people.

Don’t Mail Stacks of Cash Across the Country

Received an electronic mail from a supposed PayPal and known as the quantity on the e-mail a couple of iPhone bought on a PayPal account, which I used to be not conscious of, however thought presumably I had beforehand had a PayPal account.

I used to be instructed I used to be eligible for a refund and so they transferred cash to my account however as a substitute of $500, $50,000.00 was deposited. I used to be then instructed to ship the overage again by money in $15,000 increments. I believed I had made the error in coming into the quantity and actually wanted to ship the surplus again.

I withdrew $15,000 thrice. They had instructed me that that approach the IRS wouldn’t be taxing me. Obviously I used to be upset and confused. They gave me directions on easy methods to wrap the money and bundle it. Two bundles went in a single field by UPS in a single day to Fry Keaton 6391 w Lake Mead Blvd. Las Vegas, NV. [Gizmodo note: This appears to be a CVS.] The extra $15,000 was despatched to Qiang Li 13410 Whittier Blvd Whittier CA. [Gizmodo note: This appears to be a Michael’s craft store.]

My spouse saved on saying it was a rip-off however I actually thought I used to be the one who had tousled the deposit quantity. My laptop was locked from my use as they instructed me they have been operating a complete scan.

I used to be instructed they might name me within the morning to rearrange the return of the remainder ($5,000) I attempted my laptop at 10:30 pm and it was open to me I’m guessing as a result of the transactions are pending on my financial institution assertion which means as a result of I acquired money and the examine for $50,000.00 they deposited might be not going to be honored I’ve simply misplaced $45,000 and I’m fairly certain I gained’t hear from them tomorrow HELP!

Don’t Give Anyone Remote Access to Your Computer

September 3, 2022 I acquired an electronic mail from service PayPal stating $1,000 was taken unlawfully to pay for Google Play eGift card and to name 1 801 430 9493 to report this. I used to be transferred to Steve Miller 619 810 9355 actual identify in all probability Gitika Alamer of Westmead St. San Diego. I used to be transferred to Mike Harris 385 222 2813. Claimed to be with PayPal safety. He mentioned hackers had gotten into my account and all my accounts financial institution and cryptocurrency have been at risk so he would switch all my cash to a secure account after which switch the cash again as soon as it was secured. I gave him distant entry to my iPad a number of instances over the subsequent few days. Through his directions I transferred nearly all my cryptocurrency out of my accounts. I used to be additionally instructed to ship a wire switch of $25,000 from my financial institution to Gemini the place the overwhelming majority of my crypto funding was positioned. Mike Harris, actual identify in all probability Juanzell Chlarson of Garnett Circle. His phone quantity reveals a Salt Lake City handle however he claimed PayPal used a faux phone quantity for safety causes and he was truly find in San Jose, CA at PayPal headquarters. Almost all the things we did I used to be instructed to delete as a result of the scammers may nonetheless have entry to my iPad. On loads of the crypto transfers the quantity [redacted] was used. I additionally talked to Mr. Harris supervisor Leon however shouldn’t have any additional information on him. Per directions from my financial institution I don’t reply calls from any of the phone numbers above. They preserve calling many many instances. I additionally get a number of calls from 805 518 3841 Moorpark, CA and 619 413 7273 Jacumba, CA. Unfortunately I’m not capable of copy and paste the e-mail. Another phone quantity I acquired calls from was 619 369 4918.

Really Don’t Give People Remote Access to Your Computer

I used to be a sufferer of a rip-off by receiving a textual content message indicating I had fraudulent costs on my PayPal account. I name the phone quantity on the textual content message. The man claimed to be an official consultant of PayPal and warranted me that they might resolve these fraudulent costs by following their directions. The rep satisfied me to buy $6,000 in present playing cards and provide him with their numbers. He additionally requested that I set up a pc program known as ultraview which he used to scan my driver’s license, switch $499.99. $249.99 by Zelle to [redcated] Furthermore whereas remoting to my laptop, he opened an account on coinbase.com which I understood was going to appropriate the problem. In flip he offered the account data and instructed me to wire $13,000 to this Coinbase account. I complied and acquired affirmation from my financial institution that the cash was transferred to account [redacted], Cross River Bank [redacted] and acquired by Coinbase Inc. DDA account [redacted]. I used to be suggested to go away my laptop operating so he may restore the damages and proper the problem. A member of the family closed the pc which result in receiving a cellphone name from him which alerted us to the rip-off.

Seriously, Just Don’t Give People Access to Your Computer

I acquired an electronic mail from PayPal on Friday, September 9, 2022 saying my account was billed for a $499.49 bitcoin buy. The electronic mail was extremely subtle and regarded like many emails I’ve acquired from PayPal. I known as the quantity on the e-mail to dispute the cost. The man with an Indian accent who answered instructed me they ran the cost via 4 instances so I used to be in debt $2,000, had me join together with his laptop, and confirmed me the costs on the display. To condense the dialog, he had me obtain an app that allowed him to manage the display, had me go into my checking account, had me enter $2,400 refund (they added $400 as a result of I used to be a senior citizen) into his display whereby the ultimate zero auto generated one other zero making it $24,000, confirmed me on my financial institution display that the cash was a pending deposit in my account. By that point my husband confirmed me on his iPad that not solely was $24,000 a pending deposit in my private account, however a pending withdrawal of $24,000 was occurring in our joint account. I hung up instantly and drove straight to our financial institution the place they stopped the pending fee and put each accounts on restricted so nobody, together with us, may use the accounts. Because it was Friday afternoon, we gained’t know if we caught it in time till tomorrow (Monday) in order of this second, we don’t know if the scammers have been profitable in stealing our cash. We took our laptop to Local Tech Guy to scrub it out of any viruses the place it’s proper now. I’ve reported this to the native Las Cruces, New Mexico police the place the case is quantity [redacted].

The cellphone quantity that they had me name was 888-681-4667. Toward the tip of the cellphone name, Andy gave me his cell as 304-772-2261 which might be a burner cellphone. I by no means known as it.

I’m devastated. I really feel victimized even when they weren’t profitable. I additionally really feel very silly and may’t consider I used to be so gullible for thus lengthy on the dialog. There’s a psychology to this type of rip-off, I don’t know what it’s, however I used to be hooked into it for a lot longer than I might ever think about I may have been.

Don’t Buy Gift Cards for Anyone at PayPal

I acquired a notification of an $800 Amazon buy I didn’t authorize on PayPal. Received an electronic mail from Pay Pal. It seemed to be a respectable electronic mail. Called the quantity on the e-mail and was instructed that my social safety quantity and financial institution accounts will probably be hacked by the intruder. The girl disguised herself as a PayPal worker for tech assist of the identify of Sheryl Brooks who then directed me to offer her with the bill quantity and a few particulars concerning the buy within the system. She constructed her belief by aiding me with eradicating the bill and that she would do a radical investigation to seek out the one who had entry to my data. She had talked about the significance and urgency of this matter as the one who had entry to my private data can be clearing out my financial institution accounts inside hours.

The scammer directed me to withdraw cash from my checking account to buy and textual content photos of the back and front of present playing cards from Target and pay as you go debit playing cards from Walmart. In addition to the playing cards I acquired texts of barcodes offered by the scammer via Walmart invoice Pay Service, Paymentus to safeguard my cash electronically. The occasions occurred the afternoon of Tuesday August thirtieth via the tip of the day on Wednesday August thirty first. My primary intention of going about this was that I might have entry to the cash electronically and can later inside a pair enterprise days have the ability to begin contemporary with new accounts which was suggested by the perpetrator. I had no concept the cash can be gone. Sheryl Brooks supervisor mentioned the funds would present up in my Walmart app in my pockets. I then realized I used to be scammed out of $10,500.

Don’t Wire $50,000 to Anyone Over a ‘Mistake’

I would like into my PayPal account on 9/7/22. There was a message for me that there was suspected fraud and that $699.00 had been wrongly credited to my account. The message mentioned to name 888 373-1969. I known as the quantity. Someone named Mike responded and mentioned I would wish to course of a return of the cash. I went on my Chase account and noticed that the $699.00 was in my account from PayPal. Mike then mentioned he would ship a refund kind to me. It appeared on my laptop display. It was a black field with a line for my identify. He had me sort in my identify. Then he requested me to sort within the quantity of $500.00 (he mentioned they might cut up the fee in 2. I typed it in, however the display confirmed $50,000 as a substitute of 500.00. Mike acquired very upset, mentioned I used to be accountable and was very convincing. He mentioned I must course of the refund now by wire switch. A deposit of $50,000 then confirmed in my Chase checking account. I regarded and noticed it. A supervisor named Mike Hardy then known as me from a separate cellphone quantity. (213) 262-0763 and gave directions on easy methods to do the wire switch. He was very convincing. He stayed on the cellphone whereas I used to be on the financial institution. When I began to stroll out of the financial institution as a result of I noticed the account I used to be sending cash to was not a PayPal account he had a prepared reply. After I accomplished the wire switch he instructed me to not go on my laptop till the subsequent day. I turned extra suspicious and went onto my Chase account. I noticed that the deposit of $50,000 now mentioned it was a switch from my financial savings account. And my financial savings account at Chase had been decreased by $50,000. I went to the financial institution about 20 minutes after the wire switch was finished. The financial institution mentioned the switch had been accomplished. They tried to cease it, however mentioned it was finished. While with the financial institution supervisor, Mike known as me. On one other quantity. (520) 379-3710. Mike gloated that he had the cash. He requested me if I wished a few of it again. The financial institution supervisor at Chase instructed me to hold up as he was out to steal extra money. I shut down my web Chase accounts and knowledgeable PayPal concerning the incident. This is a big portion of my financial savings.

Seriously, PayPal Will Never Ask You to Buy Gift Cards

I acquired an electronic mail from what I believed was PayPal telling me that fraudulent costs for e-gift playing cards would hit my account tomorrow (supposedly three $500 e-gift playing cards have been bought). I known as the customer support quantity from the e-mail (1-888-228-4034). I used to be instructed that with a purpose to recoup the fraudulent costs I wanted to buy three $500 present playing cards of my very own to both Target or Apple. I used to be later instructed that these numbers would assist them observe down the fraudulent costs and get my a refund. I bought two Target and one Apple present playing cards (three $500 present playing cards for a complete of $1500) from the CVS in Delmar, NY (260 Delaware Ave, 12054) and despatched the numbers to the man supposedly from PayPal (1-714-707-3260). He then instructed me that I would wish to buy extra present playing cards to assist them additional observe down the fraudulent present playing cards. At that time I refused and finally hung up. I came upon it was a phishing rip-off after I known as the precise PayPal customer support line. At that time I contacted Target however the funds on the present card had already been spent. They instructed me to contact this web site.

Like a Mouse With a Cookie, a Scammer With Some Gift Cards Will Always Ask For More

I acquired an electronic mail from PayPal about utilizing my account to cost $1,000 in present playing cards to my PayPal account. I known as customer support quantity linked on the e-mail and the scammer pretended to be PayPal customer support to realize entry to my account and he satisfied me to purchase a $400 goal present card as a result of I wanted a safe card to buy an VPN to guard my IP handle and the cash can be mechanically refunded via PayPal. After the primary $400 present card he requested for two extra $400 present playing cards and this when after I realized I had made a horrible mistake.

So Stop Sending Scammers Gift Cards

Consumer acknowledged that he acquired an electronic mail from somebody posing as PayPal saying they have been working with the FBI and the FTC investigating his identification theft downside. Consumer states that he was then related with somebody claiming to be the FTC. Consumer was instructed they wanted to guard his cash. Consumer states that he has despatched them $7,500 in Apple present playing cards. He has additionally offered them together with his account data and entry to his laptop and so they have taken a complete of $225,000 from him. He states that that they had instructed him to offer $28,000 extra or they wouldn’t assist him. He didn’t comply.