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Forbes
04-05-2025
- Forbes
New PayPal Warning As Attacks Spike By 600% — Take Action Now
PayPal scams rise by 600% since the start of 2025. No doubt, you will have read the recent news articles about hackers trying to steal your Gmail account password, or maybe the spray and pray campaign targeting your Windows account, because cybercriminals follow the money. Both the Gmail and Windows user bases, which are often one and the same thing, provide the opportunity to compromise huge numbers of passwords and gain access to the data that sits behind them. What's more, those accounts can also be used to leverage social engineering attacks. And that, dear reader, is where the phishing and money parts of the story intersect: it has been reported that PayPal attacks have risen by 600% since January. Here's what you need to know and why you must take action now. Let's get two things out of the way before digging deeper into the recent spike in PayPal-related attacks. Firstly, PayPal hacks and scams are nothing new. From the use of legitimate PayPal emails in one nasty threat campaign that I wrote about in February, to the dangerous PayPal invoice that could bypass security protections in May. And, secondly, PayPal actually does take your security very seriously indeed. So, in relation to that last attack, for example, PayPal told me it is constantly evolving its fraud detection tools, including adding fraud reminder notices with advice for customers on all global invoice requests and peer-to-peer money requests. But, and it's a big one, that doesn't mean that the PayPal attack landscape isn't expanding or can be ignored. Far from it, in fact. A McAfee security report by Abhishek Karnik, McAfee's director for threat research and response, has confirmed a massive 600% spike in fraudulent PayPal-related scam emails since January. 'The recent surge has been traced to a single, highly effective campaign where attackers send official-looking emails with 'Action required' warnings,' Karnik warned, 'demanding users update their account details within 48 hours or face account suspension.' I have approached PayPal for a statement, but in the meantime, users are advised to take the following mitigation steps to prevent becoming a victim of this or other PayPal phishing scams: Do not pay any unexpected or suspicious invoices or payment requests. Do not respond to any of the above requests. Enable two-factor authentication for your PayPal account. Report any phishing emails to the PayPal security team by forwarding them to phishing@ and then deleting them.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
PayPal Reports First Quarter 2025 Results
SAN JOSE, Calif., April 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: PYPL) today announced its first quarter 2025 results for the period ended March 31, 2025. The earnings release and related materials discussing these results can be found on PayPal's investor relations website at PayPal Holdings, Inc. will host a conference call to discuss these results at 5:00 a.m. Pacific time (8:00 a.m. Eastern time) today. A live webcast of the conference call will be available at In addition, an archive of the webcast will be accessible for 90 days through the same link. About PayPal PayPal has been revolutionizing commerce globally for more than 25 years. Creating innovative experiences that make moving money, selling, and shopping simple, personalized, and secure, PayPal empowers consumers and businesses in approximately 200 markets to join and thrive in the global economy. For more information, visit and Investor Relations Contactinvestorrelations@ Media Relations Contactmediarelations@ View original content: SOURCE PayPal Holdings, Inc. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
5 Ways To Avoid the New PayPal Scam That Is Using Real Emails
There's a new sophisticated PayPal scam draining the bank accounts of unsuspecting victims. Hackers are ambushing users of the platform in a tricky way that seems so legit, it's not sending off alarm bells until it's too late.'The new scam going around is catching people off guard because it's using real PayPal emails,' said Vlad Cristescu, head of cybersecurity at ZeroBounce. 'Not lookalikes. Not fakes. Actual messages, from what looks like PayPal's real system.' For You: Try This: Scammers are outsmarting PayPal's automated email delivery system and its working. 'They're sending invoices or purchase confirmations through PayPal's official platform. That means the email doesn't come from a weird address. It comes from service@ — the real deal,' Cristescu explained.'The email may say something like: 'You've just paid $749 for a MacBook. If this wasn't you, call this number.' And that's where the trap is,' he added. 'You call the number, hoping to cancel the transaction — but instead, you're talking to the scammer, not the scam is fooling people, there are ways to avoid it. Here's what to know about the scam and how to protect yourself, according to cybersecurity experts. For more than 25 years, PayPal has been at the forefront of digital payments. The service was launched in 1998 and has been around much longer than Venmo and Zelle, becoming a trusted brand many rely on and use daily, which also makes it a target. 'Scammers are now using PayPal's own system to trick people. They send what looks like a real payment request to PayPal users, mostly via email,' said Abhishek Karnik, head of threat research for McAfee, an online protection company. Read Next: It's not easy to spot at first because the messages comes from PayPal's domain and itgets past scam filters Karnik said. 'These messages may even include the name of a well-known company, along with a phone number to call if you didn't make the purchase. But that number connects you to the scammer, not PayPal,' he added. It's always scary to feel like you could lose your hard earned money, but times are especially tough right now and people are watching every dime. The scammers are banking on victims desperately trying to stop a transaction they didn't purchase, but instead people are inadvertently getting cheated.'It preys on people's fear of losing money and feels urgent; scammers count on fear and urgency to cloud your judgment, knowing that many people will call or click before taking time to think it through,' Karnik explained. One way to avoid the new PayPal scam is to not engage, according to Karnik. 'Don't engage with messages that feel urgent or alarming, especially if they say you've been charged or need to act fast,' he said.'That pressure is exactly what scammers are counting on,' he added. 'Instead, take a breath, slow down and go straight to the source before clicking or calling.' Before handing over sensitive information to anyone over the phone, Cristescu advised to check your PayPal account first. 'Never trust what an email says at face value, especially when it involves money,' he said. 'Instead of clicking a link or calling a number, go to directly. Once you're logged in, you can check if the invoice or payment is really there. No invoice in your account? Then the email is just a scare tactic. To add a layer of security to your account, add a two-factor authentication (2FA). 'Even if someone tries to mess with your account, they can't log in without a second security step (usually a code sent to your phone),' Cristescu explained. '2FA adds a double lock to your account. It makes unauthorized access way harder.''If someone gets your password, they still can't access your account without a code sent to your phone or authenticator,' Karnik added. If Paypal is a service you often use, Cristescu recommended understanding how the platform communicates with customers. 'PayPal doesn't use invoices to settle disputes,' he explained. 'They won't ask you to call out of the blue. They don't throw around panic buttons like 'Call now or your money is gone.' Knowing what real communication looks like makes it easier to spot a scam when one lands in your inbox.' Experts warn against calling numbers in an email you received because you never know who is going to be on the other end.'The phone number in the email is the whole point of the scam,' Cristescu said. 'If you call it, you're giving the scammer direct access to influence you and maybe even manipulate you into installing software, sharing passwords or 'canceling' payments that were never real. Use only official PayPal contact methods found on their site or in their app.''Scammers often create fake customer service lines to trick people into calling them directly,' Karnik added. Getting an urgent email informing you that a transaction was made that you didn't authorize is jarring and taking quick steps to correct the issue is a normal first response, but Karnik doesn't recommend jumping into action so fast. 'You should slow down, expect the unexpected and trust your gut,' he explained. 'If something feels off or you receive a message requesting payment for a purchase you don't remember making, go straight to PayPal's website, log in and check things for yourself — and remember that you should only use the contact info you find there, not the one in the email.' More From GOBankingRates 6 Used Luxury SUVs That Are a Good Investment for Retirees4 Affordable Car Brands You Won't Regret Buying in 20257 Overpriced Grocery Items Frugal People Should Quit Buying in 20255 Types of Vehicles Retirees Should Stay Away From Buying This article originally appeared on 5 Ways To Avoid the New PayPal Scam That Is Using Real Emails
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
AG Sunday warns Pennsylvanians to watch out for ‘PayPal Scam'
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — Attorney General Dave Sunday has issued an advisory, warning Pennsylvanians to be on the lookout for a trending cyber scam involving PayPal. According to AG Sunday, this trending PayPal scam involves a scammer sending 'invoices' through PayPal. As part of this scam, the scammers use PayPal to send requests for payments to a target's email inbox. The sending of invoices is sometimes done repeatedly to make the matter seem urgent. Messages attached to the payment requests often contain a toll-free number and a directive to call. The line for that number then goes to a scammer who will try to obtain your personal information. 'Scammers are well aware that many Pennsylvanians rely on PayPal to send and receive money to their friends and family, or as part of a small business,' Attorney General Dave Sunday said. 'This is another example of the sophistication of cyber scams, and a reminder to pause and be vigilant before offering personal information or sending money online. Our Bureau of Consumer Protection is standing by to assist Pennsylvanians who are harmed.' Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Moving forward, consumers are advised to first check their email address. If the email is not from a 'service@ email address, then ignore it. Secondly, consumers should check the request. Even if it seems to be coming from a legitimate address, if you don't recognize the payment being requested, then ignore it. If you receive concerning invoices from PayPal, you can contact PayPal customer service at Consumers can also file a complaint with the Office of the Attorney General. abc27 news will keep you updated as more information becomes available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
