PayPal and Venmo take our commitment to protect our customers very seriously, and we want to arm you with the information you need to stay safe. Scammers are getting smarter, but so can you. Bad actors are increasingly using psychological manipulation to trick people, so most scams can be avoided when you know what to look for. Learn about the most common scams and how to avoid them, below.
Phishing Scams
Many scams today are different forms of “phishing” where bad actors “fish” for information and money through phone calls, text messages, emails, and social media. At times, these can also look like fake invoices or payment requests (even if you don’t owe any money). They often mimic well-known brands and create a false sense of urgency to pressure you into acting without thinking.
Tip: Trust your gut and if something seems “off”, it probably is. Pause to think and use the STALL method to help spot warning signs within unexpected messages:
- Sender: Check full sender addresses, not just display names.
- Tone: Beware false urgency and pushy messages.
- Attachments: Don't open them, as they may contain malware.
- Links: Look for misspelled or scrambled URLs.
- Login: Be cautious of login requests to access your accounts.
Phishing continues to evolve, including by scammers impersonating specific people or representatives from well-known organizations. This aims to deceive people by falsely legitimizing requests for information and money. Keep reading to learn more.
Tech Support Scams
Fraudsters claim your device or account has a problem that requires immediate action, such as moving money to a “safe” account or giving them remote access. They may ask you to download software or click a link to “verify” your account which leads to a fake login page.
- Tip: Legitimate companies won’t contact you unsolicited about device issues and require remote access or that you download and pay for software. If in doubt, contact companies for help using the contact info on their websites or through their apps.
Authority Figure Scams
Fraudsters pretend to be from government agencies or local law enforcement, and will often cold call and pressure you to pay a fine or share your financial and personal information to avoid getting into “legal trouble” in a made-up scenario.
- Tip: Caller ID can be faked, so don’t trust it as proof a call is legitimate. If you believe you are talking with a scammer, end the interaction immediately.
Marketplace Scams
Most Marketplace scams involve “too good to be true” deals for in-demand products (like concert tickets) on social media. Fraudsters offer fake deals or pretend to sell items that don’t exist and may pressure you to pay without any protection. They can also pose as buyers, asking for refunds of “overpayments” or sending fake payment confirmation screenshots.
- Tip: Focus on shopping only from verified sellers and use Purchase Protection whenever eligible.
Romance Scams
Bad actors create fake personas on social media and dating apps, often using publicly available or AI generated profile photos. They build trust and relationships over time, then ask for money for made up scenarios and travel, bills, emergencies, or fake high-return investments.
- Tip: Beware rapid intimacy and refusals to meet in person from people you connect with online and never share your financial information with them.
Charity Scams
Scammers set up fake fundraisers or impersonate real charities through phony websites and social media accounts that mimic reputable organizations. At times, they create fundraising accounts that closely mimic real organizations’ payment accounts (e.g., “char1ty” instead of “charity”).
- Tip: Donate through trusted channels like PayPal Cause Hub and Venmo Charity Profiles where charities have been vetted. Pay attention to alerts about interacting with the wrong user, and closely review account profiles and their spelling to help confirm you are sending money to the correct place before finalizing a payment.
How PayPal Protects You
We are proud of our fraud prevention initiative and are committed to keeping consumers safe and informed. In addition to the best practices above, we recommend learning these specific tips:
- Look for checkmarks. An authentic PayPal or Venmo email includes a checkmark next to our logo in your email inbox view. Many email service providers support companies using this method to help consumers identify real messages.
- Report scams. If you receive a phishing email claiming to be from PayPal or Venmo, forward it to phishing@paypal.com and we will investigate it. Then delete and block the message. Report any scams to us by contacting Customer Service or reporting it within the app.
- Contact us directly. Contact us for help through the apps, by calling us at 1-888-221-1161 (PayPal) and 1-855-812-4430 (Venmo) or by visiting www.PayPal.com/us/cshelp/contact-us and https://help.venmo.com/cs/contact-us.
- Learn more. Check out our advice on how to identify fake messages plus more safety tips on the PayPal Security Center: www.paypal.com/us/security.
- PayPal and Venmo Customer Service will never:
- Ask for your account info, passwords, validation codes, or your credit, debit, and bank numbers.
- Access your device remotely, install a third-party app or software, or create an account on your behalf.
- Direct you to send money to "verify" your account or to another customer via a different payment platform.
PayPal's approach to fraud mitigation is multi-pronged, and we believe that staying ahead of the latest trends is key to keeping the payments ecosystem safe for everyone. We actively partner with leading consumer protection institutions, such as the AARP, Aspen Institute Financial Security Program, BBB Institute for Marketplace Trust, Consumers International, and the Smarter Than Scams campaign with the Financial Technology Association. In addition to investing in consumer education efforts, we build innovative detection technologies, leverage investigative research led by our team of experts, and consistently refine our risk controls to stop bad actors from accessing our platforms. We use a combination of manual investigations and sophisticated technology to protect our customers, including taking proactive actions like limiting scam accounts or declining risky transactions.
Learning the warning signs to avoid falling for scams is always the best defense, especially as scammed funds cannot be recovered in all circumstances. Stay vigilant and empower yourself with information, and together, we can outsmart the scammers.