The dark side of PayPal and how to stay safe

Millions of people throughout the world use PayPal as a quick and easy way to pay for things online. However, no online service is perfect, and you should know the dangers to watch out for and how to keep your information safe.

 

What is PayPal?

PayPal is a digital payment platform that allows individuals and businesses to send and receive payments electronically. It is an online payment system that provides a secure and convenient way to transfer funds between parties without the need for cash or checks. PayPal can be used for a variety of transactions, including online shopping, peer-to-peer payments, and money transfers between individuals or businesses. It is available as both a website and a mobile app for iPhone and Android, making it easy to use virtually anywhere with an internet connection.

iPhone: 4.7 stars (at time of publishing)

Android: 4.2 stars (at time of publishing)

What are some dangers of PayPal?

PayPal is considered to be one of the safest ways to pay online, as all transactions are protected with advanced data encryption. However, being that it is such a large and successful company, it is a huge target for hackers to try to steal people’s money or personal information. The most common security threats that PayPal experiences come from phishing and identity fraud.

Phishing is where hackers impersonate legitimate organizations, such as PayPal, in an attempt to deceive you into providing sensitive information, such as login credentials or financial details. The scammers send phishing emails that appear to be from PayPal and contain links to malicious websites or attachments that may contain malware.

Identity fraud is another security threat that you may encounter if you use PayPal. Hackers may attempt to steal your personal information, such as your Social Security number or credit card details, in order to engage in fraudulent activities or make unauthorized transactions.

How can I stay safe from these PayPal scams?

PayPal has put out numerous warnings to their customers to prevent them from getting scammed. Here are some top red flags that you should look out for.

  • Beware of generic greetings: if PayPal reaches out to you via email, they will always use your name to greet you at the beginning of the message. This is because they have a record of your account and can easily find your name. A scammer, however, might use something generic like “Dear Customer” or “Hello PayPal member.”
  • Watch out for bad grammar: many times, scammers will come from outside the country, and English is not always their first language. If you notice many grammar and spelling mistakes in a message, it is likely a scam.
  • Don’t open attachments: a real email from PayPal will never include an attachment or any kind of software. If you see an attachment, don’t open it, as it likely contains malware.
  • Look at the email address: look closely at the address of the sender. If you Google it and it’s an official email address, then it should come up right away. If it doesn’t, then it’s not really PayPal.
  • Requests for personal information: PayPal will never ask you for personal or sensitive information via email, text message, or phone.
  • Receive a suspicious invoice or money request: Don’t pay it. And don’t call any phone numbers stated in the invoice note or open suspicious URLs. Also, don’t ever wire money to someone you don’t know.

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How to protect yourself from PayPal scams?

Choose “Goods and Services” as the payment option

If you’re using PayPal to transfer money to an unfamiliar person, such as purchasing items from online marketplaces like Craigslist, Letgo, or Facebook Marketplace, make sure to choose Goods and Services as the payment option. This will ensure that the transaction is protected by PayPal’s safeguard programs in case the seller turns out to be fraudulent.

Avoid using the “Friends and Family” payment option

It’s recommended to avoid using the Friends and Family payment option for transactions with strangers as it’s designed for transferring money between acquaintances or loved ones.

Use strong and unique passwords

Create strong passwords for your PayPal account and avoid using the same password for multiple online accounts. Consider using a password manager to securely store and generate complex passwords. I

Best Password Managers expert reviewed for 2023

Enable two-factor authentication (2FA)

Enable 2FA on your PayPal account for an additional layer of security. This typically requires providing a verification code in addition to your password when signing in.

Regularly monitor your account

Keep an eye on your PayPal transactions and account activity. Report any unauthorized or suspicious transactions to PayPal immediately.  You can also report a suspicious email or website by forwarding it to phishing@paypal.com

Keep your devices and software up to date

Ensure that your computer, smartphone, and other devices have the latest security updates installed. Use reputable antivirus software and keep it up to date as well.

Have good antivirus software on all your devices

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Kurt’s key takeaways

PayPal is definitely a convenient and secure way to make digital payments. However, you must be aware of potential dangers such as phishing and identity fraud. If you use the PayPal app or website, it’s important to recognize the number of red flags you should look out for. I recommend you use secure passwords, enable two-factor authentication, monitor account activity, and update your devices and software to help protect against scams and maintain security. I also recommended installing good antivirus software on all your devices to prevent malware attacks.

So, stay one step ahead of these cunning cyber criminals by taking these precautions to enjoy the seamless convenience of PayPal for your online payments.

Have you seen any suspicious activity claiming to be from PayPal lately? Let us know by commenting below.

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13 comments

Michael A Druckenmiller Sr May 31, 2023 - 5:54 am
While reading this post I was never quite sure whether the seller or purchaser was the one at risk. It seemed that many of the risks were for those that sell using PayPal as their preferred payment processor. How can a seller ensure that the address is valid? They might get a clue from Google Maps and then zoom in on a satellite image. I mean if you check the address and it's on a wharf somewhere or a construction site and it's not going to a company or a ship... As a rule I do not check out any email from places I have not personally contacted. And, those that seem valid I use the known public contact not any phone number or link in any emails. I track my incoming packages and I have seen them misrouted. Sometimes they are gone forever. So far nothing from eBay but several from Amazon and they've promptly been refunded or reordered.
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