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.

Stay Alert – How Criminals Try to Steal Life Savings

According to the FTC, people are losing big money to criminals running complicated scams. Here’s how it works: A scammer pretending to be from a company you know contacts you, saying they supposedly spotted fraud on one of your accounts and your money isn’t safe. They connect you with someone else to supposedly help you move your money to “protect” it. The “helper,” who often claims to work for the government, is really a scammer trying to steal your money.

If someone tells you to do any of these things, IT’S A SCAM:

• Put your money in a secure account to protect it.
• Transfer your money to a cryptocurrency account to protect it.
• Get cash and I’ll send a driver to pick it up.
• Deposit cash at a Bitcoin ATM to protect your money.
• Buy gold and a driver will come get it.

No one from the government will tell you to do these things — only a scammer will. Never transfer or send money, cryptocurrency, cash, or gold to someone you don’t know in response to an unexpected call or message.

To learn more, visit this link.

Stay Alert – Watch Out for Fake Online Stores

Scammers create websites that look like popular online stores and may offer great deals on popular items in short supply. Once you pay, they’ll either never send you the item, or send you an inferior fake.

One red flag is if an online store does not provide adequate information about privacy, terms and conditions of use, dispute resolution, or contact details. Another red flag is if the seller does not allow payment through a secure payment service such as PayPal or a credit card transaction.

The FTC recommends you take these steps to protect yourself:

• Check out the company before you buy. Search online for the company’s name along with words like “scam” or “fraud” to see what issues others might have had.
  
  
• Pay by credit card. If you’re charged twice, billed for something you never got, or get a wrong or damaged item, you can dispute the charge with your credit card company.
  
  
• Keep records. Keep track of the company’s name and website, any receipts or bank statements showing what you paid, and when they said they’d ship your item. (Sellers have to ship your order by the time they or their ads say they will — or give you the chance to get your money back.)

If an online seller hasn’t lived up to its promises, report it to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.