Beware the FAKE PayPal Confirmation Notification Email Scam
Written by: Thomas Orsolya
Published on:
The PayPal Confirmation Notification scam starts with an email that appears to come from PayPal, complete with official logos and formatting. The email claims that you have purchased or subscribed to a product or service, often for hundreds of dollars. It will include fake transaction details and instructions to call a phone number for assistance.
However, it’s all a scam designed to steal your money and personal information. The PayPal confirmation email is totally fake. If you call the number, you’ll actually be connected to a criminal posing as “tech support.”
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explain exactly how the PayPal confirmation scam works, provide examples of the emails, outline the potential risks and damages, and offer tips to avoid falling victim.
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Overview of the PayPal Confirmation Notification Scam
The PayPal confirmation scam is a type of phishing attack where scammers send fake emails pretending to be from PayPal. The emails look very convincing, containing PayPal logos,colors and formats matching real PayPal notifications.
The goal is to trick recipients into calling a phone number listed in the email for supposed assistance with a nonexistent issue regarding a fake transaction. However, the number actually connects to a criminal posing as PayPal customer support.
Once on the phone, the scammer will gain remote access to the victim’s computer or mobile device under the guise of providing refund assistance. From there, the scammer can steal login credentials, install malware, access financial accounts, and siphon money from the victim.
Scammers may also try to extort payments from victims by claiming their device is infected with malware that must be removed. They instruct victims to purchase gift cards to pay for phony tech support services.
Some key things to know about the PayPal confirmation scam:
Emails contain fake transaction IDs, amounts, and other details to appear real.
Criminals use phishing links, logos, and formatting identical to real PayPal messages.
The phone number goes to a fake “tech support” center, not real PayPal agents.
Once remoted into a device, scammers steal personal data and money.
Scammers often demand gift card payments for fake services.
Losses per victim can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars.
Here is how the PayPal Confirmation Notification email scam may look:
PayPal
Confirmation Notification
Date: May 31, 2024 Transaction ID: T36JS39SJ29263F2 Amount: 349.99 USD Subscription Duration: 3 Years
Dear user, Based on the digital signature that you submitted when the software initially installed, the Premium Plus Plan has been automatically applied to your application.
Process ID bc1qp5f7lyar0y5xydhsu3d09edkd8hlwmkwjygyq7
Questions?
Get in touch with a member of our team today!
Phone Number: + 1 (808) 201-8291
Thank You
This scam exploits PayPal’s reputation as a trusted payments platform to make the emails appear legitimate. Always scrutinize any unexpected emails claiming to be from companies carefully before calling phone numbers or clicking links.
How the PayPal Confirmation Notification Scam Works
The criminals carrying out this scam are very deliberate in their techniques to deceive victims. Here are the typical steps of how the PayPal confirmation scam unfolds:
Step 1: Victims Receive a Fake PayPal Email
The scam starts with an email sent to thousands of potential victims simultaneously. The sender name, email address, and subject line are forged to mimic a real PayPal notification.
For example, the from address may show “service@paypal.com” or “no-reply@paypal.com.” The subject line often says something like “Payment Confirmation” or “Subscription Renewal Receipt from PayPal.”
The email body is made to look exactly like a legitimate PayPal email confirmation. It contains PayPal branding colors, logos, fonts, and formatting.
Key details include:
A fake recent transaction date
A made-up transaction ID
An amount, often $200 to $500
Subscription duration or billing period
An authorization code or other fake verification details
These specifics are included to convince recipients the email is real. But the transaction ID, amount, and other data are completely fabricated.
Step 2: Email Contains a Fake Customer Support Number
Within the content, the email provides a customer support phone number. It goes something to the effect of:
“If you have any questions about this transaction, please contact PayPal Customer Support at 1-800-XXX-XXXX.”
This tricks the victim into thinking there is an issue with the payment that needs clearing up. But in reality, the number routes to the criminal’s fake support call center.
Step 3: Victims Call the Number
Many recipients don’t recognize the email is a scam. They call the number, believing they are contacting real PayPal agents.
Once on the phone, the criminals pose as PayPal support staff. They confirm the victim’s name and ask for account details to pretend to look up the “unauthorized transaction.”
Step 4: Criminals Gain Remote Access to the Victim’s Device
The fake support rep claims the victim’s account has been compromised and that they need remote access to the device to resolve the issue and process a refund.
If the victim consents and grants access, the criminals can install malware and spyware to collect personal data, banking details, and passwords stored on the device.
Step 5: Criminals Steal Money and Information
With backdoor access to the device and the victim still believing they are getting assistance from PayPal, the criminals can:
Access and steal funds from linked financial accounts
Trick the victim into making payments or purchases
Get login credentials for email, banking, and other accounts
Download contacts, photos, and other sensitive files
Install more malware to continue spying and collecting data
The criminals may also try to extort money from the victims through fake tech support services to “remove viruses.” They instruct the victim to go purchase gift cards from retailers like Amazon or iTunes and provide the redemption code.
Step 6: Criminals End the Call
Once the criminals have gotten all they can from the remoted access, they end the call abruptly. The victim is left with no refund, unauthorized charges, compromised accounts, and no way to recover losses.
From start to finish, the criminals rely on impersonation, urgency, and appearing helpful to maintain the facade that they are PayPal agents. This allows them to systematically extract as much value as possible from each victim.
What to Do If You Fell Victim to the PayPal Confirmation Scam
If you receive one of these emails and engaged with the scammers, here are important steps to take right away:
Contact your bank and financial institutions. Have them block any linked accounts and cards to prevent additional fraudulent charges. Monitor account activity closely for the next few months.
Change passwords. Reset all account passwords, especially for email, financial, and retail accounts. Use a different password for each account. Enable two-factor authentication wherever possible.
Scan devices for malware. Use trusted antivirus software to detect and remove any malware or spyware installed during the remote access session. You may need to wipe the device completely.
Place fraud alert. Contact one of the three credit bureaus to place an initial 90-day fraud alert on your credit file to help prevent identity theft.
File police report. Report the scam to local law enforcement and provide them with details of the email, fraudulent transactions, and gift card purchases.
Report to PayPal. Contact PayPal to notify them that someone is impersonating them through phishing emails. Provide copies of the scam emails.
Notify the FTC. File a scam report with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission so they can investigate and help bring the criminals to justice.
Monitor accounts and credit. Keep checking bank and credit card statements for any unauthorized charges. Also order your free annual credit reports and check for any suspicious activity.
Seek legal counsel. For significant financial losses, you may need to pursue legal action. An attorney can help determine if you have any options to recover stolen funds.
The quicker you act, the better chance you have of stopping the damage and avoiding becoming a victim of identity theft as a result of the scam.
Is Your Device Infected? Check for Malware
If your device is running slowly or acting suspicious, it may be infected with malware. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free is a great option for scanning your device and detecting potential malware or viruses. The free version can efficiently check for and remove many common infections.
Malwarebytes can run on Windows, Mac, and Android devices. Depending on which operating system is installed on the device you’re trying to run a Malwarebytes scan, please click on the tab below and follow the displayed steps.
Malwarebytes For WindowsMalwarebytes For MacMalwarebytes For Android
Scan your computer with Malwarebytes for Windows to remove malware
Malwarebytes stands out as one of the leading and widely-used anti-malware solutions for Windows, and for good reason. It effectively eradicates various types of malware that other programs often overlook, all at no cost to you. When it comes to disinfecting an infected device, Malwarebytes has consistently been a free and indispensable tool in the battle against malware. We highly recommend it for maintaining a clean and secure system.
Download Malwarebytes for Windows
You can download Malwarebytes by clicking the link below.
After the download is complete, locate the MBSetup file, typically found in your Downloads folder. Double-click on the MBSetup file to begin the installation of Malwarebytes on your computer. If a User Account Control pop-up appears, click “Yes” to continue the Malwarebytes installation.
Follow the On-Screen Prompts to Install Malwarebytes
When the Malwarebytes installation begins, the setup wizard will guide you through the process.
You’ll first be prompted to choose the type of computer you’re installing the program on—select either “Personal Computer” or “Work Computer” as appropriate, then click on Next.
Malwarebytes will now begin the installation process on your device.
When the Malwarebytes installation is complete, the program will automatically open to the “Welcome to Malwarebytes” screen.
On the final screen, simply click on the Open Malwarebytes option to start the program.
Enable “Rootkit scanning”.
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware will now start, and you will see the main screen as shown below. To maximize Malwarebytes’ ability to detect malware and unwanted programs, we need to enable rootkit scanning. Click on the “Settings” gear icon located on the left of the screen to access the general settings section.
In the settings menu, enable the “Scan for rootkits” option by clicking the toggle switch until it turns blue.
Now that you have enabled rootkit scanning, click on the “Dashboard” button in the left pane to get back to the main screen.
Perform a Scan with Malwarebytes.
To start a scan, click the Scan button. Malwarebytes will automatically update its antivirus database and begin scanning your computer for malicious programs.
Wait for the Malwarebytes scan to complete.
Malwarebytes will now scan your computer for browser hijackers and other malicious programs. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
Quarantine detected malware
Once the Malwarebytes scan is complete, it will display a list of detected malware, adware, and potentially unwanted programs. To effectively remove these threats, click the “Quarantine” button.
Malwarebytes will now delete all of the files and registry keys and add them to the program’s quarantine.
Restart your computer.
When removing files, Malwarebytes may require a reboot to fully eliminate some threats. If you see a message indicating that a reboot is needed, please allow it. Once your computer has restarted and you are logged back in, you can continue with the remaining steps.
Your computer should now be free of trojans, adware, browser hijackers, and other malware.
If your current antivirus allowed this malicious program on your computer, you may want to consider purchasing Malwarebytes Premium to protect against these types of threats in the future. If you are still having problems with your computer after completing these instructions, then please follow one of the steps:
Scan your computer with Malwarebytes for Mac to remove malware
Malwarebytes for Mac is an on-demand scanner that can destroy many types of malware that other software tends to miss without costing you absolutely anything. When it comes to cleaning up an infected device, Malwarebytes has always been free, and we recommend it as an essential tool in the fight against malware.
Download Malwarebytes for Mac.
You can download Malwarebytes for Mac by clicking the link below.
When Malwarebytes has finished downloading, double-click on the setup file to install Malwarebytes on your computer. In most cases, downloaded files are saved to the Downloads folder.
Follow the on-screen prompts to install Malwarebytes.
When the Malwarebytes installation begins, you will see the Malwarebytes for Mac Installer which will guide you through the installation process. Click “Continue“, then keep following the prompts to continue with the installation process.
When your Malwarebytes installation completes, the program opens to the Welcome to Malwarebytes screen. Click the “Get started” button.
Select “Personal Computer” or “Work Computer”.
The Malwarebytes Welcome screen will first ask you what type of computer are you installing this program, click either Personal Computer or Work Computer.
Click on “Scan”.
To scan your computer with Malwarebytes, click on the “Scan” button. Malwarebytes for Mac will automatically update the antivirus database and start scanning your computer for malware.
Wait for the Malwarebytes scan to complete.
Malwarebytes will scan your computer for adware, browser hijackers, and other malicious programs. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check on the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
Click on “Quarantine”.
When the scan has been completed, you will be presented with a screen showing the malware infections that Malwarebytes has detected. To remove the malware that Malwarebytes has found, click on the “Quarantine” button.
Restart computer.
Malwarebytes will now remove all the malicious files that it has found. To complete the malware removal process, Malwarebytes may ask you to restart your computer.
Your Mac should now be free of adware, browser hijackers, and other malware.
If your current antivirus allowed a malicious program on your computer, you might want to consider purchasing the full-featured version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware to protect against these types of threats in the future. If you are still experiencing problems while trying to remove a malicious program from your computer, please ask for help in our Mac Malware Removal Help & Support forum.
Scan your phone with Malwarebytes for Android to remove malware
Malwarebytes for Android automatically detects and removes dangerous threats like malware and ransomware so you don’t have to worry about your most-used device being compromised. Aggressive detection of adware and potentially unwanted programs keeps your Android phone or tablet running smooth.
Download Malwarebytes for Android.
You can download Malwarebytes for Android by clicking the link below.
In the Google Play Store, tap “Install” to install Malwarebytes for Android on your device.
When the installation process has finished, tap “Open” to begin using Malwarebytes for Android. You can also open Malwarebytes by tapping on its icon in your phone menu or home screen.
Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the setup process
When Malwarebytes will open, you will see the Malwarebytes Setup Wizard which will guide you through a series of permissions and other setup options. This is the first of two screens that explain the difference between the Premium and Free versions. Swipe this screen to continue. Tap on “Got it” to proceed to the next step. Malwarebytes for Android will now ask for a set of permissions that are required to scan your device and protect it from malware. Tap on “Give permission” to continue. Tap on “Allow” to permit Malwarebytes to access the files on your phone.
Update database and run a scan with Malwarebytes for Android
You will now be prompted to update the Malwarebytes database and run a full system scan.
Click on “Update database” to update the Malwarebytes for Android definitions to the latest version, then click on “Run full scan” to perform a system scan.
Wait for the Malwarebytes scan to complete.
Malwarebytes will now start scanning your phone for adware and other malicious apps. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check on the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
Click on “Remove Selected”.
When the scan has been completed, you will be presented with a screen showing the malware infections that Malwarebytes for Android has detected. To remove the malicious apps that Malwarebytes has found, tap on the “Remove Selected” button.
Restart your phone.
Malwarebytes for Android will now remove all the malicious apps that it has found. To complete the malware removal process, Malwarebytes may ask you to restart your device.
Your phone should now be free of adware, browser hijackers, and other malware.
If your current antivirus allowed a malicious app on your phone, you may want to consider purchasing the full-featured version of Malwarebytes to protect against these types of threats in the future. If you are still having problems with your phone after completing these instructions, then please follow one of the steps:
Restore your phone to factory settings by going to Settings > General management > Reset > Factory data reset.
Frequently Asked Questions About the PayPal Confirmation Scam
1. What is the PayPal confirmation scam?
The PayPal confirmation scam is a type of phishing attack where scammers send fake emails pretending to be from PayPal. The emails look identical to real PayPal notifications and claim you made a purchase or subscription. It includes fake transaction details and a customer support number to call. However, the number actually routes to a criminal call center to steal your information.
2. How do I identify a fake PayPal email?
Carefully inspect any PayPal email you receive, especially if you don’t recognize the transaction. Warning signs of a scam email are poor grammar, spelling errors, wrong email address, generic greetings like “Dear user”, and pressure to call a number. Log in to your PayPal account to confirm legitimacy.
3. What happens if I call the number in a fake PayPal email?
The number goes to a fake tech support center, not real PayPal agents. They will trick you into providing account access and remote control of your device to steal your information and money. Never call numbers in unexpected emails.
4. What techniques do scammers use on the phone?
They confirm your name and account details to gain your trust. Then they claim your account was hacked to get remote access to your device and make you think they are helping you. With access, they steal info and money.
5. How much money can you lose to the PayPal scam?
Losses range from hundreds to thousands per victim. The scammers siphon money from bank accounts, make unauthorized purchases, and demand payment via gift cards for fake services. The longer they have access, the more financial damage they inflict.
6. What should you do if you fell victim to this scam?
Immediately contact banks, reset passwords, check statements, scan for malware, place fraud alerts, file police reports, and notify PayPal. Monitor for identity theft and unauthorized charges. Seek legal counsel for large losses or to recover possible damages.
7. How can I avoid the PayPal confirmation scam?
Never call numbers in suspicious emails, even if they look real. Log directly into PayPal if you get an email about an odd transaction. Use anti-phishing tools and be wary of urgent requests for personal info or payments.
8. How widespread is this scam?
Very prevalent. Scammers cast a wide net hoping to catch victims with convincing PayPal branding. Reports of these fake emails and calls have been growing as criminals refine their techniques. Always stay vigilant.
9. Are other companies targeted in similar scams?
Yes. Scammers also spoof emails from banks, online retailers, social media, and other services asking you to call. Use the same precautions if an email seems suspicious, no matter the company logo.
10. Where can I report PayPal phishing scams?
Notify PayPal directly if you receive a fake email. Also report it to the Anti-Phishing Working Group and forward to the FTC at spam@uce.gov. These help authorities identify and prosecute scammers.
The Bottom Line
The PayPal confirmation notification scam can be incredibly convincing and has ensnared many victims. But awareness of how it works provides the best defense.
Scrutinize any unexpected emails that claim to be from PayPal or contain invoices. Do not call phone numbers or click links in suspicious emails. Instead, log directly into your PayPal account to view transaction activity.
Legitimate companies will never call you out of the blue regarding account issues. Be wary of any unsolicited contact requesting remote access or direct payments. Avoid being rushed or pressured into anything.
With caution and vigilance, you can identify these criminal phishing attempts and avoid becoming the next victim. Don’t let scammers leverage the trust placed in well-known brands to steal your hard-earned money and sensitive personal data.
How to Stay Safe Online
Here are 10 basic security tips to help you avoid malware and protect your device:
Use a good antivirus and keep it up-to-date.
It's essential to use a good quality antivirus and keep it up-to-date to stay ahead of the latest cyber threats. We are huge fans of Malwarebytes Premium and use it on all of our devices, including Windows and Mac computers as well as our mobile devices. Malwarebytes sits beside your traditional antivirus, filling in any gaps in its defenses, and providing extra protection against sneakier security threats.
Keep software and operating systems up-to-date.
Keep your operating system and apps up to date. Whenever an update is released for your device, download and install it right away. These updates often include security fixes, vulnerability patches, and other necessary maintenance.
Be careful when installing programs and apps.
Pay close attention to installation screens and license agreements when installing software. Custom or advanced installation options will often disclose any third-party software that is also being installed. Take great care in every stage of the process and make sure you know what it is you're agreeing to before you click "Next."
Install an ad blocker.
Use a browser-based content blocker, like AdGuard. Content blockers help stop malicious ads, Trojans, phishing, and other undesirable content that an antivirus product alone may not stop.
Be careful what you download.
A top goal of cybercriminals is to trick you into downloading malware—programs or apps that carry malware or try to steal information. This malware can be disguised as an app: anything from a popular game to something that checks traffic or the weather.
Be alert for people trying to trick you.
Whether it's your email, phone, messenger, or other applications, always be alert and on guard for someone trying to trick you into clicking on links or replying to messages. Remember that it's easy to spoof phone numbers, so a familiar name or number doesn't make messages more trustworthy.
Back up your data.
Back up your data frequently and check that your backup data can be restored. You can do this manually on an external HDD/USB stick, or automatically using backup software. This is also the best way to counter ransomware. Never connect the backup drive to a computer if you suspect that the computer is infected with malware.
Choose strong passwords.
Use strong and unique passwords for each of your accounts. Avoid using personal information or easily guessable words in your passwords. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your accounts whenever possible.
Be careful where you click.
Be cautious when clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown sources. These could potentially contain malware or phishing scams.
Don't use pirated software.
Avoid using Peer-to-Peer (P2P) file-sharing programs, keygens, cracks, and other pirated software that can often compromise your data, privacy, or both.
To avoid potential dangers on the internet, it's important to follow these 10 basic safety rules. By doing so, you can protect yourself from many of the unpleasant surprises that can arise when using the web.
Meet Thomas Orsolya
Thomas is an expert at uncovering scams and providing in-depth reporting on cyber threats and online fraud. As an editor, he is dedicated to keeping readers informed on the latest developments in cybersecurity and tech.
