Have you received a suspicious text or email claiming you owe money to a company called “Grand Canyon Historical Society” for an unrecognized PayPal transaction? If so, you may be the target of an active scam designed to steal your money and personal information.
This detailed article will provide an overview of how the Grand Canyon Historical Society scam works, what to do if you receive a message, and most importantly, how to protect yourself moving forward.
An Overview of the Grand Canyon Historical Society PayPal Scam
The Grand Canyon Historical Society scam begins with an out-of-the-blue text message or email stating that you owe money for an invoice or unrecognized PayPal transaction. The message will include an extremely high “owed” amount of $1038.35 USD, and provide a customer service number to call with any questions or disputes.
This is where things get nefarious. The provided customer service number does not actually belong to PayPal – it is a fake number operated by scammers. When victims call the number, the scammers pretend to be PayPal agents and utilize high-pressure tactics to extort money and sensitive personal information.
Specifically, the scammers will claim that in order to reverse the bogus charge, you must provide your PayPal login credentials or make an immediate credit card payment. This gives them direct access to steal money from your accounts. The scammers may also phish for personal info like social security numbers and bank account details, which fuels identity theft and other forms of fraud.
Unfortunately, many trusting individuals end up losing significant funds to the Palomino Bazaar scam before realizing it is not legitimate. Keep reading to learn exactly how the scam works from start to finish, as awareness is key to protecting yourself and your finances.
How the Grand Canyon Historical Society PayPal Scam Works
The Grand Canyon Historical Society scam is orchestrated in the following stages:
Stage 1: Receiving the Fake Invoice
The scam starts with an out-of-the-blue text or email about owing a significant amount of money to Grand Canyon Historical Society for an unrecognized PayPal transaction.
Here is an example of the scam text message:
Grand Canyon Historical Society sent you an invoice for $1038.35 USD Due on receipt. Invoice details Amount requested $1,144.98 USD Note from seller Unrecognized transaction? If this wasn’t you, contact us now at [phone number]. Invoice number 0202
And here is an example of the scam email:
“Dear Customer, This notice is to inform you that you have an outstanding payment of $1038.35 USD due to Grand Canyon Historical Society. Our records indicate this payment is tied to an unrecognized transaction that occurred on [random date] at [random time]. If you do not recognize this transaction or feel it is an error, please contact PayPal customer support immediately at [phone number] so we can investigate and resolve this issue. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. Sincerely, PayPal Customer Service”
The massive dollar amount and stern urgency are intended to shock and pressure recipients. Many will contact the provided number simply out of fear and confusion.
Stage 2: Calling the Fake Phone Number
When recipients call the phone number provided in the fake invoice, they are actually contacting the scammers directly. The number is not affiliated with PayPal at all.
The scammers who answer the call pretend to be from PayPal’s customer support team. They have likely been briefed on the details of the fake invoice and will reference the bogus charge and dollar amount. Their acting skills are strong, so most victims do not detect anything nefarious at this point.
Stage 3: Verifying Personal Information
Next, the fake PayPal agents will request personal information to “verify the account” related to the charge. Data points collected include:
Full name
Home address
Phone number
Email address used for PayPal account
Last 4 digits of your SSN
They may also ask for online account usernames, passwords, and security question answers for PayPal and other sites like online banking.
Do not provide any information, as it fuels identity theft and account compromise. But many honest folks end up handing over the data, either from routine habit or under high-pressure urgency from the scammers.
Stage 4: Urging Immediate Payment
After collecting personal information, the scammers insist the charge is legitimate and must be paid immediately to avoid account suspension or legal action.
They will demand that victims pay the “owed” amount via:
PayPal balance funds
Bank account linked to PayPal
Prepaid credit card
Wire transfer
Steam/Amazon gift cards
Many scammers specifically request payment by gift cards, as this type of transaction cannot be traced or reversed. They may even stay on the phone during a trip to the store to purchase cards and retrieve the codes.
Stage 5: Stealing Money & Data
As soon as payment is initiated by whatever method, the scammers quickly steal the funds. They will also start abusing any credentials or personal data collected during the call to access and drain financial accounts, open fraudulent credit lines, and more.
Within this short timeframe, victims can have thousands of dollars stolen and entire identities commandeered by scammers – all from following the directives on a simple phishing text/email. It can take months or longer to undo the financial and legal aftermath.
What To Do If You Have Fallen Victim to the Grand Canyon Historical Society PayPal Scam
If you have already interacted with the numbers from a Grand Canyon Historical Society scam message and suffered monetary losses or identity theft, take the following steps right away:
Step 1: Contact PayPal Immediately
Report the fraudulent activity on your PayPal account to the real PayPal customer support team by calling 1-888-221-1161. They can freeze the account to prevent further abuse. You can also log into your PayPal account and submit a report online via the Resolution Center. Provide all relevant details about the scam situation, losses, and timeline of events. Request assistance with reimbursement and an investigation.
Step 2: Notify Your Bank/Credit Cards
If any banking or credit card info was compromised, call each institution immediately. Alert them that your accounts may have been accessed by scammers, so they can freeze debit cards, flag for suspicious charges, and monitor activity. Request temporary account blocks as needed until everything is sorted out. Ask about reimbursement policies for unauthorized scam transactions as well.
Step 3: Change All Passwords
Make sure to change the passwords for all your online accounts, especially financial or email accounts that were accessible by the scammers with your shared information. Use updated, complex passwords that are different across sites. Turn on enhanced security settings like multi-factor authentication whenever possible.
Step 4: Place Fraud Alerts
Contact one of the three major credit bureaus – Experian, TransUnion, or Equifax – to place a widespread fraud alert on your name and SSN. This flags your credit files and makes it harder for scammers to open new fraudulent lines of credit. Renew the fraud alerts every 90 days as needed while your case is investigated.
Step 5: File a Police Report
Register an official identity theft/fraud complaint with both local police and the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). Provide the complaint details and account statements showing unauthorized activity for evidence. Having a police record fuels criminal investigations and can help with reimbursement requests.
Step 6: Monitor Accounts Closely
Carefully monitor bank, credit, and online shopping accounts over the next few months. Be on high alert for any signs of further misuse of personal and financial data by scammers. Report suspicious activity immediately to mitigate damage. Consider signing up for identity theft protection services for extra peace of mind as well.
Is Your Device Infected? Scan for Malware
If your computer or phone is slow, showing unwanted pop-ups, or acting strangely, malware could be the cause. Running a scan with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free is one of the most reliable ways to detect and remove harmful software. The free version can identify and clean common infections such as adware, browser hijackers, trojans, and other unwanted programs.
Malwarebytes works on Windows, Mac, and Android devices. Choose your operating system below and follow the steps to scan your device and remove any malware that might be slowing it down.
Malwarebytes for WindowsMalwarebytes for MacMalwarebytes for Android
Run a Malware Scan with Malwarebytes for Windows
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
Download the latest version of Malwarebytes for Windows using the official link below. Malwarebytes will scan your computer and remove adware, browser hijackers, and other malicious software for free.
(The above link will open a new page from where you can download Malwarebytes)
Install Malwarebytes
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.
Once the scan completes, remove all detected threats. Your Windows computer should now be clean and running smoothly again, free of trojans, adware, 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:
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.
After scanning, delete any detected threats. Your Mac should now be free from adware, unwanted extensions, and other potentially harmful software.
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.
Run a Malware Scan with Malwarebytes for Android
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.
When the scan is finished, remove all detected threats. Your Android phone should now be free of malicious apps, adware, and unwanted browser redirects.
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.
After cleaning your device, it’s important to protect it from future infections and annoying pop-ups. We recommend installing an ad blocker such as AdGuard. AdGuard blocks malicious ads, prevents phishing attempts, and stops dangerous redirects, helping you stay safe while browsing online.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Grand Canyon Historical Society PayPal Scam
The Grand Canyon Historical Society PayPal scam has been fooling innocent victims out of money and personal data. If you have received a suspicious text or email about owing funds, you likely have questions. This comprehensive FAQ will provide answers and prevent you from falling for the scam tactics.
What is the Grand Canyon Historical Society PayPal Scam?
The Grand Canyon Historical Society PayPal scam starts with an unsolicited text or email claiming you owe a significant amount of money (usually $1000−$3500) for an unrecognized PayPal transaction or invoice. The message provides a customer service number to call with disputes. However, the number actually leads to scammers impersonating PayPal agents. They use deception and urgency to get private information and payments from victims.
How Does the Grand Canyon Historical Society Scam Work?
The scammers operate the scam in the following key stages after the initial message:
You call the fake customer service number, allowing them to access you directly.
They pretend to be PayPal agents and reference your “unpaid invoice.”
They request personal info like SSN, PayPal credentials, and online banking passwords to “verify the account.”
They insist you pay immediately via PayPal balance, credit/debit card, wire transfer, or gift cards to avoid legal trouble.
They steal any funds sent and leverage your data for identity theft.
What Details are in the Grand Canyon Historical Society Scam Text or Email?
The text or email includes these details to shock recipients:
A company name like “Grand Canyon Historical Society” or generic PayPal billing department
A fake large invoice amount owed, usually 1000−1000-1000−1500
Claims of an unrecognized/unauthorized transaction
A customer service number for disputing the charge (leads to scammers)
Threats of account suspension or legal action if payment is not made
What Are Some Tips to Spot the Grand Canyon Historical Society Scam?
Watch for these common red flags:
Random, unsolicited text or email about owing money to an unfamiliar company
Large dollar amount claimed for mystery transaction
Urgent threats if you don’t call customer service ASAP
Requests for sensitive data like SSN, account logins, passwords
Refusal to provide documentation unless you pay immediately
Requests for irreversible payment types like wire transfer or gift cards
What Should I Do if I Receive a Grand Canyon Historical Society Message?
If you get a text or email about owing money to Grand Canyon Historical Society:
Do NOT call the provided number right away. It leads to scammers.
Log into your real PayPal account to check recent activity for validity.
Call official PayPal customer service to verify if any invoice exists.
If a scam, report the message to PayPal for investigation.
Do not provide ANY sensitive personal or financial data over the phone.
How Can I Get My Money Back from the Grand Canyon Historical Society Scam?
If you lost money in the scam, take these steps:
Contact PayPal immediately to dispute unauthorized transactions.
Notify your bank/credit card company of any fraudulent charges.
File a report with the FBI and local police documenting losses.
Ask about reimbursement policies from banking institutions and PayPal.
Change all account passwords and enable enhanced security like two-factor authentication.
How Can I Avoid Falling for the Grand Canyon Historical Society Scam?
Protect yourself with these tips:
Be wary of urgent calls/texts/emails demanding payment. Verify legitimacy first.
Never give personal or financial details to unsolicited callers.
Don’t rush payments or purchase gift cards when pressured.
Review all statements frequently and report fraud ASAP.
Use strong unique passwords and multi-factor authentication.
Sign up for identity theft monitoring.
Staying vigilant against phishing scams like Grand Canyon Historical Society is key to safeguarding your hard-earned money and peace of mind. Reach out for help if you have fallen victim to this scam.
The Bottom Line: Protecting Yourself from the Grand Canyon Historical Society Scam
The Grand Canyon Historical Society scam can be incredibly convincing thanks to polished social engineering tactics that prey on fear and urgency. However, there are key steps you can take to avoid falling victim and protect your hard-earned money:
Be suspicious of random payment notices: Legitimate companies will not surprise you with an urgent invoice for a costly service or product you didn’t request. These notices appear out of the blue to overwhelm your critical thinking.
Verify sender authenticity: Do not call the number on random texts/emails right away. Log into your PayPal account first or call official customer support to confirm validity. Most messages will be revealed as phishing scams.
Guard personal information: Never provide sensitive data like passwords or SSN over the phone, even if the call seems official. Real customer service reps will not ask for this.
Avoid payment under pressure: Don’t rush payments to random accounts or gift cards, especially when threatened. Take time to verify any payment demands through official channels.
Monitor accounts closely: Routinely check bank and credit card statements so you can catch and report fraud early after potential exposure like data breaches. Consider signing up for identity theft monitoring as well.
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.
