The Kerry Shay Paypal Request Scam: What You Need to Know
Written by: Thomas Orsolya
Published on:
In recent weeks, a new phishing scam has emerged targeting PayPal users. Scammers are sending out emails that appear to be from PayPal, stating that someone named “Kerry Shay” is requesting money from you. If you don’t recognize the name, the email prompts you to call a phone number for assistance. However, the phone number leads to a fake tech support call center, aimed at stealing your money and personal information. This scam is gathering steam, catching even savvy users off guard.
In this comprehensive guide, we will break down exactly how the Kerry Shay PayPal money request scam works, provide step-by-step examples of the phishing emails, and outline what you need to do if you received one of these emails or accidentally called the phone number.
This article contains:
Overview of the Kerry Shay PayPal Request Scam
This scam starts with an email sent to a PayPal customer, stating that someone named Kerry Shay is requesting money from them. The email contains PayPal branding and looks legitimate at first glance.
The email will say that “Kerry Shay” is requesting a random amount like $374.47 and will include a fake transaction ID. The email prompts you to call a phone number (+1 877 380 0751) immediately if you don’t recognize Kerry Shay.
Of course, most people have no idea who Kerry Shay is, so they call the number, assuming it’s PayPal’s security team. Unfortunately, the phone number connects you to a fraudulent “tech support” center, run by scammers intent on stealing your money and personal information.
Once on the phone with the “support reps,” the scammers will falsely claim that your device or account has been compromised. They’ll say they need remote access to your computer and accounts to fix the issue. Their ultimate goal is to gain login credentials, install malware for ongoing access, and have you wire them money or buy gift cards to “refund” the unauthorized charge.
Many have lost hundreds or thousands of dollars to this insidious phishing scam. The number of reports related to the Kerry Shay email scam have skyrocketed in recent months, catching PayPal customers worldwide off-guard.
How the Kerry Shay PayPal Scam Works
The Kerry Shay scam is quite simple but cleverly effective at convincing PayPal users that their account is in jeopardy. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown:
Step 1: Receiving the Phishing Email
The scam starts with an email sent to PayPal customers, using their name and partial email address in the message. The “From” name shows as “PayPal” and the email contains PayPal branding and colors to look legitimate.
The email claims that “Kerry Shay has sent you a money request” for a random dollar amount like $374.47. It will include a fake PayPal transaction ID starting with “U-” to seem credible.
The email states that if you don’t recognize Kerry Shay, you should call +1 877 380 0751 immediately for account assistance. Of course, most Won’t recognize that name, prompting them to call.
Here’s an example of what one of these phishing emails looks like:
PayPal
Kerry Shay sent you a money request
Payment request details:
Amount requested: $374.47 USD
Note from Kerry Shay:
Don’t recognize this seller? Quickly let us know +1 877 380 0751
Transaction ID: U-8J511937YU3339152
As you can see, the email contains just enough PayPal branding and details to seem legitimate on first glance.
Step 2: Calling the “Support” Number
When unsuspecting users call the 877 number listed in the email, they will reach an IVR system or live agent claiming to be from PayPal support. The “support rep” will falsely state that the charge from Kerry Shay looks suspicious.
They will express concern that your PayPal account may have been compromised. The scammer will gain your trust by verifying your name, email, or partial credit card number. This gives the illusion that they have access to your account and are real PayPal employees.
The fake support agent will insist that they need remote access to your device and accounts to investigate and reverse this unauthorized transaction. Their ultimate goal is to steal login credentials, install spyware, and trick you into wiring money or buying gift cards.
Step 3: Remotely Accessing Your Device
If you allow the scammers remote access to your computer, they can and will install malware and spyware without your knowledge. This allows them to steal passwords, financial information, and personal data.
They may falsely claim to “refund” the unauthorized charge, while actually making other transactions without your knowledge. The scammers will also pressure you to provide your PayPal login credentials, giving them direct access to your account.
Step 4: Demanding Wire Transfers or Gift Cards
In addition to stealing your information, the fraudsters will coerce you into wiring money or purchasing gift cards to “refund” the false charge from Kerry Shay. They may claim they accidentally refunded you too much, and now you need to send funds back.
The scammers will provide bank routing numbers and accounts tied to their operation overseas. Or, they will demand you buy hundreds of dollars in iTunes or Google Play gift cards to reimburse the “accidental overpayment.” They will ask for the gift card numbers, allowing them to steal the funds.
This is also when victims may notice unauthorized transactions made from their account without consent. Unfortunately, the scammers already have their money and information at this point.
What to Do If You Get the Kerry Shay Email
If you receive an email claiming Kerry Shay sent you a PayPal request, there are steps you should take immediately:
Do not call the number listed in the email. Real PayPal would never tell you to call a non-official number for account help.
Forward the phishing email to spoof@paypal.com. PayPal monitors this for new scams impersonating their brand.
Log into your PayPal account directly through the real PayPal website to review recent activity. Never click links in an unsolicited email.
If you see a pending request from “Kerry Shay,” report it as unauthorized under Resolution Center. PayPal will investigate and remove it.
Run a virus scan on your device in case you clicked any links or downloaded attachments. Phishing emails often contain malware.
Change your PayPal password, since the scam indicates criminals potentially have it. Enable two-factor authentication for added security.
Contact PayPal via their official customer service number or live chat to report the phishing attempt. They may provide additional account protections.
Watch closely for additional phishing attempts. Scammers buy and sell email lists when one campaign is successful. You may see more scams arrive.
What to Do If You Called the Kerry Shay Number
If you unfortunately called the phone number listed in the Kerry Shay email, the situation requires immediate action:
End the call immediately if they ask for remote access to your device or accounts. Real PayPal support will never make this request.
Call PayPal’s real customer service line at 1-888-221-1161 to report the fraud attempt. Alert them to any concerning activity you now see in your account.
If you provided personal information, change your PayPal password and security questions. Enable two-factor authentication.
Contact your bank and request new card numbers if you provided debit/credit card details. This will prevent additional fraudulent charges.
Run a virus scan to look for any remote access software they may have installed without your knowledge during the call. Delete anything suspicious.
Monitor your accounts closely for fraudulent activity. Report any unauthorized transactions to your bank and PayPal immediately.
Consider reporting the scam call to the FTC and your local authorities to aid investigations into these criminal operations. The more reports, the higher priority.
Sign up for PayPal transaction alerts to monitor your account in real-time. You’ll be notified anytime money moves. This allows quick action against any fraud.
With immediate precautions, you can protect yourself following an attempted Kerry Shay scam call. But acting fast is crucial, as these scammers will leverage any opportunity to steal money and information. Don’t let them succeed with their deceit.
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.
Here is a detailed FAQ section optimized for SEO and improved readability:
Frequently Asked Questions about the Kerry Shay PayPal Scam
1. What is the Kerry Shay PayPal scam?
The Kerry Shay PayPal scam is a phishing scam where victims receive an email claiming someone named Kerry Shay has sent them a PayPal request. The email prompts victims to call a number for assistance, but it actually leads to a fraudulent “tech support” center that tries to steal your personal and financial information.
2. How does the Kerry Shay scam work?
The scam starts with an email pretending to be from PayPal, stating Kerry Shay is requesting money and providing a customer service number. When victims call the number, scammers posing as PayPal support gain remote access to devices and trick users into wiring money or buying gift cards under the guise of “refunding” unauthorized charges.
3. What does the Kerry Shay scam email look like?
The email uses PayPal branding and says “Kerry Shay has sent you a money request” for a random amount like $374.47. It includes a fake transaction ID and urges you to call a number if you don’t recognize Kerry Shay. The email appears to come from service@paypal.com.
4. What happens if you call the number in the Kerry Shay email?
You will reach a fraudulent “tech support” call center, where scammers posing as PayPal employees say your account is compromised. They trick you into giving remote access and then steal personal information, install malware, make unauthorized transactions, and pressure you to wire money or buy gift cards.
5. How can you avoid the Kerry Shay PayPal scam?
If you receive a Kerry Shay email, do not call the number. Report the email to PayPal at spoof@paypal.com. Check your account through the real PayPal website and enable two-factor authentication for extra security against scams.
6. What should you do if you already called the Kerry Shay number?
Immediately end the call if they ask for any personal or banking information. Contact PayPal to report fraudulent activity and monitor your accounts closely. Run an antivirus scan to remove any malware they may have installed. Change all account passwords that may have been compromised.
7. How can you get help if you lost money in the Kerry Shay scam?
If you wired money or bought gift cards, contact your bank and PayPal immediately. File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission and your local authorities. PayPal may reimburse you if you report unauthorized payments timely and you are covered by their Buyer Protection program.
8. How can you avoid PayPal phishing scams in the future?
Always log into your PayPal account directly through the PayPal website or app. Never click links or call numbers in suspicious emails claiming to be from PayPal. Use strong passwords and two-factor authentication. Report any emails appearing to be from PayPal to spoof@paypal.com.
The Bottom Line
The Kerry Shay PayPal request scam displays the importance of vigilance against phishing attempts. These fraudsters are experts at impersonating trusted brands like PayPal to steal user funds and data.
This guide provided comprehensive details on how the scam operates, from the official-looking emails to the deceitful “support” call. We outlined specific precautions you need to take if you receive one of these scam attempts. This includes not calling the number listed, reporting the email, an
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.
