Have you received a suspicious text or email claiming you owe money to a company called “Palomino Bazaar LLC” 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 Palomino Bazaar LLC scam works, what to do if you receive a message, and most importantly, how to protect yourself moving forward.
An Overview of the Palomino Bazaar LLC PayPal Scam
The Palomino Bazaar LLC 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, around $1000 to $3000, 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 Palomino Bazaar LLC PayPal Scam Works
The Palomino Bazaar LLC 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 Palomino Bazaar LLC for an unrecognized PayPal transaction.
Here is an example of the scam text message:
Palomino Bazaar LLC sent you an invoice for $1,144.98 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 $1179.43 due to Palomino Bazaar LLC. 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 Palomino Bazaar LLC PayPal Scam
If you have already interacted with the numbers from a Palomino Bazaar LLC 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? Run a Free Malware Scan
Slow performance, constant pop-ups, or strange behavior? These are classic signs of a malware infection. A quick way to check is to scan your device with Malwarebytes Free, one of the most trusted malware removal tools available. If you only visited a scam page and didn’t download or install anything, this scan is optional.
The free version detects and removes the most common threats, including:
- Adware — the cause of those annoying pop-ups
- Browser hijackers — unwanted redirects and changed homepages
- Trojans and spyware — hidden programs stealing your data
- Potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) — software you never asked for
👉 Select your device below — Windows, Mac, or Android — then follow the simple steps to download Malwarebytes, scan your system, and remove any threats it finds. The scan usually takes 5 to 20 minutes.
Run a Malware Scan with Malwarebytes for Windows
Malwarebytes is one of the most popular and trusted anti-malware tools for Windows — and it’s completely free for removing infections. It catches threats that many antivirus programs miss, including adware, browser hijackers, and trojans. Follow the steps below to scan your PC and remove what Malwarebytes finds.
Download Malwarebytes
Click the button below to download the latest version of Malwarebytes for Windows from the official source. The free version is all you need — it will scan your computer and remove adware, browser hijackers, and other malicious software at no cost.
Download MalwarebytesOfficial installer for Windows 11 and 10. Your download starts right away.Want real-time protection? See Malwarebytes Premium
Malwarebytes Free for WindowsScans and removes malware at no cost-
Install Malwarebytes
When the download finishes, open your Downloads folder and double-click the MBSetup file. If Windows shows a User Account Control pop-up, click “Yes” to allow the installation.
Follow the On-Screen Prompts to Install Malwarebytes
The setup wizard will walk you through a few quick screens:
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Choose where you’re installing the program — “Personal Computer” or “Work Computer” — then click Next.
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Malwarebytes will now install on your device. This usually takes under a minute.
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When installation is complete, the “Welcome to Malwarebytes” screen will open automatically.
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On the final screen, click Open Malwarebytes to launch the program.
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Optional: Check for rootkits with a Custom Scan
You don’t need to change any settings for a normal scan. The standard Threat Scan in the next step is enough for most problems, so you can go straight to it.
If you also want to check for rootkits, use a Custom Scan. In current versions of Malwarebytes, rootkit scanning is only available there:
- On the Scanner tile, click the three-dot menu and select Advanced Scan.
- Choose Custom Scan. In its options, check Scan for rootkits.
- Select your system drive (usually C:\) as the location to scan, then start the scan. It takes longer than a Threat Scan.
- When it finishes, review and quarantine the results as described in the steps below.
Rootkit scanning isn’t available on Windows devices with ARM processors.
Start the Scan
Click the blue Scan button. Malwarebytes will automatically update its virus database and start checking your computer for malware.
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Wait for the Scan to Finish
The scan checks your entire system for browser hijackers and other malicious programs, so it can take 5 to 20 minutes depending on your computer. Feel free to do something else — just check back occasionally to see the progress.
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Quarantine the Detected Threats
When the scan is done, you’ll see a list of everything Malwarebytes found — malware, adware, and potentially unwanted programs. Click the “Quarantine” button to remove all of them at once.
Malwarebytes will now remove the malicious files and registry entries and move them safely into quarantine.
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Restart Your Computer
Some threats can only be fully removed after a reboot. If Malwarebytes asks you to restart, click Yes. Once you’re logged back in, Malwarebytes has finished removing the threats it found.
When the scan is done, check whether the problems you noticed have stopped. If they continue, see the options below.
If you are still having problems with your computer after completing these instructions, then please follow one of the steps:
- Run a computer scan with ESET Online Scanner
- Ask for help in our Windows Malware Removal Help & Support forum.
Run a Malware Scan with Malwarebytes for Mac
Malwarebytes for Mac is a free on-demand scanner that removes the malware other security software tends to miss — adware, browser hijackers, and unwanted programs included. Cleaning an infected Mac with Malwarebytes has always been completely free, and it’s our go-to recommendation. Follow the steps below to scan your Mac and remove what Malwarebytes finds.
-
Download Malwarebytes for Mac
Click the button below to download the latest version of Malwarebytes for Mac.
Download MalwarebytesOfficial installer for macOS. Your download starts right away.Want real-time protection? See Malwarebytes PremiumMalwarebytes Free for MacScans and removes malware at no cost -
Open the Malwarebytes setup file
When the download finishes, open your Downloads folder and double-click the setup file to begin the installation.
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Follow the On-Screen Prompts to Install Malwarebytes
The Malwarebytes for Mac Installer will guide you through a few quick screens. Click “Continue” and keep following the prompts until the installation completes.
When the installation is complete, Malwarebytes opens to the Welcome to Malwarebytes screen. Click “Get started“.
Malwarebytes needs Full Disk Access to check your whole Mac. When it asks, open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Full Disk Access, turn on Malwarebytes (it may be listed as Malwarebytes Protection), and confirm with your password or Touch ID. Then return to Malwarebytes. On macOS Monterey and earlier, this setting is in System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy.
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Select “Personal Computer” or “Work Computer”
Malwarebytes will ask what type of computer you’re installing it on. Click either Personal Computer or Work Computer, whichever applies.
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Start the Scan
Click the “Scan” button. Malwarebytes will automatically update its detection database and begin checking your Mac for malware.
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Wait for the Scan to Finish
Malwarebytes will scan your Mac for adware, browser hijackers, and other malicious programs. This can take a few minutes, so feel free to do something else — just check back occasionally to see the progress.
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Quarantine the Detected Threats
When the scan is done, you’ll see a list of everything Malwarebytes found. Click the “Quarantine” button to remove all the threats at once.
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Restart Your Mac
Malwarebytes will now remove all the malicious files it found. Some threats can only be fully removed after a reboot — if Malwarebytes asks you to restart, allow it. Once you’re logged back in, check whether the problems you noticed have stopped. If they come back, save the scan report and ask for help in our forum.
If the problems you noticed continue after the scan, see the options below.
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 scans your phone or tablet for malware, adware, and potentially unwanted apps. The free version scans only when you start a scan. Real-time protection, which checks apps automatically, is part of the paid Premium version.
-
Download Malwarebytes for Android.
You can download Malwarebytes for Android by clicking the link below.
Get Malwarebytes for AndroidOpens Google Play in a new tab.Want real-time protection? See Malwarebytes Premium for AndroidMalwarebytes for AndroidScans your phone and removes malware at no cost -
Install Malwarebytes for Android on your phone.
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.
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Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the setup process
When Malwarebytes opens, it walks you through a short setup. Tap Get started and follow the prompts. If you see an offer for a trial or a paid plan, read it before you accept. You can skip it and keep using the free scanner.
Malwarebytes will ask for permission to access the files on your phone so it can scan them. Tap Allow, or turn on the permission in the Android screen that opens, then return to Malwarebytes.
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Run a scan with Malwarebytes for Android
On the main screen, tap Scan now. In some versions, you open the menu, tap Scanner, and then tap Run a scan.
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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.
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Remove the detected apps.
When the scan has been completed, you will see a list of the threats that Malwarebytes for Android has detected. Next to each detected item, tap the menu icon (three dots), then choose to uninstall the app or delete the file. Android then asks you to confirm. Tap OK or Uninstall to remove the app.
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Restart your phone.
When the detected apps are removed, restart your phone if Malwarebytes asks you to. Then check whether the problems you noticed have stopped.
If the problems you noticed continue after the scan, see the options below.
If you are still having problems with your phone after completing these instructions, then please follow one of the steps:
- Ask for help in our Mobile Malware Removal Help & Support forum.
- Only as a last resort, reset your phone to factory settings. Read the warning below first.
- Back up your photos, videos, files, and messages, for example to your Google account or a computer.
- Make sure you know your Google account email and password. The phone asks for them after the reset. If you changed the password recently, Google recommends waiting 24 hours before you reset.
- On a Samsung phone, also make sure you know your Samsung account password.
- If you use an authenticator app for two-step verification, move your accounts to another device or save your backup codes first.
Stay Protected: Block Ads and Malicious Sites
No scan can prove a device is completely clean, so it helps to block threats before they reach you. Most infections start with a malicious ad or a fake download button — so blocking them at the source is your best defense.
We recommend AdGuard, which blocks malicious ads, phishing pages, and dangerous redirects before they can reach you.
👉 Download AdGuard and browse safely
Frequently Asked Questions about the Palomino Bazaar LLC PayPal Scam
The Palomino Bazaar LLC 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 Palomino Bazaar LLC PayPal Scam?
The Palomino Bazaar LLC 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 Palomino Bazaar LLC 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 Palomino Bazaar LLC Scam Text or Email?
The text or email includes these details to shock recipients:
- A company name like “Palomino Bazaar LLC” 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 Palomino Bazaar LLC 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 Palomino Bazaar LLC Message?
If you get a text or email about owing money to Palomino Bazaar LLC:
- 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 Palomino Bazaar LLC 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 Palomino Bazaar LLC 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 Palomino Bazaar LLC 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 Palomino Bazaar LLC Scam
The Palomino Bazaar LLC 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.
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