Beware the FAKE PayPal DocuSign Email Scam Stealing Money
Written by: Thomas Orsolya
Published on:
Have you received an email that appears to be from PayPal claiming there has been a large, unauthorized transaction on your account? The email might urge you to click on a DocuSign link to reverse the payment before you lose money. This is a scam designed to steal your personal and financial information.
Keep reading to learn how to recognize this deceptive scam and protect yourself from becoming a victim.
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Overview of the PayPal DocuSign Phishing Scam
This scam starts with an email that seems to come from PayPal. The email will claim an unauthorized payment, sometimes for thousands of dollars, was made from your PayPal account.
To cancel the bogus transaction, the email provides a DocuSign link to electronically sign a document reversing the payment. However, the link sends you to a fake website controlled by scammers, not the real DocuSign site.
The goal is to scare victims into calling a “customer support” number included in the email. If you call, scammers posing as PayPal agents pressure you to provide enough personal information to steal your identity and drain your bank account.
This scam takes advantage of PayPal’s popularity and the fear of compromised accounts. But a few key signs can help you spot the phishing attempt:
Red Flags of the PayPal DocuSign Scam:
Grammatical errors a real PayPal email would not contain
Sender email address from a random Gmail account, not an official paypal.com address
Customer service number with an odd area code, not PayPal’s real support line
Aggressive urgency to call the number or you could lose money
No real unauthorized transaction showing in your PayPal account
Anatomy of the PayPal DocuSign Phishing Scam
Here is exactly how scammers carry out this scam to try and steal your personal information:
1. You Receive the Deceptive Email
The scam starts with an email landing in your inbox claiming to be from PayPal. The subject line often says something like “Large Transaction Detected in Your PayPal Account.”
The email claims an unauthorized payment was made from your account, sometimes for thousands of dollars. It stresses the importance of acting quickly to reverse the charge.
In the body of the email is a DocuSign link supposedly to electronically sign a document canceling the fake transaction.
2. You Click the DocuSign Link
Eager to reverse the large, unauthorized charge, you click the DocuSign link. But it does not lead to the real DocuSign website.
Instead, it goes to a nearly identical fake site controlled by the scammers. The site is designed to download malware or steal login credentials if you attempt to sign in.
3. You Call the Fake Support Number
More concerning is the “customer support” phone number included in the email. If you call, scammers pretend to be PayPal agents.
The scammers insist they must “verify your identity” before reversing the transaction. This is when they’ll request personal info like account numbers.
4. Scammers Steal Your Financial Information
Once you provide your credit card number, bank account details, or other private data, the scammers can drain your accounts and commit identity fraud.
The DocuSign link itself may not contain a virus. But calling the number gives scammers direct access to trick you into giving up valuable financial information.
How to Avoid Falling Victim to the PayPal DocuSign Scam
If you receive this deceptive email, do NOT click any links, call any phone numbers, or provide personal information. Instead:
Login directly to your real PayPal account to check recent activity.
Forward the scam email to PayPal at spoof@paypal.com for investigation.
Delete the scam email immediately and block the sender.
Never call numbers provided in suspicious finance-related emails.
Enable two-factor authentication on your PayPal account for extra security.
What to Do if You Already Called the Scammers
If you called the number and shared financial information with the scammers, take these steps right away:
Contact PayPal to report unauthorized account activity.
Notify your credit card company and bank of any fraudulent charges or transactions.
Change passwords on all financial accounts that may have been compromised.
Sign up for credit monitoring to detect any signs of identity theft.
File a report with the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov.
The PayPal DocuSign phishing scam can look convincing, but learning the warning signs can keep you from becoming the scammers’ next victim. Being vigilant against suspicious emails and calls purporting to be from financial institutions is key to protecting your identity and money.
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 DocuSign Phishing Scam
1. How can I recognize the PayPal DocuSign scam email?
Look for an email claiming an unauthorized transaction was made from your PayPal account. It will provide a DocuSign link to supposedly reverse the charge and urge you to call a customer support number. Red flags include grammatical errors, a suspicious sender address, and an unusual support number.
2. What is the goal of the PayPal DocuSign scam?
The scam aims to steal your personal and financial information. The scammers want you to call the number so they can pretend to be PayPal agents and trick you into providing credit card, bank account, or other sensitive details.
3. Is the DocuSign link itself dangerous?
The link goes to a fake website designed to download malware or collect login credentials if you try to sign in. But the bigger threat is calling the phone number, which connects you directly with scammers posing as PayPal support.
4. What should I do if I receive the PayPal DocuSign scam email?
Do not click any links, call any numbers, or provide information. Login to PayPal directly through the real website. Forward the email to spoof@paypal.com. Delete the email and block the sender.
5. What steps should I take if I already called the number?
Contact PayPal immediately about any unauthorized account activity. Call your credit card company and bank to report fraudulent charges or transactions. Change account passwords that may have been compromised. Sign up for credit monitoring to catch any signs of identity theft.
6. How can I protect myself from the PayPal DocuSign scam?
Never call numbers provided in suspicious emails claiming to be from financial institutions. Only call numbers listed on real company websites. Use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication when possible.
7. What are some other examples of PayPal phishing scams?
PayPal invoice scams, account limitation scams, and security confirmation scams are also fake emails attempting to steal user information. Always login directly to your PayPal account to verify any claims of unauthorized activity or required actions.
8. What should I do if I provided personal information to the scammers?
Immediately contact PayPal to report unauthorized account activity. Notify your bank and credit card company of any fraudulent transactions. Change all account passwords that may have been compromised. Place fraud alerts and consider credit monitoring to protect your identity.
The Bottom Line
This PayPal DocuSign scam preys on fears of compromised accounts and stolen funds. But if you see red flags like grammatical errors, urgent threats, and requests for personal information, you can recognize it as an attempted fraud. Never call phone numbers in unsolicited emails, no matter how dire the message sounds. Go directly to PayPal’s website or app if you have any concerns about your account. With caution and awareness, you can avoid this sneaky phishing scam.
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.
