PayPal is one of the most popular and secure online payment platforms in the world. Millions of people use it every day to send and receive money, buy goods and services, and manage their finances. However, as with any online service, PayPal is also a target for scammers who try to trick users into giving up their personal or financial information, or sending money to fraudulent accounts. One of the latest scams that has been circulating on the internet is the PayPal Pay Protection Scam.
What is the PayPal Pay Protection Scam?
The PayPal Pay Protection Scam is a phishing scheme that aims to steal people’s data and money by pretending to be a legitimate service offered by PayPal. The scam involves sending users fake emails, messages, or directing them to malicious websites that display a message claiming that they have been approved for a large sum of money as compensation for financial damage caused by fraudulent resources. The message looks something like this:
“PayPal Pay Protection
Credit account: VISA/MASTERCARD ****Status: Approved
Transfer amount: 19,740 USD
visa
VISA/MASTER CARD •••• 789719 740 $
Dear client. A money transfer was reserved in Your name in the amount of
19 740 USD
(nineteen thousand seven hundred and forty dollars)The amount was calculated as compensation for financial damage caused by fraudulent resources.
Be careful and cautious when making money transactions on the Internet.
Pay Protection takes care of Your security.
You must confirm the transaction within 24 hours of visiting this page. Otherwise, all funds will be returned to the sender’s Bank.
To complete the transfer, use the Pay Protection guest account at the link below.
PERSONAL ACCOUNT: GUEST 1780
TRANSFER STATUS: PROCESSING
TRANSFER AMOUNT: 19 147 USD
Your payment is ready to be sent
19 147 USD
Enter your card nunber:
The number of the card visa/mastercard:
0000 0000 0000 0000
CONFIRM AND WITHDRAW MONEY
The message may vary slightly in wording, design, or amount, but the general idea is the same: to lure users into clicking on a link or entering their card number to claim their money. However, if they do so, they will not receive any money, but instead expose their personal and financial information to the scammers, who can then use it to make unauthorized transactions, steal their identity, or sell it to other criminals.
How The PayPal Pay Protection Scam Works?
The PayPal Pay Protection Scam works by exploiting people’s curiosity, greed, or fear. The scammers use various methods to distribute their fake messages, such as malware, spam push notifications, malvertising (malicious advertising), social media posts, or hacked accounts. They may also spoof (fake) the sender’s email address or phone number to make it look like it comes from PayPal or a trusted source.
The scammers hope that some of the recipients will fall for their trick and click on the link or enter their card number without verifying the authenticity of the message or the website. Once they do that, they will be redirected to a phishing website that mimics PayPal’s official website, but with a different URL (web address). The website will ask them to log in with their PayPal credentials (email and password), enter their card details (number, expiration date, CVV code), or provide other personal information (name, address, phone number). The scammers will then capture this information and use it for fraudulent purposes.
What To Do If You Have Fallen Victim
If you have fallen victim to the PayPal Pay Protection Scam, you should take immediate action to protect yourself and your account. Here are some steps you should follow:
- Contact your bank or card issuer and report the fraudulent transaction. Ask them to cancel your card and issue a new one.
- Log in to your PayPal account and change your password and security questions. Review your recent activity and report any unauthorized transactions.
- Forward the phishing email or message to phishing@paypal.com and then delete it.
- Scan your device for malware and remove any suspicious programs or apps.
- Report the scam to your local authorities or consumer protection agencies.
- Educate yourself and others about how to spot and avoid common scams.
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.
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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.
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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
Conclusion
The PayPal Pay Protection Scam is a phishing scheme that tries to steal people’s data and money by impersonating a legitimate service offered by PayPal. The scam involves sending users fake messages that claim they have been approved for a large sum of money as compensation for financial damage caused by fraudulent resources. The message asks them to click on a link or enter their card number to claim their money. However, if they do so, they will not receive any money, but instead expose their personal and financial information to the scammers, who can then use it for malicious purposes.
To avoid falling for this scam, you should always be careful and cautious when receiving emails or messages that ask you to confirm or verify your account, provide your personal or financial information, or claim that you have won a prize or a refund. You should always check the sender’s email address or phone number, the URL of the website, and the content of the message for any signs of fraud. You should also never click on links or open attachments from unknown or suspicious sources. If you are unsure about the legitimacy of a message or a website, you should contact PayPal directly through their official channels and verify the information.
Remember, PayPal will never ask you to provide your card number, password, PIN, or any other sensitive information in an email or a message. PayPal will also never send you money as compensation for financial damage caused by fraudulent resources. If you receive such a message, it is most likely a scam and you should ignore it and report it to PayPal.
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