PayPal users are warning others about a surge in scam emails designed to look like legitimate payment notifications, pressuring recipients to call a fake customer support number and hand over sensitive information.
The scheme has been widely discussed on Reddit, with users saying the goal is not to trick victims into clicking links, but to get them on the phone.
Multiple reports surfaced in the r/PayPal subreddit, where users described receiving emails claiming a payment had been received or a large deposit was pending. The messages often include an urgent warning to call a listed phone number if they have questions.
‘They drain you’
“I got it, too… I think they’re trying to get you to call them and then they’ll ask how much the deposit was and that’ll be how they confirm your PayPal account into an [automated clearing house] system,” one Reddit contributor hypothesized.
“From there they drain you.”
Another commenter reassured others that the threat is largely bluff-based: “As long as you don’t call the number, you are totally fine. You can ignore this email.
“There is not actually a pending charge. Just a high pressure tactic that is supposed to override your logic and call that number thinking it belongs to PayPal.”
The discussion has drawn hundreds of comments from commentators reporting similar messages.
Why it Matters
PayPal remains one of the most widely used digital payment platforms, making it a prime target for scammers impersonating trusted brands.
According to cybersecurity firm ESET, PayPal consistently ranks among the most impersonated companies in phishing scams, with attackers relying heavily on urgency and fear to trigger reckless reactions.
Once a victim calls the scam number, fraudsters posing as PayPal agents may ask for account details, banking information or request remote access to “reverse” a transaction.
Those steps can give attackers direct access to linked bank accounts.
What to Know
PayPal has warned users that it does not include phone numbers in unsolicited emails or invoices and does not ask customers to resolve account issues by calling a number provided in a message.
“PayPal does not tolerate fraudulent activity and we work hard to protect our customers from evolving phishing scams,” a company spokesperson from PayPal told Newsweek in an email.
The company also stresses that any real payment will always appear directly in your account activity. If there is no transaction shown after logging in through the official app or website, the email is fraudulent.
However, in this particular case, the transaction initiated is legitimate, so you will see it appear in your account, making it especially hard to spot as a scam.
This type of fraud is often referred to as a telephone-oriented attack delivery scam, or TOAD, where the phone call itself is the trap.
What to Do Now
If you receive one of these emails, PayPal and security experts agree the safest step is to do nothing beyond reporting it. Do not call the number, do not reply and do not click any links.
“We always encourage people to learn how to spot the warning signs of common fraud, and to never respond to unexpected, suspicious messages,” PayPal’s spokesperson told Newsweek.
“To report a suspicious email, customers may forward it to phishing@paypal.com for us to investigate, or contact Customer Service directly through the PayPal app for assistance.”
Consumers can also report scam attempts to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, which helps authorities identify and disrupt large-scale fraud campaigns.
What’s Next
Security analysts warn that these scams are likely to continue evolving, especially as criminals refine emails that appear more polished and believable, and harness the power of artificial intelligence to increase the appearance of legitimacy.
Users are encouraged to regularly review account activity, enable two-factor authentication and remain skeptical of any message that creates urgency around payments or deposits they don’t recognize.
As one Reddit commenter put it bluntly: “It’s a trick, people. don’t call.”
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