Dear Watch Member,
Between January to September 2020, Action Fraud have received 21.349 reports regarding fake PayPal phishing emails, resulting in a total reported loss to victims of £7,891,077.
Online marketplace sellers have received a fake email that appears to be from PayPal, stating that the fraudster has made a payment for an item. A follow up email requests the shipping tracking order reference, prompting the seller to dispatch the item. The fraudster relies on the seller not verifying that the payment has been received in their PayPal account, before shipping the item leaving the seller at a loss.
The reporting to Action Fraud does not suggest that PayPal are implicated or complicit in any fraud, either directly or indirectly. The use of a popular, trusted brand may be exploited by fraudsters to commit fraud.
What you need to do:
Verify the payment: If you’re selling goods on an online marketplace, such as eBay, don’t post the item to the buyer until you have verified, using the official app or website, that the payment is in your account.
Report suspicious emails: If you’ve received an email you’re not quite sure about, you can report it by forwarding it to: [email protected].
For more information about how to protect yourself online, visit: www.cyberaware.gov.uk and www.takefive-stopfraud.org.uk.
If you need to reply regarding this message, tap on this email address: [email protected]
Regards,
Lee O’Brien