Fraudulent interested parties on classified advertising platforms claim to have transferred the purchase amount, including shipping costs, to the payment service PayPal. They send you a personalized link that supposedly allows you to request the money. If you break contact, you will be lured to a fake PayPal page. Criminals use this to steal your login details and money from your PayPal account!

How does the new scam work?

  • You sell something on a classifieds platform like Willhaben, Ebay or Vinted.
  • Someone quickly gets in touch and wants to buy the item at the agreed price.
  • But the person has problems with the payment. Therefore, she suggests processing the payment via the new PayPal payment service. The buyer has already paid the amount into PayPal.
  • All you have to do is request the money, including shipping costs, online. You will receive a personalized link from the buyer. In one case known to us, the Internet address for requesting payment was www.meyer-beate.de. This link was allegedly created by PayPal specifically for this transaction.
  • Don't click on the link! It is a fake PayPal website.

Fake PayPal website steals login details

The internet address of the fake PayPal website consists of the first and last name of the fraudulent buyers. In this case www.meyer-beate.de. The page was supposedly created by the “PayPal Department”.

Criminals use the fake PayPal website to try to get your PayPal login details. As a result, money is stolen from your account!

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Screenshot: The fake PayPal website steals login details to your PayPal account.

Anyone who requests money and submits PayPal codes loses money

After logging into the fake PayPal site, you will land on a fake payment request page. This page shows the logo of the classifieds platform where you are selling (in this case eBay Classifieds) and a brief explanation of what you need to do next. The page says you will receive 3 codes via SMS. You have to enter this to request the money.

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Screenshot: The fake PayPal page asks you to enter PayPal verification codes.

We assume that the criminals log into your PayPal account live or using bots and make transfers. To do this you need a code that will be sent to your cell phone. This is requested on the fake PayPal website. Do not enter this under any circumstances.

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Screenshot: The fraudulent PayPal payment page asks for security codes required to log in to your account and approve payments.

Attention: There is also a live chat on the fake PayPal page. The criminals use this tool to give you specific instructions and put you under pressure!

Detect fraudulent buyers

  • Always negotiate through the platform’s news portal.
  • Do not click on any links that buyers send you.
  • Don’t get involved in “new” payment processes. Use the classifieds platform as you are used to.
  • If you use payment services from classified advertising platforms (e.g. PayLivery from Willhaben), make sure that you stay on Willhaben and do not leave the platform. Find out more about the exact process.

I was scammed – what can I do?

  • Change your PayPal password immediately. If this is not possible, contact PayPal .
  • Report the payments the criminals made to PayPal.
  • Contact your bank or credit card company - depending on which payment method is linked to your PayPal account and describe your situation. You may need to block your card.
  • File a police report.

Source:

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