Recent fraud cases have revealed a new form of cybercrime centered around the widely used online payment platform PayPal. These are fraudulent calls that claim to come from PayPal. What is striking is the similarity of this scam to a scam involving calls in the name of Amazon or the police , which has been known for a long time.

From bill paying to online shopping, we can do everything with just a few clicks in our digitalized world. But with the increasing reliance on online transactions, internet fraud and identity theft are only increasing over time: a new wave of fraudulent calls appears to be on the rise. In this article, we will look at fake PayPal calls and provide recommendations on how to recognize and avoid them.

A disturbing call

Imagine the following scenario: your phone rings, you answer it and hear a friendly, German, female voice claiming to be a PayPal employee. It informs you that you have supposedly just sent 700 euros to Basecoin. To reject this transaction, you should press the “1” key.

What's behind it?

Admittedly, we do not have complete records of these calls as all reports are based on the callers' recollections. None of the callers actually pressed “1,” so we don’t know exactly what happens after that. However, it is likely that a real person will take over the conversation and attempt to obtain login and contact details. You may also be pressured to confirm a real payment in order to cancel the alleged transaction.

Scammer tactics

Scammers use call ID spoofing to hide their true identity. You can call with fake numbers or anonymously.

It is unclear where the fraudsters got the phone numbers from. It is entirely possible that these numbers are purely random and computer-generated.

How you can protect yourself

The most important thing is not to respond to these calls. Do not press any number keys to confirm and under no circumstances provide any personal information or confirm any payments. If you are worried about your PayPal account, log in using the official links or through your PayPal application and check the transactions.

Here are some additional security measures you can take:

  1. Use two-factor authentication for your PayPal account.
  2. Never give out your personal information over the phone.
  3. If you have any doubts or uncertainties, contact PayPal's official customer support.

What to do if you've been scammed?

If you have already fallen for this scam, contact official PayPal support immediately and then report it to your local police.

Conclusion

In any case, be vigilant and pay attention to protecting your data. Because in our digital world, the “invisible enemy” can strike at any time. But with the right knowledge and good preparation, we are always one step ahead. Stay safe and always be alert for fraudulent PayPal calls!

Such calls can also be made on behalf of other payment providers. Always keep a cool head. Don't let yourself be put under pressure. No one should be forced to confirm a payment over the phone, especially under the pretext of an urgent situation.

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Warning about fraudulent PayPal calls!

Source:

polizei-praevention.de

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