The Pay Pal Email Guide to Safe Transactions

So you're looking to make safe transactions with PayPal, huh? First and foremost, always check that the email is coming from a legitimate PayPal email address, which ends in @paypal.com.

To verify, simply hover over the sender's name or email address in your inbox - if it's not from PayPal, it's best to delete it immediately.

When sending money, make sure you're using the recipient's correct email address to avoid any issues with the transaction.

For your interest: How Do You Address an Attorney in an Email?

PayPal scams often begin with a phishing attack, where a fraudulent email or text tries to trick you into divulging personal data or clicking a link to a fake website.

Phishing emails can be spoofed to look like they're from PayPal, making it harder to spot the scam. An example is an email saying there's a problem with your account and you must click the link to correct it, but the link doesn't lead to the real PayPal website.

Hackers can create PayPal malware to access your information like passwords and credit card numbers. PayPal emails can be spoofed, making it even harder to spot the scam.

Spear phishing attacks target specific individuals, asking you to confirm your account information or shipping details. If you're an Apple user, scammers may also target your Apple ID in phishing scams.

To avoid phishing scams, never click links in emails appearing to be from PayPal. Instead, log into PayPal directly and go from there.

Here are some basic tips to help you avoid scams on PayPal:

Phishing attempts can be avoided by practicing good cybersecurity. Always look at the actual address an email was sent from, not just the display name.

If an email seems unusual or suspicious, don't click any links or download any attachments. Never enter personal information into a webpage that was linked to you.

Some PayPal scammers make up fake accounts saying they're connected to a charity, then ask for donations. Be sure to check the recipient's details carefully and look into the legitimacy of the charity.

If your account has been locked unexpectedly or you suddenly start getting strange notifications, that may be a sign that your PayPal account has been hacked and is being used by scammers for nefarious ends.

PayPal scammers may send sellers forged emails that appear to be from PayPal, stating that the scammer paid money into the seller's account and that PayPal has placed a hold on the funds. Holding funds like this isn't something PayPal actually does.

Recommended read: How to Create Your Own Email Account

Don't fall for fake account scams, where scammers create fake PayPal accounts claiming to be connected to a charity and ask for donations through spoofed emails or websites.

Check the recipient's details carefully and research the charity's legitimacy before donating. If you're unsure, donate directly through the charity's website, not through email links.

Be cautious of sudden account lockouts or strange notifications, which may indicate your PayPal account has been hacked by scammers.

Fake or Hacked Account scams can be sneaky, using fake charities to trick you into donating. Be cautious of emails or websites that ask for donations, and always verify the charity's legitimacy.

Scammers may use spoofed emails or websites that look convincing, or even fake phone numbers. Check the recipient's details carefully and look into the charity's legitimacy before donating.

If your account has been locked or you're getting strange notifications, it may be a sign that your PayPal account has been hacked. Be on the lookout for these red flags.

If a scammer has hacked into someone else's PayPal account, they can make purchases and send payments with the money from the account they've taken over. This can be a nightmare for sellers who receive and ship items only to be told later that the transaction was fraudulent.

PayPal's Seller Protection Program can reimburse merchants in these situations if the transaction is eligible. Make sure to meet all the requirements of the program to protect yourself from purchases made with hacked accounts.

Advance-Payment scams are a clever trick where scammers promise you a large payment, but you need to pay a small deposit first. This can be in the form of an inheritance or lottery winnings.

The payment address they provide might be real, but the money you're promised is fake.

You might receive a fake PayPal payment confirmation showing a large balance, but if you follow the link, you could end up losing money. Thankfully, PayPal protects against fraud by monitoring transactions.

If you suspect a PayPal scam, report it to their Resolution Center immediately. This will help you get a refund if you've lost money, and it may also help prevent the scammer from striking again.

To confirm whether an email is legitimate, take a screenshot and report it to PayPal. You can also check the actual email address, not the sender name, to make sure it's legitimate.

A fresh viewpoint: How to Pay off Debt on Credit Report

If you think your account may have been compromised, change your password immediately and update your security questions before using your PayPal account again. This will help prevent unauthorized access to your account.

Don't click on links in emails appearing to be from PayPal, as this can lead to phishing scams. Instead, log into PayPal directly and go from there.

Report any suspicious activity to PayPal's Resolution Center, and don't rely on what an email is telling you. Check your own internal records to confirm whether you shipped out an order.

To avoid being scammed on PayPal, verify the authenticity of each email and transaction before you share personal or financial information. Don't accept money from a stranger, and be skeptical if something seems too good to be true.

Here are some red flags to watch out for:

By being aware of these warning signs and taking action quickly, you can protect yourself from scammers and keep your PayPal account safe.

If you've been scammed, cease all communications with the scammer.

Change your password to something strong to prevent unauthorized access to your account. Report the scam to PayPal's Resolution Center.

Reporting the scam to PayPal may give you a refund if you've lost money.

Report the scam to your local police department to help prevent the scammer from striking again in the future.

If you think your information may have been compromised as the result of a scam, use data protection tools like Avast BreachGuard to find out if your personal info has been compromised.

Avast BreachGuard can automatically notify you if your personal information appears in any data breaches, giving you a head start on changing passwords and securing your online accounts.

Readers also liked: Venmo Email Scam

When you're ready to send a payment through PayPal, you can do so by clicking the "Send" button on the recipient's email.

You can also use the "Pay Now" button to complete the transaction immediately.

PayPal offers several payment options, including credit cards and bank transfers.

It's worth noting that PayPal charges a fee for these transactions, which is typically a percentage of the payment amount.

Make sure to review the PayPal fee schedule before sending a payment to avoid any unexpected charges.

Explore further: Pay Pal Goods and Services Fee

Overpayment scams are a common issue in e-commerce, so it's essential to be aware of them. Any time you engage in e-commerce, watch out for overpayment scams.

A buyer may deliberately overpay for an item and ask the seller to refund them for the difference. Instead of letting the original payment stand, the buyer cancels the overpayment, leaving the seller with less money and maybe even without the item they sold.

If you notice an overpaid transaction on PayPal, cancel it immediately. Thankfully, because PayPal is a secure payment platform, you can easily reverse PayPal payments if you act quickly.

To avoid shipping address scams, ensure proof of delivery, where the buyer has to sign when receiving the goods.

Scammers might request a preferred shipping method or company, or send a prepaid shipping label to the seller, allowing them to reroute the package to a fake address.

Never agree to change the delivery address once payment has been made, as this can be used to claim a refund for a package that never arrived.