How to Report a PayPal Phishing Email? Here’s How!

Picture this: you open your email or text messages and see a message from PayPal. It says there is a problem with your account, or maybe you got a payment that you didn’t expect. Your heart skips a beat. Is there a problem? Do you need to click the link to fix it? Wait a second. Take a deep breath before you touch or click anything. It’s possible that that message didn’t come from PayPal at all. It might be a smart trick known as “phishing.”

Phishing is a scam in which criminals try to “fish” for your personal information. The word sounds like “fishing.” They send you messages that look real in the hopes that you’ll “bite” and give them your password, bank account number, or other private information. It can be scary and hard to understand, especially if you don’t know what to look for. But don’t worry, you’re not the only one. This guide is here to help you out like a coach. We’ll show you exactly how to spot these fakes, what to do when you get one, and most importantly, how to safely report a PayPal phishing email. By the end, you’ll feel more in charge of your online safety and more sure of yourself. Let’s get started.

What is a Phishing Email from PayPal?

A PayPal phishing email is a fake message that looks like a real PayPal notification.

Like a wolf in sheep’s clothing, you should think of it. The scammer, who is the wolf, wears a fluffy sheep’s costume (the fake PayPal logo and design) to fool the shepherd (that’s you!) into letting it into the pen.

These con artists are not just playing tricks; they are trying to steal. Their main goal is to get you to:

• Giving them your login information: They send you to a fake site that looks like PayPal’s login page. They steal your email and password when you type them in.
• Getting your financial information: They may ask you for your credit card number or bank account information directly.
• Some scams make fake “invoices” or say you have to pay a fee to fix a problem to get you to send them money.

It’s not just messages, either. You could get fake texts that try to steal your personal information (called “smishing”), fake messages on social media, or even phone calls (“vishing”). The method changes, but the goal is always the same: to steal from you.

How to Tell if a PayPal Message Is Fake?

So, how do you know if a PayPal message is real or a clever fake? It’s important to pay attention to the small things. There are certain rules and styles that real PayPal messages must follow. Fakes, no matter how good they are, almost always have small mistakes that show them to be fake.

Let’s go over the most common warning signs. Learn More About MEXQuick Blogs

Signs That Someone Is Trying to Steal Your PayPal Account

1. The “Problem” or “Alert” 

Scammers like to make people feel scared. They use words like “Urgent!”, “Immediate Action Required,” “Account Suspended,” or “Security Alert.” They want you to be so worried that you click without thinking.

• The Real PayPal Way: PayPal will let you know about important things that happen, but they are usually calm and professional. They won’t use language that makes people panic too much.

2. The Greeting Seems…Wrong

When you get an email from PayPal, it will almost always call you by your first and last name, just like you signed up for it. A phishing email will often start with a generic greeting like:

• “Dear PayPal User,”
• “Dear Customer,”
• Or it might not even have a name, or it might have the wrong name.
• It’s like someone calling your home phone and saying, “Hello, resident!” instead of “Hello, [Your Name]!” It feels strange and impersonal.

3. Check the Email Address 

This is one of the simplest ways to tell if something is fake. Scammers can make the sender’s name look like “PayPal,” but it’s not easy for them to use a real @paypal.com email address.

• How to check: Move your mouse over the “From” name on a computer. To see the full address on a phone, tap the name of the sender.
• Real PayPal addresses end in @paypal.com or @e.paypal.com. Examples: service@paypal.com, security@paypal.com.
• Fake PayPal Addresses: They will look weird and not official. For example, paypal.service@gmail.com, security@paypal-security.org, and noreply@paypal-alert.com. It’s almost always a scam if it doesn’t end in @paypal.com.

4. The “Click Here” Link 

The phishing message will have a link or button that it really wants you to click. But where does it really go?

• How to check safely: Move your mouse over the link without clicking on it. A small box will pop up that shows the real URL of the website.
• Real PayPal Links: Will take you to a real PayPal website, like https://www.paypal.com/…or https://www.paypal.co.uk/…
• Links to fake PayPal will look strange. They might have wrong spellings (like paypai.com or paypal-secure.net) or use a different website address altogether.Don’t ever click to find out!

5. Bad Spelling and Grammar

Companies like PayPal have professional writers and editors on staff. They proofread their messages. A lot of the time, though, phishing emails are written by people who don’t speak English as their first language or are put together quickly. Look for sentences that don’t flow well, strange capitalization, and spelling mistakes.

6. They Directly Ask for Private Information

PayPal will never ask for your full credit card number, bank PIN, or password in an email or text. It is 100% a phishing attempt if a message asks for this information directly.

7. Attachments That You Didn’t Expect

There won’t be an attachment like a PDF or ZIP file in a real PayPal notification email. Do not open any “PayPal invoice” or “receipt” that you get as an attachment. It might have bad software in it.

How to Report a Phishing Email to PayPal in Steps

You found a fake email, okay? Good job! Let’s report it now to make the internet a little safer for everyone. Reporting is your superhero move because it helps PayPal find and stop these scams faster.

This is the safe and easy way to do it.

Step 1: Don’t click on anything

The first and most important rule is to not click on any links, buttons, or attachments in the email that looks suspicious. Don’t touch it.

Step 2: Send the Email to PayPal

This is the most important thing to do. Do not respond to the scam email. Instead, make a new email and send the whole suspicious email as an attachment to PayPal’s official phishing department.

• Send it to phishing@paypal.com.

Why is it an attachment? Sending it as an attachment keeps the original email’s headers and technical information, which makes it easier for PayPal’s security team to look into.

How to Send as an Attachment:

• Open the email that looks suspicious in Gmail. In the top right corner, click the three vertical dots (More menu). Choose “Forward as attachment.” A new email will open up with the original email attached. Send this to phishing@paypal.com.
• The steps are the same for Outlook and Apple Mail. When you click the “Forward” button, a dropdown menu should pop up with an option like “Forward as Attachment.”

Step 3: Get rid of the phishing email.

After you’ve sent it on, go back to your inbox and delete the phishing email that you got. This keeps your inbox clean and stops you from clicking on things by mistake later.

Step 4: (Optional) Manually Log In to Check

Don’t use the links in the email if you’re still worried that there might be a real problem with your account. Instead, open your web browser and type www.paypal.com or open the official PayPal app. Go straight to the Resolution Center and log in to see if you have any messages or alerts. This is the only way to check that is safe.

How to Tell PayPal About Phishing Texts or SMS?

Phishing texts, which are also known as “smishing,” are just as common. You might get a text that says your PayPal account is “limited” and has a link to click. The rules are still the same: don’t click or answer.

This is how to tell someone about a phishing text:

Step 1: Make a screenshot

Make sure the sender’s phone number and the whole message are visible in a clear screenshot of the text message.

Step 2: Send the Text

• Send the original text message to PayPal.
• For most UK and international numbers, send the text to 7726.
• What does 7726 mean? Your keyboard spells “SPAM.” A lot of phone networks use this number to report spam and phishing texts.
• You can also email it. Just attach the screenshot you took to an email and send it to phishing@paypal.com. Tell them in the email that it was a scam text message and give them the phone number it came from.

How to Report PayPal Phishing in the UK

The process is the same as above if you live in the UK. PayPal’s security systems work all over the world. You should do this no matter where you are in London, Manchester, or Edinburgh:

• Send any emails that seem fishy to phishing@paypal.com.
• Send texts that seem strange to 7726.
• You can also tell Action Fraud (www.actionfraud.police.uk) about the scam. This is the UK’s main place to report fraud and cybercrime. This helps the police keep an eye on crime.

A lot of people in the UK get fake PayPal invoices or texts that say they need to pay a delivery fee through PayPal. Don’t forget the three golden rules: check the sender, don’t click on links, and report it. Read More About the Knows Your Scam Article

What Happens After You Tell Someone?

You might be asking, “What does PayPal do with my report?” It’s not a black hole! When you report a phishing email or text, you help PayPal protect itself online.

• PayPal’s security experts look at the email or text you sent and analyze it. They check the content, the sending address, and the links.
• Stopping Scams: They use this information to find and shut down the fake websites that the links take you to. This stops other people from getting scammed in the same way.
• Your report helps them make their automatic spam and phishing filters better. This means that more scam emails will be caught before they even get to anyone’s inbox in the future.
• Legal Action: Sometimes, if they have enough information, they can work with the police to find the criminals.

So, by taking one minute to report it, you’re protecting not only yourself but also millions of other PayPal users. It’s a small thing that makes a big difference.

How to Keep Yourself Safe from Scams in the Future?

Reporting is a response. Let’s talk about being proactive now. Here are some easy habits you can start to make it much harder for scammers to get to you.

Advice for Teenagers and Students Who Use the Internet

If you’re a teen or student who uses PayPal to split bills with friends, sell old clothes, or get money from family, you could be a target. Scammers think you might not know as much. Show them they’re wrong!

1. Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) is the best thing you can do to keep your online accounts safe. It’s like putting a deadbolt on your digital door. Even if a scammer gets your password, they can’t get in without this second code, which is sent to your phone. You can turn this on in your PayPal security settings.
2. Don’t use the same password for PayPal that you use for Instagram, TikTok, or your email. Instead, make sure your password is strong and unique. Your PayPal password should be a long, strong mix of letters, numbers, and symbols. A password manager can help you keep track of all of them.
3. Always keep your phone’s operating system and your PayPal app up to date. Updates often fix important security holes that keep you safe from new scams.
4. Be smart about social media: Don’t share too much information in public. Don’t put your phone number or email address all over the place. This information can help scammers go after you more directly.
5. Talk About It: If you get a strange message, tell a parent, teacher, or friend. It’s not embarrassing; it’s smart! Everyone learns when they share their experiences.

What to Do If You Clicked the Link?

Things go wrong. Don’t be too hard on yourself if you panicked and clicked the link. The most important thing is to move quickly.

• Do NOT Enter Any Information: If you clicked the link and it took you to a fake login page, close the tab or browser right away. Stop typing now if you already started.
• Right away, change your PayPal password. Open a new browser window, type www.paypal.com into the address bar, and log in. Change your password right away by going straight to your Security settings.
• Turn on Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) now if you haven’t already. This will keep the scammer out for good.
• Check Your Account Activity: Go through your recent transactions and account settings to see if there is anything you don’t recognize. If you notice something wrong, you can get in touch with PayPal Support directly through the website.
• Scan Your Computer: If you opened or downloaded an attachment, use your antivirus software to do a full virus scan on your computer.

Even if you clicked, you should still report the original email to phishing@paypal.com as described above. It’s still useful information.

To help this all make sense, let’s look at two short, real-life stories. Quick News from MEX

Case 1: The Important Bill

Sam, 16, got an email that said “Dear User” and “You’ve received a PayPal invoice for £89.99.” The email address was invoices@paypal-service.net. Sam was confused because he hadn’t bought anything.

The result: Sam kept his account safe and helped PayPal shut down the fake site.

Case 2: The Scare from the Text Message

Chloe, 17, got a text that said, “PayPal: Your account has been limited because of suspicious activity. Secure it now: [suspicious link].” She felt a wave of fear.

She opened her PayPal app directly on her phone instead of clicking. There were no messages or alerts. She was sure it was a scam. She made a screenshot and sent the original message to 7726.

The result was that Chloe stayed safe and told the network about the scam, which made them aware of that specific phishing number.

Best Practices for Everyday Users of PayPal Security

Here’s a simple list of the most important security habits:

• Only download the PayPal app from the official Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
• Log In Manually: Always type paypal.com into your browser or use the official app. Don’t ever log in through a link in an email.
• When you log in to any website, especially PayPal, make sure the web address starts with “https://” (the “s” stands for secure) and has a padlock symbol next to it.
• Review Statements: Make it a point to quickly check your PayPal statement every month to look for anything strange.
• Log Out: Always remember to log out of your PayPal account completely if you’re using a computer that is shared or public.

Summary: Be aware and be safe

The internet is great, but you should be careful. Phishing scams use fear and urgency to get us to do things without thinking. You know the secret now: take your time and look for the signs. You’ve learned how to spot the warning signs in a fake PayPal message, the safe way to report a PayPal phishing email, and how to develop good digital habits to keep your account safe. Your awareness is your best defense, so keep it in mind. You are not only protecting your own money by staying calm, checking the details, and reporting the fakes. You are also making the internet a safer place for everyone.

Conclusion

It’s a skill to be able to safely navigate the internet, and a big part of that is knowing how to deal with phishing attempts. You now know how to spot, avoid, and report these scams with confidence. If you get an email or text from PayPal that doesn’t feel right, trust your gut. Take a deep breath, remember what you’ve learned here, and follow the easy, safe steps to report it. 

This article was made by MexQuick for educational purposes only. We are not connected to PayPal in any way, whether it’s through a business relationship or otherwise. The information given is based on publicly available guidelines and general best practices for cybersecurity to teach users. This is not official advice. Always go to the official PayPal website and security pages for the most up-to-date and direct advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I tell PayPal about a phishing email?

Forwarding the whole suspicious email as an attachment to phishing@paypal.com is the safest thing to do. Do not click on any links or respond to the email. After you’ve sent it on, delete the original from your inbox.

Can I tell the UK about PayPal phishing?

Yes, for sure. For users in the UK, the process is the same as it is for everyone else. Send phishing emails to phishing@paypal.com and phishing texts (SMS) to 7726. You can also tell Action Fraud about the crime. This is the UK’s center for reporting cybercrime.

How do I send phishing texts to PayPal?

You can send the original text message to the short code 7726, which stands for SPAM. You can also take a screenshot of the text, including the sender’s number, and send it as an attachment to phishing@paypal.com.

What happens when I tell someone about a phishing scam?

The security team at PayPal looks into your report. They use the information to shut down the fake websites that are part of the scam, make their email filters better so they can catch future attempts, and sometimes help the police. Your report helps keep the whole PayPal community safe.

Is it okay to just ignore a phishing email?

The best thing to do is to report it, but ignoring and deleting it is better than clicking on it. If you ignore it, the scammers can keep going after you and other people without any consequences. It only takes a minute to report it, and it helps stop the scam.