Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday issued an advisory warning residents about a rising cyber scam involving fraudulent invoices that appear to be sent through PayPal.
Scammers are using PayPal to send payment requests to ‘ email inboxes, often repeatedly to create a sense of urgency. The attached messages typically include a toll-free number that connects directly to the scammer, who then attempts to extract personal information, according to the attorney general’s office.
Sunday urged consumers to take two key steps.
First, verify the sender’s email address. If it’s not from “service@paypal.com,” ignore the message.
Second, even if the invoice appears legitimate, ignore any payment request that isn’t recognized.
“Scammers are well aware that many Pennsylvanians rely on PayPal to send and receive money to their friends and family, or as part of a small business,” Sunday said. “This is another example of the sophistication of cyber scams, and a reminder to pause and be vigilant before offering personal information or sending money online. Our Bureau of Consumer Protection is standing by to assist Pennsylvanians who are harmed.”
Anyone receiving a suspicious PayPal invoice should contact PayPal customer service through the official website, PayPal.com.
Consumers can also file complaints with the attorney general’s office.
Sunday pointed to the importance of reporting scams to help protect other Pennsylvanians.
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