PayPal: this very sneaky scam has victims, be careful

The imagination of scammers is limitless. While a malicious campaign targets the 2023 income tax return, a new PayPal scam emerges. The method used is particularly devious.

An option-based scam “Friends and Family”

It all starts with a stranger who mistakenly sent you money via PayPal. The person then contacts you and claims an error to recover the amount. In all honesty, you are about to give it back when the scammer indicates that you need to check the option “Friends and Family” at the time of transfer. The trap closes.

The scammer can then pretend to PayPal that his transfer was an error while benefiting from buyer protection since he checked “For goods and services” at the time of transfer. His money credited to your account is returned to him and in the process, the scammer keeps the amount you sent him as reimbursement. And you can’t complain to PayPal since you checked “Friends and Family” at his request, which does not include buyer protection. Basically, the scammer doubles his bet.

So if you receive payment from a stranger, it is best to use the functionality to return the funds received safely. Choose payment then select “Issue a refund”. Ignore the requests from the person behind this suspicious transfer.