Scam guides › PayPal invoice / money request scam
PayPal invoice scam: a bill you didn't order with "call us" in the note
Updated . By the AskBeforeYouSend editorial team (how we fact-check). Fact-checked against the official sources listed at the bottom.
Key facts
- PayPal: if you get an invoice for something you never ordered, don't pay it.
- PayPal: never send money to a crypto wallet mentioned in an invoice or money request.
- The FTC lists PayPal's real phone number as 1 (888) 221-1161.
What it looks like
A made-up example of the "alarmist note" pattern PayPal describes.
How the scam works
- You get an invoice or money request for something you never ordered, sometimes sent through PayPal's real system.
- The note warns of a charge or fraud and gives a phone number to call.
- The "agent" asks for your login, card details or remote access, or tells you to send money to fix it.
Red flags
- An invoice for something you didn't buy
- A phone number in the invoice note
- A short deadline to "cancel"
- Any request to pay with crypto
What to do now
- Don't pay it, call the number, or open links.
- Open the PayPal app or type paypal.com yourself to check your account.
- Report the invoice from inside your PayPal account, forward fake emails to phishing@paypal.com, then delete them.
- If you shared details or paid, call PayPal at 1 (888) 221-1161 and your bank, and report it to the FTC.
Report it
Questions
The invoice really came from PayPal's email address. Is it real?
Not necessarily. PayPal says scam invoices and money requests can be sent through PayPal. What matters is whether you ordered it. Check inside your account and never call a number written in the note.
Sources
- PayPal: What are invoice scams and money request scams on PayPal?
- PayPal: Common scams and how to protect yourself
- FTC: Mobile payment apps: how to avoid a scam when you use one
- BBB Scam Alert: Invoice scams posing as the Geek Squad or PayPal
Example messages are made up to show the pattern unless we say otherwise. Phone numbers in examples use the fictional 555 range.
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