PayPal
PayPal has been named in 4 documented digital harm incidents. The most common harm domain is Fraud & Financial.
Documented Incidents
4Ormond Beach couple loses $83,000 to fake PayPal scam involving fraudulent security representatives and cash collection
An Ormond Beach couple lost $83,000 in a scam involving a fake PayPal text message and fraudulent security representatives. The scam began on May 22 when the couple received a text about an unauthorized $599 PayPal charge and called the provided number. Scammers posing as Norton Security representatives convinced them to wire $49,400 to "fix" the issue. Later, the scammers claimed the money was on hold due to IRS taxes and persuaded the couple to withdraw an additional $33,000 in cash. A fake courier arrived at the couple’s home to collect the cash. The Ormond Beach Police Department warned residents not to call numbers from unsolicited texts and to verify contact information through official sources.
69-year-old Virginia man loses funds after remote access scam via fake PayPal email
A 69-year-old man from King George, Virginia, fell victim to a remote access scam after responding to a fake PayPal email. The email falsely notified him of a laptop purchase and included a phone number he called. The scammer instructed him to enter a code into his browser, which installed an app granting full control of his computer. The scammer accessed his bank account, transferred money between accounts, and instructed him to keep his computer running while on the phone. The victim shut down his computer, contacted his bank, and changed his passwords, limiting the damage. The incident highlights how scammers use fake emails and remote access to steal funds and sensitive data.
Two Chicago women defrauded via tap-to-pay scam using fake funeral donation paperwork, with $3,000 and $2,500 stolen by scammers using PayPal business accounts linked to inactive construction companies
Two women in Chicago were scammed in separate incidents where con artists claimed to be collecting donations for children's funerals and used tap-to-pay devices to steal thousands of dollars. Estelle Fisher was approached in the Ravenswood neighborhood and charged $3,000 after being shown what appeared to be legitimate donation paperwork. Kelly was targeted in Lincoln Park and charged $2,500 after being pressured to use her phone’s wallet for a tap-to-pay donation. Both victims were not given receipts and later discovered the fraudulent charges through bank alerts. Kelly’s bank, Wells Fargo, initially denied her fraud claim, but PayPal refunded her after media involvement. Estelle’s bank, Bank of America, initially denied her claim but later reversed the charge after she filed it as a billing dispute. The scammers used PayPal business accounts linked to construction businesses with no apparent active operations.
74-year-old man loses $600,000 in gold and cash to PayPal impersonation scam via email and phone calls
A 74-year-old victim lost over $600,000 in gold and cash during a lengthy scam. The scam began when the victim received an email about a fraudulent $499.99 charge on his PayPal account. A scammer posing as “David Wilson” claimed to reimburse the charge but accidentally sent $49,999, then told the victim he was responsible for repaying PayPal. The victim withdrew cash and converted it to Bitcoin, making eight transactions totaling $42,000. The scam continued with demands to purchase gold and more Bitcoin, culminating in the victim buying $596,407 worth of gold, which was picked up by a man later identified as Hirtik Khatri. Khatri, 24, of Lawrence Township, New Jersey, was charged with multiple counts of theft and is awaiting extradition to Pennsylvania.