Have I received a Phishing email?

[BuffDaddy]

My son is applying for Universities here in Australia.  We had to pay an application fee (which is pretty standard here) and used PayPal but without signing him in as he doesn't;t have his own account. Paid with my credit card.

Yesterday he received the following email:

Dear **son's name**, 

PayPal is committed to complying with and meeting its global regulatory obligations. As part of our regulatory obligations, we regularly screen information and payments transacting through the PayPal system. We recently identified an issue regarding your transaction activity that requires additional review.

To resolve this compliance inquiry in a timely fashion, PayPal is requesting that you provide the following information via email to **email address removed because PayPal won't allow it**

     • A copy of a valid government-issued photo ID showing your date of birth, such as your driver's licence or passport. Please make the copy as large and as light as possible. 

     • A proof of address document to confirm that you reside at the address provided in your transaction activity. We will accept a Utility Bill or Council Rates Notice not older than 3 months, or a Bank Statement not older than 12 months, that confirms you live at the address at the address provided in your transaction activity.

Your payment has been held until this issue is resolved. This hold cannot be removed until PayPal receives the requested information that will enable us to ensure our compliance with our regulatory obligations.

Please include the following case number when responding: PP-L-432978867862

We thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Sincerely,

Islom

PayPal Compliance Department

© 1999-2023 PayPal. 

The PayPal service is provided by PayPal Australia Pty Limited ABN 93 111 195 389 which holds Australian Financial Services Licence number 304962. Any information provided is general only and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Please read and consider the Combined Financial Services Guide and Product Disclosure Statement before acquiring or using the service. 

Is this legitiate?  Seems a lot of "compliance"

[kernowlass · Accepted solution]

@BuffDaddy 

Seems odd if you paid that the email came in your sons name? Also normally you upload any information that paypal requires in the resolution centre of your paypal account. They don't ask you to send personal information via email.

However paypal do ask for I.D requirements like that but again normally direct you to the resolution centre.

So firstly does the payment show on hold on yours or the recipients account?

Secondly they don't normally ask for that information if you paid using a credit card as a guest buyer to a sellers or recipients paypal card reader.

Don't send anything until you have checked with paypal as this may well be a spoof.

Contact options for each countries Paypal customer services are accessed by clicking help/contact bottom left of Paypal pages.

1. Paypal phones (you can use the guest option if you can't log in).
2. Live chat is also randomly available.
3. You can send them a message, (during business hours you may also be able to message whilst logged out).
4. Have you considered contacting Customer Service via Facebook or Twitter?
You can send them a private direct message via Social Media on Facebook, Twitter/X, or Instagram pages.

[BuffDaddy]

Thanks for the reply.  It came to my son's email as he was the one applying for University, it was just on my credit card (he does;t have one).

As suggested, I contacted PayPal by phone and they confirmed that it is a legitimate email.

Thanks again!

[santiago237]

I received this scam email today Watch out !

Notice the email is not from pay pal  

They try to trick you into login with their own bogus link 

Keep on eye out 

[kernowlass]

@santiago237 

Clue is in the first line, Paypal don't address you as Dear Valued Customer or Client or User they address you with your proper name ie Dear John Smith.