Received invoice from one seller which I didn't make any purchase. Is it a scam?

[MichaelCHK]

Hi all. I received a notification from PayPal that someone sent me an invoice to make a payment of USD 500 for purchasing a anti virus software which I didn't make. Could I just leave it like that with out paying or how do I cancel or report this?

[kernowlass]

@vicky221 

Scam money request or invoice.

Scammers harvest email addresses and send out those requests hoping some email addresses are linked to paypal accounts and the unsuspecting recipient 'may' pay them not realising they are scams OR the scammers put phone numbers in the ''notes'' section so that as its a genuine paypal invoice you think the phone number is real and call it.

If you do call that number to query the transaction or cancel it they tell you that you need to pay a fee (sent not using Paypal) for them to be able to cancel the payment for you....that is the scam as they know it's unlikely you will click to pay it. They threaten you with saying if you don't contact it will be paid which is rubbish.

If there is a cancel option then cancel it, if not ignore it and hopefully it should time out at 30 days.

As long as you don't click to pay it then no money would be transferred.

[crackvette]

PAYPAL PHONE IS OUT OF ORDER NO ANSWERING JUST GOES DEAD Many tries.. AFTER I RECEIVED A PAYPAL $899 IS THIS YOU OR FRAUD NOTIFICATION

[Hollywood132]

I have a request to pay on my account which I know is fraudulent. I can’t cancel the payment either. Can’t seem to contact PayPal to do anything about it. It’s definitely fraud. Anyone else? How did you remove the request to pay from your account?

[kernowlass]

@Hollywood132 

Sounds like a scam money request or invoice.

Scammers harvest email addresses and send out those requests hoping some email addresses are linked to paypal accounts and the unsuspecting recipient 'may' pay them not realising they are scams OR the scammers put phone numbers in the ''notes'' section so that as its a genuine paypal invoice you think the phone number is real and call it.

If you do call that number to query the transaction or cancel it they tell you that you need to pay a fee (sent not using Paypal) for them to be able to cancel the payment for you....that is the scam as they know it's unlikely you will click to pay it. 

If there is a cancel option then cancel it, if not ignore it and hopefully it should time out at 30 days.

As long as you don't click to pay it then no money would be transferred.

[GratefulSea]

I received something today that sounds similar. Mine was called a "Request for Money," and it came from PayPal (really); it also shows up on the PayPal site under my account activity.  In spite of the subject line, the message implied that my account had already been debited for $500.  It also encouraged me to call a number if I did not recognize the transaction.    

Here is a text of the message: "There is evidence that your PayPal account has been accessed unlawfully. $500 has been debited to your account for Purchase of Digital Assets , This transaction will appear automatically and deducted amount on PayPal activity after 24 hours. If you suspect you did not make this transaction, immediately contact us at the toll-free number [Removed. Phone #s not permitted]or visit the PayPal Help Support Center area for assistance. Our Service Hours: (6:00AM to 6:00PM)"

While I'm sure this is a scam of some kind, and would never call the number given, I have a note in to PayPal asking them if I need to do anything about this.

[Lynnmcc65]

I have received 2 of these emails which look like they come from a legitimate PayPal email address both saying if I don’t call the payment ofUSD599 will be charged today although I cannot see any payment requests when I log in to my PayPal account..

paypal are closed for the day so not sure what to do

[kernowlass]

@Lynnmcc65 

If its a spoof then NEVER USE ANY LINK OR ANY PHONE NUMBER.

Firstly if the email/text addressed you as ''Dear Member'' / ''Customer'' / ''Client'' OR your ''email address'' then that confirms its a spoof as paypal would address you by your full name eg Dear John Smith.

Secondly if there was a link OR attachment in that email/text to ''cancel'' any transaction or ''confirm'' any details then again it would be a spoof.

Also if they ask you to call the number in the email then it would be fake paypal agents trying to scam you for money to 'fix' something. 

If there was a problem with your account Paypal would not ask you to click on an unsafe link in an email / download an attachment OR phone them on a number in an email, they would direct you to log in normally and go to the resolution or the message centre for more information.

More info here >>
https://www.paypal.com/us/smarthelp/article/how-do-i-spot-and-report-a-fake%2C-fraudulent%2C-or-phis...
https://www.paypal.com/us/webapps/mpp/security/suspicious-activity

[kernowlass]

@GratefulSea 

Read my post above yours !!

[GratefulSea]

Oh, I did read it.  I read everything on the thread before I posted. Your earlier advice struck me as very sound, but I wasn't sure it addressed my situation, since, as I tried to explain, the "Money Request" is showing up on the PayPal site under my account activity.  I also tried to explain that I had no intention of responding in any way until I hear back from PayPal on the matter.  Thanks for trying to be helpful.

[kernowlass]

@GratefulSea 

Yes the fake money request / invoice scam as opposed to just the spoof email scam DOES appear on your paypal account.

Hence me saying ignore it and it will time out at 30 days if no cancel option. 

Also as I said anyone can send money requests to email addresses hoping that they are linked to a paypal account and so will then show up on that account.

However they rarely want you to pay it, they want to scam you by you ringing the number in the notes section.