Is an email from PayPal saying a large payment was sent to me a scam?
If you were not expecting a payment, treat it with caution — it may be a phishing email impersonating PayPal, or the start of an overpayment scheme.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Explanation
Two different scams use fake PayPal payment notification emails. In the phishing version, the email mimics PayPal's branding but comes from a fraudulent domain, and any link leads to a credential-stealing site. In the overpayment version, the sender has actually sent funds (or claims to have) and asks you to ship a product or send back a portion of the overpaid amount. Real payments show up immediately inside your PayPal account when you log in directly — checking your account at paypal.com is always the authoritative source. Never rely on email notifications alone when deciding whether to ship goods or send money.
Common red flags
- Email sender domain is not exactly paypal.com
- Payment amount is more than expected or from an unknown person
- Email instructs you to ship goods before the payment fully clears
- Request to refund the overpayment to a different account
What to do now
- Log in to PayPal directly at paypal.com to verify the payment
- Do not ship goods or refund money based on the email alone
- Report phishing emails to [email protected]
- If overpayment is real, use PayPal's Resolution Centre — do not send money outside PayPal
Frequently asked questions
What if the PayPal balance shows the payment inside my account?
Even an in-account balance can be reversed if funded by a stolen card or disputed payment. Wait for the payment to fully clear and the dispute window to pass before sending goods.