What To Do After a PayPal Scam
Practical steps to recover money, secure your account, and report after being scammed through or impersonating PayPal.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
First 10 minutes
- Log in to PayPal directly (type paypal.com — do not click any link) and review recent transactions
- Change your PayPal password immediately if you suspect your credentials were captured
- Enable two-factor authentication on your PayPal account if not already active
- Screenshot or download your PayPal transaction history as evidence
- If you paid by linked bank card or bank account, call your bank's fraud line straight away
First 24 hours
- Open a PayPal dispute or Resolution Centre case for any unauthorised transaction within 180 days
- Report a phishing or impersonation email to [email protected]
- File a report with your national fraud service (Action Fraud in the UK, the FTC in the US)
Contact your bank or payment provider
- Contact your bank if you paid by debit card, bank transfer, or bank-linked account and ask about a chargeback or payment recall
- Ask your bank to review whether any linked accounts were accessed
- Request a freeze or replacement card if your card details were shared
Evidence to preserve
- Screenshots of the scam message, email, or fake PayPal notification
- Your PayPal transaction history and any linked payment method statements
- Any reference numbers provided by PayPal or your bank
Secure your accounts and devices
- Change your PayPal password and enable two-factor authentication
- Remove any unrecognised linked bank accounts or cards in PayPal settings
- Change the password for any email account associated with your PayPal login
Report it
- Report to your national fraud/cybercrime service
- Report to the platform, bank, or provider involved
- Keep any reference numbers you're given
PayPal scams take several forms: fake PayPal payment notifications (overpayment scams), phishing emails that harvest your login credentials, and impersonation calls from people claiming to be PayPal fraud investigators. In each case the goal is either to extract money or to gain access to your PayPal and linked accounts.
PayPal's Resolution Centre provides genuine buyer and seller protection for eligible transactions, but it does not cover payments sent to friends and family (Friends & Family payments bypass buyer protection entirely). If you were pressured into sending via Friends & Family, the chargeback route through your bank or card provider is more likely to succeed.
Frequently asked questions
Does PayPal Friends & Family cover me if I am scammed?
No. Friends & Family payments are explicitly excluded from PayPal Purchase Protection. If you were persuaded to use that option, your best route is a chargeback through your funding bank card rather than a PayPal dispute.
I received a convincing PayPal payment email — how can I tell if it is real?
Log in to paypal.com directly (never click a link) and check your balance and transactions. A genuine PayPal payment will appear in your account. If nothing is there, the email is fraudulent regardless of how realistic it looks.