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Is this PayPal email real or a scam?
What fake PayPal emails look like, how to check a real one, and where to report it.
What the fake PayPal emails say
“Your account has been limited”
You are told to confirm your identity through a link within a day or two, or lose the account.
An invoice or money request you do not recognise
It can arrive through PayPal’s real system. The note in it gives a phone number to call to “cancel”.
“You’ve received a payment”
A payment is said to be on hold until you send a fee or a tracking number.
What one looks like
From: PayPal Support <service@paypal-secure-help.com>
Your account has been limited
Dear customer, we noticed unusual activity. Confirm your identity within 24 hours or your account will be permanently closed.
This is an illustration built from the common pattern, not a real message. Note the sender address: it contains the brand name but does not end in the company’s own domain.
How to tell a real PayPal email
Genuine PayPal emails come from an address ending in @paypal.com and address you by the name on your account.
A matching address alone is not proof, because sender addresses can be forged. The reliable check is your own account.
The safe way to check: Do not use the link. Open paypal.com or the PayPal app yourself. Anything real about your account is shown there under Activity or in the Resolution Center.
Where to report it
Forward the email to phishing@paypal.com, then delete it.
You can also report it in your mail app and to the FTC.
If you already clicked
Close the page. If you entered your password, change it on the real PayPal website now, and anywhere else you used the same one. If you entered card details, call your bank. The step-by-step guide covers each case.
Not sure about the one in your inbox?
Paste it into the free check with the sender address, and you get a plain answer in a few seconds.