I Almost Fell For This Sneaky Scam Making a Comeback in Minnesota Right Now
Don't Fall For This Deceptive Scam Making The Rounds Again
The holiday season is busy enough without having to worry about the plethora of scams out there, but unfortunately, it's also the time of year when more and more tend to rear their ugly heads.
RELATED: 4 New AI-Powered Holiday Scams Now Targeting Minnesota Shoppers
Amidst all the Christmas chaos, there's a sneaky scam making a comeback right now in Minnesota that you should definitely know about. It's one I haven't seen before, and I got caught off guard by it while scrolling through my inbox the other day.
Be Careful: Suspicious PayPal Invoice Scam is Back
Last week, I was scrolling through my email when I saw an official-looking PayPal notification. The subject line read, “Urgent: Payment Required.”
The email looked legit (scammers are getting better at that) and there was an invoice included. It claimed I owed $399 for some tech gadget I’d never ordered accompanied by a panicky message in the note section: “Your account will be suspended if this payment isn’t resolved immediately. Call us at 1-800-SCAM-NOW.” (obviously not the actual number included in the email)
READ MORE: Criminals Now Using Photos of Your Minnesota House to Scam You
For a hot second, I thought something was wrong. Was my account hacked? Did Moose (our oversized Great Dane) somehow order this while stomping on my laptop?
But instead of calling the number or clicking any links, I logged into my PayPal account directly to check. Sure enough, there was no invoice or payment request on my account. That’s when I realized it was a scam.
How The PayPal Invoice Scam Works
Scammers send fake invoices or money requests through PayPal or email, trying to make you think you owe money. Sometimes, they’ll ask you to call a fake customer service number where they’ll try to get your financial information. Others might direct you to click on a link that could compromise your account.
In many cases, the emails or requests look legitimate, using official logos and formatting to fool you. The messages are often urgent, pushing you to act quickly without thinking.
Tips to Protect Yourself Against PayPal and Other Email Scams
Stay Calm: Don’t let alarmist messages pressure you.
Verify with PayPal: Log into your PayPal account directly through the website or app to check for any invoices or activity.
Avoid Suspicious Links or Numbers: Never click on links in an email or call the number provided in a suspicious invoice.
Report the Scam: Forward phishing emails to phishing@paypal.com so PayPal can investigate.
Why Is This Invoice Scam Making a Comeback Now?
Scammers often target people during the holidays, knowing that we’re busy and more likely to overlook small details. It’s a good reminder to slow down and double-check before responding to anything that feels off.
Unfortunately, this isn’t the only scam making the rounds. Scroll down to learn about a few more to keep on your radar this season.
LOOK: The biggest scams today and how you can protect yourself from them
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