PayPal Scams in Australia, US & UK
I was going about my day when I got an email from “PayPal” saying I’d been charged $239 for an Amazon Prime subscription—except I never signed up for one. I knew it was a scam, but I decided to play along to see how far they’d take it. What happened next was shocking.
Here’s how the scam unfolded—and how you can avoid falling for it.
How the PayPal Scam Unfolded
I received a fake PayPal invoice for an unauthorized $239 Amazon Prime charge. Recognizing it as a scam, I decided to investigate further by calling the number provided in the email. Here’s how the conversation went:
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The Initial Call
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The scammer, posing as PayPal support, asked for personal details:
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Full name
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ZIP code
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Order/invoice number (which didn’t exist)
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They claimed three PayPal accounts were opened under the victim’s name from different states (Ohio, New York, Texas).
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The Fake Fraud Alert
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The scammer insisted the victim’s identity was stolen and that eight bank accounts were linked to their name.
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They pressured the me to verify their identity by providing:
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Date of birth
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Last four digits of their Social Security number
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Bank account details
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The Wells Fargo Impersonation
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The call was “transferred” to a fake Wells Fargo fraud department .
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The scammer, “Rose,” asked me to:
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Download remote access software (UltraViewer) to “secure” their account.
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Send a photo of their ID via text.
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Share my bank balance ($239,000—which made the scammers even more persistent).
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The FTC Lie
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When the victim questioned the process, the scammer claimed they needed to report the case to the FTC (Federal Trade Commission), another attempt to sound legitimate.
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How to Avoid PayPal Scams in Australia
This scam follows a common pattern:
✅ Fake invoices (e.g., Amazon Prime, Netflix, or other subscriptions).
✅ Urgent demands to call a provided number.
✅ Requests for personal/financial details.
✅ Remote access tricks (e.g., downloading UltraViewer, AnyDesk, or TeamViewer).
How to Protect Yourself
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Never click links in unexpected emails—log in directly to PayPal to check for charges.
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Never call numbers from suspicious emails—use official customer support channels.
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Never share personal/financial details with unsolicited callers.
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Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on PayPal and bank accounts.
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Report scams to Scamwatch Australia.
What to Do If You’re Targeted
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Hang up immediately if you suspect a scam.
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Contact your bank to freeze transactions if you shared sensitive info.
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Report the scam to PayPal and local authorities.
Final Thoughts
Scammers are getting bolder, but awareness is your best defense. If an email or call seems suspicious, trust your gut—it’s better to double-check than to lose thousands.
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Have you encountered a PayPal scam? Share your experience in the comments!
