Some PayPal invoice scams are not spoofed emails. They are real invoices sent through PayPal by fraudulent sellers, which is why they can appear in the PayPal app and pass basic email checks. The invoice is real; the charge is not legitimate.
Does this affect you?
Use this for unexpected PayPal invoices or money requests, especially for antivirus renewals, electronics, subscriptions, gift cards, or items you never ordered.
Check whether an invoice is a scam
Do not use links or phone numbers inside the invoice while checking.
- Type paypal.com into your browser or open the official PayPal app, then sign in.
- Go to Activity and see whether the same invoice or money request appears there.
- Ask whether you actually ordered the item. Scam invoices often use generic expensive products or subscriptions.
- Look for a phone number in the invoice note telling you to call to cancel. That number often leads to fake support that asks for a fee, remote access, or personal details.
- Check the seller name, business details, and email address. New accounts, mismatched names, and generic emails are warning signs.
- Remember that an invoice or request alone does not charge you automatically. If you did not approve payment, no money has moved.
What to do if you already paid or called the number
Use official PayPal and bank channels only.
- Do not call any number from the invoice again. Contact PayPal only through paypal.com or the official app.
- Open a dispute in PayPal Resolution Center, select the transaction, and use Dispute a Transaction. Escalate to a claim if needed.
- If the payment used a linked card, contact the card issuer and ask about a direct dispute as a backup.
- If you gave remote access or personal information during a call, disconnect from the internet, scan the device, and change important passwords from another device.
- Report the invoice to PayPal through Report a Problem or by forwarding the email to PayPal’s suspicious-message reporting address.
Report it and protect your account
Reporting helps PayPal shut down abusive business accounts.
- Forward suspicious PayPal emails to PayPal’s phishing-report address listed in official support.
- File a report at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
- Mark the message as spam in your email after reporting it.
- Turn on PayPal activity notifications so real invoices, payments, and account changes alert you quickly.
- Check Settings > Payments for automatic payment settings and remove anything you do not recognize.
More control
Ignoring an unpaid invoice is safe
If you have not clicked Pay, you do not need to call to cancel. You can report, delete, or ignore the request.
The scam is social, not technical
The trick is making a legitimate PayPal tool look like an emergency. Calmly checking your Activity page defeats the pressure.
Sources
- PayPal – Recognize and Report Suspicious Emails, Calls, or Messages (2025)
- Better Business Bureau – PayPal Invoice Scam Alert (2025)
- FTC Consumer Advice – How to Recognize and Avoid Phishing Scams (2025)