Payments & shopping
Is this PayPal email real or a scam?
What a real PayPal email looks like
PayPal emails come from @paypal.com. Receipts and notices can be checked by logging in at paypal.com yourself; PayPal will not ask for your password, card details, or a payment to "verify" your account by email link.
Red flags of a fake PayPal email
- !An "account limited" or "suspended" message demanding login via a link
- !An unexpected "payment" or "invoice" you must cancel via a link
- !A sender domain that is not @paypal.com
- !Requests for your password, card or 2FA codes
- !A look-alike domain
Check it in 10 seconds
- 1Look at the sender's full email address, not just the display name. Real PayPal mail comes from @paypal.com.
- 2Don't click links or buttons. Scammers use look-alike domains that differ by only a word or a letter.
- 3If you need to act, open paypal.com yourself or use the official app, never a link from the email.
- 4Still unsure? Forward the whole email to check@islegit.email and we'll check it for free in under a minute.
Still not sure about an email? Forward it to check@islegit.email and get a clear verdict in under a minute.
Check an emailFrequently asked
What does a real PayPal email address look like?
It comes from an @paypal.com address. Scammers fake the display name, so always check the actual address, and watch for look-alike domains (extra words, a different ending, or a misspelling).
I clicked the link or paid. What should I do?
Contact your bank immediately to block or reverse the payment, change any password you entered, and turn on two-factor authentication. Then report it.
How do I report a fake PayPal email?
Forward it to PayPal's official abuse or phishing address and report it to your email provider. You can also forward it to us to confirm whether it's a scam.