The scam exploits PayPal’s “gift address” feature.
A new PayPal email scam is leveraging the platform’s address settings to send fraudulent purchase confirmations.
According to research from BleepingComputer, multiple emails were received which create the illusion that their accounts have been compromised, and were found to originate from a legitimate PayPal address.
The scam exploits PayPal’s “gift address” feature, where scammers add their own email address to PayPal and inject fake messages into address form fields. These emails are then forwarded to a Microsoft 365 mailing list, ensuring mass distribution to targeted users.
Often showing a fake confirmation of a MacBook purchase, users are urged to call a support number, whereupon they are connected to scammers posing as PayPal representatives. Using remote access software under the pretence of securing their account, the attackers steal banking information, install malware, or access sensitive data.
Written by
Dan Raywood
Senior Editor
SC Media UK
Dan Raywood is a B2B journalist with more than 20 years of experience, including covering cybersecurity for the past 16 years. He has extensively covered topics from Advanced Persistent Threats and nation-state hackers to major data breaches and regulatory changes.
He has spoken at events including 44CON, Infosecurity Europe, RANT Conference, BSides Scotland, Steelcon and ESET Security Days.
Outside work, Dan enjoys supporting Tottenham Hotspur, managing mischievous cats, and sampling craft beers.
