email scams?

[look 171]

I have been getting e mails from Paypal about purchases. There's in invoice number, purchase price and item bought including method of payment, which is direct debt. Is someone using my account? I get them couple times weekly? I have not used papal in 15 or 20 years.

[masraum]

It seems possible that your account got hacked, but the far more likely thing is that the emails are the scam.

You get an email that says "we paid invoice XYZ in the amount of $___.__," but since you didn't make a purchase, you freak out and click the link in the email or call the number. If you click the link, you're asked to login and they then have your login to your account. If you call the number, then they scam you that way.

I have received similar emails. I've also received emails about HUGE contract renewals for various other places. I just found this one in my junk folder

Order date: Monday, June 30, 2025
Order No: 375747700387
Invoice Id: 899NQAC95093ZM33
We have received your renewal request
Dear,
Your Geek Squad membership is due for renewal. A charge of $499.00 will be debited from your account within the next 24 hours for the upcoming 3 Years.
No action is required if you wish to continue. To opt out, please get in touch with our support team +1 (864) 449-4084.
Membership renewal Info:
Membership Name: VIP Priority Support 24/7
Member Name:
Member Email:
Quantity: 1x
Tenure: 3 Years
Payment Method: Direct Debit
Total Renewal Fee: $499.00
TERMS & CONDITIONS:
You're receiving this as your membership with Geek Squad has automatically renewed. If this was unexpected or you need a refund, reach out to Billing Support at +1 (864) 449-4084.

[stevej37]

I get them frequently also. I just ignore them.

Geek Squad, McAfee, Norton...all being billed to my Paypal.

[KFC911]

Just Paypal me 19.95 each month and I'll make sure your account hasn't been hacked and you won't need to worry about these too!

[look 171]

Originally Posted by KFC911

Just Paypal me 19.95 each month and I'll make sure your account hasn't been hacked and you won't need to worry about these too!

sounds great to me

[look 171]

Originally Posted by masraum

It seems possible that your account got hacked, but the far more likely thing is that the emails are the scam.

You get an email that says "we paid invoice XYZ in the amount of $___.__," but since you didn't make a purchase, you freak out and click the link in the email or call the number. If you click the link, you're asked to login and they then have your login to your account. If you call the number, then they scam you that way.

I have received similar emails. I've also received emails about HUGE contract renewals for various other places. I just found this one in my junk folder

I figure that much. I never open anything since my wife screams at me everything I ask if she bought anything from these places. I get them from text too now in the past couple months.

[cabmandone]

I've been getting a bunch allegedly from Apple about a charge to my account. I've had several from PayPal as well. The rule, if they don't use your name and only refer to you by your email address means it's a scam, holds true. I've received at least three calls now from Verizon Wireless about a new phone purchase I made. You guessed it! there were no purchases.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by cabmandone

I've been getting a bunch allegedly from Apple about a charge to my account. I've had several from PayPal as well. The rule, if they don't use your name and only refer to you by your email address means it's a scam, holds true. I've received at least three calls now from Verizon Wireless about a new phone purchase I made. You guessed it! there were no purchases.

Most have my company name but my company isn't and never been linked to paypal. Too much info out there to be had

[A930Rocket]

Originally Posted by stevej37

I get them frequently also. I just ignore them.

Geek Squad, McAfee, Norton...all being billed to my Paypal.

This. They seem to come in spurts and I haven’t seen any for a while.

Lately, I’ve been getting phone calls from different states, with the same computer, voice and company, talking about funding approval but need to work out a few details…

“This is Evelyn from liming West Coast branch I've been looking over your file for your funding approval and it's almost done. We just need to confirm two quick things if you have a moment right now press two to connect with me or underwriting directly. If it's easier you can also call me back at 877-580-1825 before 5 PM today and we'll wrap this up together to opt out of future calls. Press nine…”

[vash]

I’ve living high on the hog! I get free GEEK SQUAD…haha.

I delete the asap.

[MBAtarga]

I get Geek Squad, Norton and Robinhood and BITCOIN purchases in my spams from "paypal"

[KNS]

I got a Paypal purchase email yesterday as well, Norton antivirus for $400. I only opened the email to read it (I couldn't make out it what it was otherwise). I did not click on any links. Deleted it and reported it as junk.

[vash]

with AI, I bet the next generation of scams is going to be good! no more bad grammar, bad spelling, etc.

[juanbenae]

I got one yesterday as well. It came in an email while I was out and about, so I opened it on my phone but did not open any links. Immediately logged into my bank app seeing no PP activity or debits I calmed down some. Upon getting home I opened the email on my computer and saw the invoice was a PDF doc and was not the normal paypal screen images. Check my PP account, no activity, checked my bank account and found the same. The sending email address was not a PP address, but a gmail address. The last thing I did was check the PP customer service phone number and it did not match the one in the email. It was not even an 888, 800, or other toll-free number.

Get text regularly from some outfit claiming a purchase on my Amazon account of an Apple product for 5-600 dollars.

It's a jungle out there.

[rwest]

Not sure if it’s possible or what it would take, but what would happen to the scams if we shut down internet access from India?

[dad911]

Originally Posted by rwest

Not sure if it’s possible or what it would take, but what would happen to the scams if we shut down internet access from India?

They will use vpn or another way to spoof origin ip address.

You would also need to shut down at a minimum Nigeria, China & Russia.

[Tidybuoy]

I frequently get scam emails from my "boss" requesting that I do a wire transfer. I always know it's a scammer when they say, "Good Morning Vern, How's Your Day Going". That is a dead giveaway that it's not my boss.

[look 171]

I feel so much better you guys are getting the same siht through your email. The first time I came across it, I thought someone hacked my paypal account. It time to cancel Paypal as its never used

[masraum]

Originally Posted by vash

with AI, I bet the next generation of scams is going to be good! no more bad grammar, bad spelling, etc.

I've read that those minor issues are actually intentional. If you put a few small mistakes in, it weeds out the folks that are smart enough to not follow through with it, but might eat up a little of the scammers time. The folks that don't notice the grammar, spelling, etc... mistakes are just vulnerable enough to fall for the scam and end up sending some money.

Originally Posted by rwest

Not sure if it’s possible or what it would take, but what would happen to the scams if we shut down internet access from India?

There are too many non-scam folks in India, and they may have friends, family, or business in the US, so that's not really viable.

Originally Posted by dad911

They will use vpn or another way to spoof origin ip address.

You would also need to shut down at a minimum Nigeria, China & Russia.

Yep, not realistic or adequate, and like you said, too many other places to scam from. And a lot of these are big, organized business, so they'd just move shop to another country if we managed to actually shut them down.

Originally Posted by Tidybuoy

I frequently get scam emails from my "boss" requesting that I do a wire transfer. I always know it's a scammer when they say, "Good Morning Vern, How's Your Day Going". That is a dead giveaway that it's not my boss.

Right, to seem realistic, it would have to start
"Hey, dumbaß! You forgot to put the new coversheet on your TPS report." Or is that just me? LOL

[Por_sha911]

I'd be happy to call a company and not start out with someone overseas (maybe a new thread to go down that rant?)