Action Fraud is warning people selling items online to be on the lookout for criminals sending fake PayPal emails.
- Between January 2020 and September 2020, 21,349 crime reports were made to Action Fraud about fake PayPal emails.
- Victims reported losing a total of £7,891,077.44 during this time.
- Those targeted included people selling jewellery, furniture and electronics via online marketplaces.
- Reports of fake PayPal emails to Action Fraud made up a third of all reports of online shopping and auction fraud during this period.
How does it happen?
Criminals have been targeting people selling items online, by sending them emails purporting to be from PayPal. The emails trick victims into believing they have received payment for the items they’re selling on the platform.
Typically, after receiving these emails, victims will ship the item to the criminal. This leaves them at a further disadvantage having not received any payment for the item and also no longer being in possession of it.