By Kim Komando The Kim Komando Show Published December 13, 2024 3:05pm EST close Jimmy Joins 'Fox & Friends' To Share His Thoughts On The TikTok 'Venmo Mom' During an appearance on "Fox & Friends", Jimmy Failla gives his take on a mother in Tennessee who came up with an interesting alternative for volunteering in her kids' classrooms or for their extracurricular activities. "Reminder: You've still got a money request!" That was the subject line of the messages flooding my husband Barrys inbox for weeks. The first couple were concerning, then it was just downright annoying.Enter to win a $500 Amazon gift card. No purchase required.Hes not the only one getting them; theres a sneaky scam going around that looks totally legit because it actually comes from PayPal.Lets take a closer look at how it works so you dont fall for it.DONT SCAM YOURSELF WITH THE TRICKS HACKERS DONT WANT ME TO SHAREHeres how it goes downLucky for us, scammers use the same tricks. This one is getting common enough, its easy to spot if youre careful.First, you receive an invoice via PayPal. It might say something like, "Payment due for a purchase" or tell you a payment was processed due to a technical error.It looks real because it was sent through PayPal's platform. They hope youll panic and act without thinking. PayPal is a trusted platform, so when you see their logo and familiar format, its easy to let your guard down. A woman is pictured using a phone. (iStock)Related:Dont fall for it! Hackers are trying to get you to scam yourselfIts a bogus invoice, of coursePayPal allows anyone with an account to send an invoice, which scammers exploit to make it seem legit.In the invoice notice is a phone number you can call for support. Its listed as PayPals number, but its someone ready to steal your money and info. All the scam emails Ive reviewed had different numbers attached.12 EASY, TECHY WAYS TO MAKE THE HOLIDAY SMOOTHERCalling the fake support number is the worst thing you can do. The scammer might ask for your login details or payment card information to 'resolve the issue.' In some cases, theyll install malware on your device, stealing passwords and financial details in the background."Related:How to spot and stop it This March 10, 2015, file photo, shows signage outside PayPals headquarters in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)PayPal will never send invoices for random purchases you didnt authorize. If something seems off, trust your instincts and double-check before taking action.Check the details: Look at the senders email and transaction history. If its not a company or person you recognize, its likely a scam.Double-check the invoice recipient:Thats another glaring red flag in this case. All the emails I saw had someone other than my husband listed in small text at the top. Look carefully.Dont call any of the phone numbers listed: This is smart with any strange invoice, call, document, email, text, whatever. Dont use contact info thats included. Go to the official website to find it.I looked this one up for you: PayPals real support number is 1-888-221-1161. They take calls from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT every day.THIS CRIME SHOT UP 400% HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELFWhen in doubt, your best bet is to contact customer service. Theyre much more familiar with scam patterns then most regular folks since they see them day in and day out. Plus, they can look into your account to tell you what is a legitimate request and whats not.If youre sure the invoice is fake, delete it. But first Report it to PayPal.Consider this your good deed of the day. Reporting scams doesnt just help you it helps everyone. When you flag fake invoices to PayPal, their team can track patterns, shut down scammers accounts and warn others about similar tactics.Log in to your PayPal account, then visit theResolution Center, where you can report suspicious invoices.Even easier, forward the email tophishing@paypal.com to alert their security team.Related:3 immediate steps to take if you fell for a scam A person is pictured holding a stack of twenty-dollar bills. (iStock)Lock down your account for extra securityIf you dont have two-factor authentication set up, dont wait. It only takes a minute. Now youll get a code when you log in. Annoying? A little. But its worth the extra step on any account tied to your finances.Log in to your PayPal account on a browser. Click the Settings icon > Security > 2-step verification. You can use an authenticator app or receive codes as text messages. Pro tip:An authenticator app is the more secure option.Follow the on-screen directions to finish up.Scams like this are sneaky, but theyre easy to spot if you know what to look for. Share this with your friends and family so they dont fall for it.Get tech-smarter on your scheduleAward-winning host Kim Komando is your secret weapon for navigating tech.National radio:Airing on 500+ stations across the US -Find yours or get the free podcast.Daily newsletter:Join 575,000 people who read the Current (free!)Watch: OnKims YouTube channelPodcast: "Kim Komando Today" - Listen wherever you get podcastsCopyright 2025, WestStar Multimedia Entertainment. All rights reserved.