Scammers frequently exploit the trusted “service@paypal.com” email address to carry out phishing and other scams. While “service@paypal.com” is a legitimate email address used by PayPal for things like transaction receipts and notifications, scammers use sophisticated techniques to make their fake emails look authentic.
Is service@paypal.com Legitimate?
Yes,
service@paypal.comis an officially recognized PayPal email address. It can be used for notifications like transaction alerts or invoice reminders.
How Scammers Exploit It
Spoofed or Fraudulent Emails
Many phishing attacks use spoofed “From” addresses—including legitimate ones like service@paypal.com—to trick you into trusting the message. The email may contain malicious links, phone numbers, or urgent calls for action.
Real-World Examples
Reddit users have shared incidents where emails appeared to be from service@paypal.com, but were scams:
“Beware of scammers sending out Urgent Transaction emails with phony links. They’re using official service@paypal.com email address.”
“Got two emails … from service@paypal.com for invoices from Coinbase. I don’t use Coinbase at all. … the phishing emails did not [use my full name].”
“I got this … addressed to a different email address than mine. … Very well constructed.”
“It was from the service@paypal.com email. … I then called PayPal and they confirmed they have no record of that transaction…”
“Spoofed email address aside… PayPal will always address you by name this email doesn’t because they don’t know your name.”
These stories show how credible-looking emails can still be fake.
Also Read : When Does FAFSA Refund Come
Spotting the Red Flags
| Red Flag | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Generic greeting | PayPal emails always include your full name, not “Dear Customer” or “Hello user.” |
| Unexpected invoice or request | If you receive an invoice you didn’t initiate (e.g., from “Coinbase”)—be suspicious. |
| Urgent tone + contact via phone or link | PayPal won’t ask you to click links or call unverified numbers to “cancel a transaction.” |
| Links to external websites | Always hover over links and never click unless you’re certain. Even links that appear to go to PayPal might be fake. |
| Poor grammar or formatting | Legitimate PayPal content is professionally written. Spelling or formatting mistakes are a red flag. |
What You Should Do
Do not click any links or call numbers in suspicious emails.
Go directly to PayPal’s website or open the app to check your account instead.
Forward the suspicious email to
phishing@paypal.comorspoof@paypal.com, then delete it.Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for added protection.
Remember: Legitimate PayPal communications:
Use your full name
Never ask for passwords, codes, or sensitive info via email
Never include urgent threats to click or call a number
Bottom Line
service@paypal.comcan be legitimate—but scammers also use it for phishing.Always treat unsolicited emails—even from trusted-sounding addresses—with caution.
When in doubt, verify by logging directly into PayPal and report the message if needed.
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