PayPal is an online payment system that allows users to pay for transactions, accept payments when selling items or services and send money to friends and family. PayPal has security features in place, including encryption and purchase protection, to safeguard your money and data. Show
But as with any other payment app, there is a measure of risk in using PayPal. Of the fraud reports made to the Federal Trade Commission in 2020 that noted the payment method used, 16.6% involved a payment app or service like PayPal. Understand the risks of using PayPal, as well as your rights and protections as a customer, so you can decide if using the app is the right choice for you. PayPal Security FeaturesIn general, PayPal is considered a safe way to send money and shop online. No platform is foolproof, but an assessment by cybersecurity risk management company UpGuard gave PayPal an "A" rating for its security practices. Here are the security features in place for customers:
What Are the Risks of Using PayPal?No online platform is risk-free to use. Since payment apps including PayPal use your financial data and personally identifiable information, they're a common target for hackers and fraudsters who want to commit identity theft or fraud. For example, scammers may try to get access to your login information and use your PayPal account to make fraudulent transactions, known as account takeover fraud. Or a hacker may try to make purchases on shopping websites you've previously visited using your saved PayPal login information. A particularly common security issue is a phishing scam in which scammers posing as PayPal contact customers to say a purchase has been made using their account. If the customer contacts the scammer to rectify the issue, the scammer may encourage the customer to download software—which could then be used to steal data from their computer—or to share personal information. To avoid phishing scams, pay close attention to the email address of the sender. Note if the company name is misspelled or if it's clearly from an email domain other than Paypal.com. (You'll never get a legitimate email from PayPal from a Gmail address, for instance.) Another red flag is if the salutation in the email doesn't include your name, and instead uses a general greeting like "Dear customer." In both cases, that's a sign it's not legitimate; don't respond and delete the email. Or you can forward the suspicious email to PayPal at [email protected] so their security experts can look into it. Is It Better to Link a Credit Card or a Bank Account to PayPal?Whenever you're buying goods online, using a credit card instead of a bank account allows you to take advantage of the additional consumer protections that credit cards offer. If an unauthorized transaction is made from a PayPal account linked to your credit card, the card's fraud protection policies come into play. Since many cards offer $0 liability protection—and federal law caps your liability at $50—that means you're responsible for little to none of the unauthorized charges. Linking a bank account or debit card could put you at more risk of losing cash if a scammer gets access to your credentials and empties your account. What's more, getting an unauthorized transaction refunded depends on when you report the issue to PayPal. You have 180 days to report a fraudulent transaction to PayPal and get refunded, if the transaction is eligible. There are other benefits of linking a credit card to PayPal instead of a bank account. For instance, if you have a rewards credit card, PayPal purchases can help you earn rewards like travel points or cash back. Does PayPal Refund Money if You Get Scammed?If you made a purchase that doesn't meet your expectations—because it arrived damaged or in a smaller quantity than you ordered, for instance—you may be entitled to a refund if the item is covered by PayPal's purchase protection program. You can also get refunded for unauthorized transactions made using your PayPal account as long as you report it within 180 days of the payment date. But if you sent money to a fraudster as part of a phishing scam or via PayPal's peer-to-peer payments system—you're likely out of luck. PayPal's system sends money instantly to the recipient and in most cases, that can't be refunded, even if you never received the item promised. Make sure you only send money to people you know and can trust. PayPal offers a "Friends and Family" transfer option, but you should only use it to send to actual friends and family—not merchants. When buying something from a seller, use the option to transfer money for "Goods or Services" so you're covered by PayPal's purchase protection policy. The Bottom LinePayPal is generally a secure way to transfer money or make payments online. But it's still important to take steps to keep your data and linked financial accounts safe. Just like you would with any other online account, when using PayPal set a secure password, adopt two-factor authentication using your mobile phone or an authenticator app and avoid accessing the site on public Wi-Fi networks. That can help protect you from identity theft, whether you're using a computer or your cell phone. Will PayPal refund me if I get scammed?You will be covered by our $0 Liability for Eligible Unauthorized Transactions program. 2. Your order never arrives. All you have to do is log in to your account and open a dispute to get the refund process started.
How do you know if you are being scammed on PayPal?The likelihood you'll receive a fake message is growing dramatically. Generic greetings. Phishing messages often begin with impersonal greetings. ... . Attachments. Attachments can contain malware, so never open them unless you're 100% sure they're legitimate.. A sense of urgency. ... . Fake URL. ... . Asks for sensitive info. ... . Poorly written.. Is PayPal safe to receive money from strangers?PayPal is designed to be safe for both buyers and sellers. All information that is communicated between your device and PayPal's servers is secured and encrypted as long as the network you're using is secured.
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