A text says your PayPal account is limited or a payment needs approving. Here's how to tell it's fake, and what to do.
It says PayPal has limited your account, flagged a payment, or sent a charge you didn't make, and gives you a link or a phone number to fix it fast. The goal is to get your PayPal login, a verification code or your card details. PayPal says to be wary of messages that begin with an impersonal greeting, and that messages from PayPal always use the full name listed in your PayPal account. (PayPal)
Got a message like this? Check it in seconds.
Check it with ShieldrPayPal lists these signs of a phishing email or text. (PayPal)
Two web tips from the same page: don't rely on the "s" in https or on the padlock icon, because many fake sites have them too, and type the web address yourself rather than following a link. (PayPal)
These scams often add a call. PayPal says never to share account information, passwords or validation codes, even with a customer service rep; never to trust caller ID, because scammers can fake it; and never to return an automated call that gives you a number. It says to contact PayPal only through the Contact page in its Help Center, or by calling PayPal Customer Service at 1-888-221-1161. (PayPal)
Go to the PayPal app or type paypal.com yourself and change your password. Check your recent activity for payments you don't recognize, and contact PayPal through its Help Center, not through a number in the text. If you gave out card details or sent money, call your bank or card issuer using the number on the back of your card and ask them to block the card and reverse the charges. If you reuse that password on other sites, change it there too.
Share the text, email or voicemail to Shieldr and get a plain-English verdict — safe, suspicious or scam — with the reasons it spotted. It's one more check before you tap anything, not a guarantee.
Get Shieldr on the App StorePayPal says messages from it always use the full name on your account, and that you should not click links in a message that doesn't seem right. Open the PayPal app or type paypal.com yourself to check your account.
PayPal says to forward a copy of the text to phishing@paypal.com, then block the sender and delete the message. For an email, forward the entire email to the same address.
PayPal says not to trust caller ID or return automated calls. Contact PayPal only through the Contact page in its Help Center or by calling PayPal Customer Service at 1-888-221-1161.
Related: is that Chase text real?, is that Bank of America text real?, is that Amazon text real?, how to check if a link is safe and how to report a scam text.
Shieldr isn't affiliated with PayPal. PayPal is a trademark of PayPal, Inc. Details are taken from PayPal's own pages as of October 22, 2026 and may change.