PayPal Fraud Alert #FraudFree2026

Good afternoon,

Not a new fraud type, but we haven’t mentioned it for a while.  Recently, we’ve had a few reports from residents of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight reporting receiving a mystery payment in their PayPal account.  

It might initially sound like a “champagne” problem – but the sinister reality is that it is another way of defrauding you.    Criminals often use stolen accounts to send money, then ask for a refund, only for the original charge to be reversed, leaving you out of pocket. Do not try to return the money to the sender, or spend/withdraw the money, instead, report the payment to the PayPal Resolution Centre immediately: https://www.paypal.com/uk/cshelp/article/how-do-i-report-an-unauthorised-transaction-or-account-activity-help136

Please do share this important update with friends and family and encourage them to sign up for their own Hampshire Alert: https://www.hampshirealert.co.uk/ 

Hampshire Alerts is not a crime reporting portal – please do not report crime here.

If you realise you’ve been defrauded and wish to report a fraud that has already happened, please report it to Report Fraud either by phone 0300 123 2040 or online at:  https://www.reportfraud.police.uk/

However, if a fraud or other crime is in progress, and/or you are in fear for yourself or someone else, and/or there is evidence in situ that could be damaged/destroyed, please phone 999 immediately. 

Otherwise, report non-fraud crime online, or find out about other ways to report a crime at: https://www.hampshire.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/

If you would like to report a crime anonymously please contact: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/ or phone 0800 555 111

If you've been affected by a crime please contact Victim Care Hub for free, confidential, support:  https://www.hampshireiowvictimcare.co.uk/  or phone 0808 178 1641

If you’ve received a phishing email please report it to your email provider and/or forward it to report@phishing.gov.uk 

If you’ve received unwanted phone calls or texts from people you think are trying to scam you, but you haven’t engaged with them, please forward the text/phone number to 7726 or your phone provider.

Thank you – Fraud Safeguarding Team