Report PayPal Phishing & Take the Fake Site Offline

    A complete guide: document a fake PayPal email, forward it to PayPal's fraud team, and get the phishing URL taken down at the host.

    5 steps to a PayPal phishing takedown

    Step 1

    Don't click the PayPal email: check the header

    Open the email in preview mode only. Check the sender address: real PayPal emails come exclusively from @paypal.com. Anything else (paypa1.com, paypal-service.info) is phishing.

    Step 2

    Save a screenshot + the original header

    Take a screenshot of the email and export the full header (in Gmail: 'Show original'). The header contains the return path and authentication results (SPF/DKIM/DMARC) that prove it's phishing.

    Step 3

    Check the phishing URL in WHOIS

    Never click links directly. Copy the URL and check WHOIS to see who hosts the domain. PayPal phishing often runs on Cloudflare, Namecheap, or OVH: every host has an abuse address.

    Step 4

    Report it to PayPal, Fraudpol and your national CERT

    Forward the original email to spoof@paypal.com (PayPal's fraud team). In parallel, submit the URL to Fraudpol (hosting takedown) and the raw .eml to reportphishing@apwg.org (global blocklist feed).

    Step 5

    Wait for takedown confirmation

    Fraudpol checks the phishing domain hourly and confirms once the host takes the page offline. Typical duration: 2-24 hours. You'll receive a status email.

    Where to report PayPal phishing

    Reporting to multiple channels works best: the fraud team, a hosting takedown, and a national warning.

    FraudpolTakedown

    Submits the URL to the host and registrar, monitors the status hourly, and confirms removal. GDPR-aligned, operating globally.

    Submit URL

    PayPal Fraud

    spoof@paypal.com: forward the original email as an attachment. PayPal updates its spam filters and warns other users.

    paypal.com/security

    Your national CERT / cybersecurity agency

    Most countries run a national CERT that accepts phishing reports and turns them into public warnings. Find the team responsible for your country in the FIRST directory.

    first.org/members

    APWG (international)

    reportphishing@apwg.org: the Anti-Phishing Working Group feeds confirmed phishing URLs into browser and mail filters worldwide.

    apwg.org/reportphishing

    Frequently asked questions about PayPal phishing

    Report the PayPal phishing site now

    One report, one complete takedown workflow. Fraudpol handles the communication with the host.