Brand check · payment service

Is PayPal a scam?

The short answer: PayPal’s official website is paypal.com — and the real one is a legitimate payment service. The catch: because PayPal is so popular, scammers register lookalike and typosquat domainsthat copy it to phish shoppers. So the real question isn’t “is PayPal legit” — it’s “is the PayPalsite in front of me the real one?”

The fastest way to be sure: paste the exact PayPallink you’re on into our instant check. You get a 0–100 scam risk score and a plain-English verdict — safe, suspicious, or likely scam — free, before you log in, pay, or share a thing.

Free risk-score preview · full report with all 5 red flags for $4.99 · no subscription

5 ways to tell a real PayPal site from a fake

Before you log in, pay, or share any details on a page claiming to be PayPal, run it against these five signals.

1. Check the exact domain — character by character

Impersonators register lookalikes like extra words, hyphens, swapped letters (rn→m) or alternate endings (.shop, .store, .co). Compare what's in your address bar against the brand's real domain.

2. Beware links from texts and emails

Real brands rarely send urgent 'verify', 'payment failed' or 'delivery on hold' links. A message pushing you to a login or payment page is the classic impersonation setup.

3. Watch for copied logos and pages

Copycat sites lift the real brand's logo, colours and product photos to borrow its trust. A pixel-perfect page on the wrong domain is a red flag, not reassurance.

4. Distrust deals that are too good to be true

Fake stores impersonating a known brand lean on 80–90% off, countdown timers and 'clearance' urgency to rush you into paying before you check the domain.

5. Never pay by gift card, crypto or wire

A checkout that only accepts irreversible payment — gift cards, crypto, bank transfer — is a serious payment red flag on any site claiming to be a known brand.

Check this PayPal link — free

Free risk-score preview · full safety report with all 5 red flags for $4.99 · no subscription

Check the PayPalsite you’re on in 3 steps

  1. 1Paste the exact PayPal link you're unsure about into Scam Detective.
  2. 2See the 0–100 risk score and how many serious red flags we found — free.
  3. 3Unlock the full verdict, all 5 red flags with evidence, and a 3-step action plan for 4.99.

Don’t get caught by a fake PayPal site

Spot the scam before it spots you. Check the link free, then unlock the full safety report with all 5 red flags for just $4.99.

Check this PayPal link — free

This page is general guidance to help you decide — not a verdict on any specific business, and not legal or financial advice. PayPal and its logo are trademarks of their owner; we are not affiliated with PayPal.

Worried about a different site or a link you were sent?

It doesn’t have to be PayPal. Paste any website URL or link you’re unsure about and get a free 0–100 scam risk score in seconds.

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Not sure where to start? See is this website a scam?, is this link safe to click?, or is this online store legit?.

Run a business? Find who’s impersonating your brand

Get a one-time Brand Impersonation Audit — every lookalike domain, evidence, risk ratings and a takedown template for $29.

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