Hackers Exploit PayPal’s Email Functionality To Steal Donations

PayPal provides a convenient way for people to send legitimate messages such as invoices and billing reminders. However, its ease of use has caught the attention of hackers, who are now exploiting the platform to send phishing emails that solicit fake donations.

Avanan, a Check Point Software Company, has released an attack brief detailing how hackers are targeting end-users with a fake firefighter fundraising scam. Avanan’s cybersecurity researchers have analyzed the techniques used by these cybercriminals to deceive their victims.

In this scam, hackers create seemingly legitimate PayPal invoices that solicit donations for a fictional firefighter organization. They send these phishing emails directly from PayPal, making the messages appear genuine and more likely to pass security checks. However, careful examination reveals inconsistencies, such as the use of a non-existent organization or a phone number unassociated with a legitimate business.

You can read the attack brief here.

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