A Boardman man reported losing $20,000 in a sophisticated scam that began with a fraudulent email purporting to be from PayPal, according to a police report.

The victim told Boardman Township police that he received an email on March 19 claiming he owed $981.84 and provided a phone number for inquiries. After calling the number, he spoke with an individual who identified themselves as a manager and was told he needed to complete two transactions to receive a reimbursement, according to the police report.

The victim granted the individual remote access to his computer, during which he was told that $40,000 had been mistakenly deposited into his credit union checking account. Upon checking his account, the victim saw the $40,000 transaction and believed the information was accurate.

The man then withdrew $10,000 from the credit union branch in Boardman and another $10,000 from the Austintown branch. He was instructed to place the cash in a box, cover it with duct tape, and deliver it to the parking lot of a bridal shop on Boardman Canfield Road.

At the designated location, the victim met a man, described as being between 5-foot-9 and 5-foot-10, around 30 years old, with black hair and a light beard. The suspect, wearing a dark blue sweatshirt and jeans, took the box and fled in a gray Honda SUV, heading west on U.S. Route 224.

The victim later discovered that the $40,000 was transferred from his credit union savings account, not deposited by PayPal. He then reported the incident to Boardman Township police the following day.

Police advised the victim to freeze his credit union accounts and change his passwords.

Officers are checking surveillance cameras at nearby businesses for potential footage of the suspect.

Tips to Avoid PayPal Impersonation Scams:

The Bank Fund Credit Union, citing Federal Trade Commission data, warns that impersonation scams, particularly those targeting peer-to-peer payment platforms like PayPal, are on the rise.

  • Verify the Sender: Always scrutinize the sender's email address. Legitimate PayPal emails will not come from personal accounts like Google, Yahoo, or Hotmail. Look for misspellings or unusual characters in the domain name.
  • Access PayPal Directly: Log in to your PayPal account directly through the official website or app using your own credentials. Do not click on links or call numbers provided in suspicious emails.
  • Be Wary of Urgent Requests: Scammers often use scare tactics or create a false sense of urgency, claiming your account is restricted or needs immediate verification. Legitimate companies will not pressure you for immediate action.
  • Protect Personal Information: Never provide personal information such as your Social Security number, date of birth, or bank account details, or grant remote access to your computer to unsolicited contacts.
  • Recognize Common Scam Tactics: Be suspicious of emails with subject lines like "Your PayPal account has been temporarily restricted," "Your PayPal account needs to be verified," or "Suspicious activity has been linked to your PayPal account."
  • Ignore Suspicious Emails: If you receive an email that seems suspicious, delete it. Do not click on any links or call any numbers provided.

Remember, legitimate companies, including PayPal, will never rush or threaten you, or ask for your personal information. If you are communicating with someone unsolicited, whether it be by email, phone, or text and they ask for personal information such as Social Security Number, Date of Birth, or bank account details, payment of any kind, or even remote access to your computer, STOP it is a scam.