Union County Sheriff’s Office Warns of PayPal Scam Targeting Residents

BLAIRSVILLE, GA – The Union County Sheriff’s Office in Blairsville, Georgia, is alerting residents to a rising email scam impersonating PayPal customer support, part of a growing wave of fraudulent schemes targeting the community. The Sheriff’s Office reports that residents are increasingly contacting them to verify suspicious communications before falling victim, a trend they encourage to continue.

The latest scam involves an email claiming to be from PayPal, warning recipients of a fraudulent firearm purchase linked to their account. The email, designed to appear legitimate with official-looking logos and sender addresses, urges recipients to call an "800" number for customer support. The Sheriff’s Office warns that calling this number or clicking any links in the email can lead scammers to request personal information or even attempt to access victims’ computers.

Sheriff’s Office officials advise residents to independently verify any suspicious email by contacting PayPal directly using the official customer service number found on their website, not the number provided in the email. They also recommend reaching out to financial institutions if there’s concern about account security.The Sheriff’s Office shared key tips to avoid falling prey to this and similar scams:

• Avoid clicking links in unsolicited emails unless sent by a trusted source and expected.

• Verify customer service numbers independently before calling.

• Hang up on calls requesting personal information or security codes, and contact the institution directly using a known number.

• Be wary of calls claiming arrest warrants or demanding payments, as the Sheriff’s Office does not handle warrants or payments over the phone.

• Do not click links in unsolicited texts or social media messages unless verified.

• Ignore and delete unexpected security code texts, and never share them with callers.

• Be cautious of demands for immediate payment via gift cards, bitcoin, wire transfers, or precious metals, as these are common scam tactics.

The Sheriff’s Office emphasizes trusting instincts and urges residents to contact them directly if they suspect a scam before sharing any information or money. “9.99 times out of 10, your gut is right,” the Sheriff’s Office stated.

Residents can report suspected scams to the Union County Sheriff’s Office or their local law enforcement agency to help protect the community from these fraudulent schemes.