How to Send Money Safely with PayPal and Avoid Scams (2026)

Sending money on PayPal is fast, but speed is exactly what scammers count on. Once you tap Send, the money is effectively gone: PayPal states that once you send money, you cannot cancel or reverse the payment, and your only recourse is to ask the recipient to refund you voluntarily.

This guide shows you how to send safely on every surface (desktop web, the iOS and Android app, PayPal.Me links, and QR codes), how to pick the payment type that actually protects you, and how to recognize the specific scams PayPal warns about. The single most important decision happens before you confirm: choosing the right payment type.

Work through it top to bottom the first time, then keep the scam red flags and dispute deadlines handy for later.

Choose the Right Payment Type Before Anything Else

PayPal offers two payment types, and the choice decides whether you are protected. "Goods and Services" is for any commercial payment, and it qualifies for Purchase Protection. "Friends and Family" is for genuine personal transfers to people you trust, and it is never covered by Purchase Protection.

Use "Goods and Services" for any purchase from someone you do not know personally. If something goes wrong, you can file an Item Not Received or Significantly Not as Described claim. With Goods and Services, the seller pays the fee to receive the money.

Use "Friends and Family" only for real personal transfers (splitting a bill, gifting a relative). Within the US it is free when funded from your bank account or PayPal balance; a small fee applies if you fund it with a debit or credit card, and fees can apply on international personal payments.

Refuse Any Seller Who Pushes "Friends and Family"

This is the biggest red flag PayPal calls out. A seller asking you to pay with "Friends and Family" for a good or service is trying to strip your buyer protection. PayPal is explicit: your payment will not be covered by Purchase Protection if it is a Friends and Family payment.

Scammers request F&F specifically because it leaves you with no claim. If you are buying something and the other party insists on F&F, treat it as a scam signal and walk away or pay only via Goods and Services.

Send Money on the Desktop Website

Always start by typing www.paypal.com yourself rather than following a link from an email or text. Then log in and follow these steps.

1. 1.Go to "Send and Request".
2. 2.Enter the recipient's name, PayPal username, email address, or mobile number, then click "Next".
3. 3.Enter the amount, select the currency, add an optional note, then click "Continue".
4. 4.Choose the payment type: "For Goods and Services" for any purchase, or "For Friends and Family" only for trusted personal transfers.
5. 5.Select your payment method (PayPal balance, linked bank account, debit or credit card).
6. 6.Click "Next".
7. 7.Carefully review the recipient and amount on the confirmation screen, because payments cannot be reversed.
8. 8.Click "Send Payment Now".

Send Money in the PayPal App (iOS and Android)

The app uses one unified flow on both platforms. Open the PayPal app, then:

1. 1.Tap "Send/Request".
2. 2.Enter the recipient's name, @username, email, or mobile, or select them from your contacts.
3. 3.Enter the amount, choose the currency, add an optional note, then tap "Next".
4. 4.Select the payment type: "For Goods and Services" or "For Friends and Family".
5. 5.Review the recipient, amount, and type carefully, because the payment cannot be cancelled or reversed once sent.
6. 6.Tap "Send".

Pay Through a PayPal.Me Link

A PayPal.Me link is convenient, but the payment-type choice still matters exactly as much.

1. 1.Open the person's PayPal.Me link in your browser, or tap it in the app.
2. 2.Click or tap "Send".
3. 3.Enter the amount, add an optional note, then click or tap "Continue".
4. 4.Choose the payment type: "For Goods and Services" for purchases, "For Friends and Family" only for trusted personal transfers.
5. 5.On desktop, select your payment method, then click "Next".
6. 6.Click or tap "Send Payment Now".

Use a QR Code to Avoid Typos

Scanning a personal QR code in the PayPal app removes the typo risk of entering payment details by hand, which matters because a mistyped recipient cannot be undone.

1. 1.In the PayPal app, scan the recipient's personal QR code.
2. 2.Confirm the recipient shown matches who you intend to pay.
3. 3.Enter the amount and choose the correct payment type before completing the send.

Double-Check the Recipient on the Review Screen

Because payments cannot be cancelled once sent, the review screen is your last safeguard. A single wrong character in an email, phone number, or username sends the money to a stranger, and you will only get it back if that person chooses to refund you.

Read the recipient identifier and the amount carefully every time before you tap Send. This one habit prevents the most common irreversible mistake.

Spot a Fake or Phishing PayPal Message

Scammers imitate PayPal to capture your login or push you into a bad payment. PayPal flags these specific signs.

• Generic greetings such as "Dear user" or "Dear [your email address]". Real PayPal emails use your name or business name.
• Links to fake websites and unknown attachments. Do not click the links, and never open the attachments.
• A false sense of urgency, such as a threat that your account will be suspended. Legitimate issues appear inside PayPal after you log in.

Instead of clicking, open a browser, type www.paypal.com yourself (or use the official app), and check the Resolution Center for any real notifications. Forward the suspicious email to phishing@paypal.com, then delete it. If a message tells you to contact customer service, go to the official PayPal Help Center rather than calling a number printed in the message.

Never Share Your Password, Card Number, or a Verification Code

PayPal will never ask for your password except on the genuine login page, and it states it will never call you from 1-888-221-1161 to ask for your personal or account information. Treat any call or message asking for your password, full card number, or a verification/2FA code as a scam, no matter how official it sounds.

Recognize the Common Send-and-Receive Scams

Beyond phishing, PayPal warns about several recurring schemes.

• Invoice and money-request scams: A real-looking invoice or money request arrives for something you never ordered, often with alarming language telling you to "call quickly to resolve an issue on your account," or it includes a crypto wallet address. Do not pay and do not call any number printed in it.
• Overpayment scam: A buyer "accidentally" overpays (often with a stolen card or bad check) and asks you to wire back the difference. A legitimate buyer will not overpay you for an order; cancel it.
• Fake payment notification: A fraudster emails a fake "you've been paid" confirmation to make you ship before money arrives. Always log in to PayPal and confirm the payment is really in your account before shipping.

Handle a Suspicious Invoice or Money Request

If you receive an invoice or money request you did not expect, do not pay it and do not call any phone number printed in it. Watch for alarmist "call us quickly" language or a crypto-wallet address inside the invoice. Log in to the PayPal website or app and report the unwarranted request from there. If it arrived by email, forward the email to phishing@paypal.com and delete it. Verify any supposed account issue only through the official Help Center.

File a Dispute if a Goods-and-Services Purchase Goes Wrong

Purchase Protection only works if you paid via Goods and Services, you try to contact the seller first, your account is in good standing, and you file within the deadline. To open a dispute on the desktop website:

1. 1.Contact the seller directly first to try to resolve the problem (this is required before a claim).
2. 2.Log in and go to the "Resolution Center".
3. 3.Select "Report a Problem".
4. 4.Pick the relevant transaction and click "Continue".
5. 5.Choose the reason: "Unauthorized activity in your PayPal account", "Issues with your purchase", "Issues with the Seller", or "Billing errors or Issues with subscriptions".
6. 6.Select the option that describes your issue, click "Continue", and follow the prompts.

In the app, open "Activity", tap the transaction, scroll down and tap "Report a Problem", select the issue type, add details, and tap "Submit". In both places, use the Resolution Center messages to work with the seller, and escalate to a claim if it stays unresolved (usually allowed once at least 7 days have passed since payment). A dispute auto-closes after 20 days unless you escalate it, and closed disputes cannot be reopened.

Know the Dispute Deadlines and Coverage Limits

Deadlines are strict and differ by claim type. For Item Not Received, file within 180 days of the date you sent payment. For Significantly Not as Described, file within 30 days of delivery or 180 days from payment, whichever is sooner. For statement (billing) errors, notify PayPal no later than 60 days after it sent the first statement on which the error appeared, and report unauthorized transactions at once.

Purchase Protection has exclusions even when you paid via Goods and Services: motor vehicles, industrial machinery, real estate, prepaid cards, items intended for resale, custom-made items (for Not-as-Described claims), items that violate PayPal policy, and any Friends and Family payment. It also does not cover return shipping costs. When a claim is approved, PayPal reimburses the full purchase price plus original shipping.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cancel a PayPal payment after I send it?
No. PayPal states that once you send money, you cannot cancel or reverse the payment. Your only option is to contact the recipient and ask them to refund you, which is why you should verify the recipient and amount on the review screen first.

A seller wants me to pay using Friends and Family. Is that okay?
No. Friends and Family is never covered by Purchase Protection, and a seller requesting it is a major scam red flag. For any purchase, choose Goods and Services so you keep the ability to file a claim.

Who pays the fee on a Goods and Services payment?
The seller pays the fee to receive the money. Friends and Family is free within the US when funded from your bank balance or PayPal balance, with a small fee if you fund it by debit or credit card, and possible fees on international personal payments.

I got an invoice or "you've been paid" email I did not expect. What do I do?
Do not pay an unexpected invoice and do not call any number printed in it. For a payment notification, log in to PayPal directly and confirm the money is actually in your account before shipping anything. Report suspicious messages from inside PayPal and forward phishing emails to phishing@paypal.com.

How long do I have to file a dispute?
Item Not Received must be filed within 180 days of sending payment. Significantly Not as Described must be filed within 30 days of delivery or 180 days from payment, whichever is sooner. Remember a dispute auto-closes after 20 days unless you escalate it to a claim.

Will PayPal ever call or email me for my password or a verification code?
No. PayPal asks for your password only on the genuine login page and states it will never call you from 1-888-221-1161 to request personal or account information. Treat any request for your password, full card number, or a 2FA code as a scam.