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Many PayPal users have found themselves presented with an email or message from Paypal alerting them that “money is waiting for you”. But, what does this mean? Is it a scam, or is it legit? In this article, we’ll be digging into exactly what the PayPal “money is waiting for you” message means and how to resolve it.
What does the “money is waiting for you” message from PayPal mean?
This message usually means that someone has sent you money through PayPal, but the funds are not yet available in your account.
This could be because you need to accept the payment manually, or because PayPal is reviewing the transaction for security reasons.
You’ve Received a PayPal Email Saying Money Is Waiting For You – Is It Legit?
If you’ve received an email that looks like it was sent from PayPal, asking you to click on a link in order to claim your money – don’t click it.
Open a new browser window, go directly to the PayPal website and log in, and check your account details this way.
It’s very common for scammers to send an email that looks like it is an official PayPal correspondence, asking you to click a link and login in order to claim the money that is waiting for you.
However, the scam is that when you enter your login information after clicking the link, your information and access to your account is stolen.
Often, scammers divert payments to their own accounts or will state that you need to pay a pending exchange fee in order to access your money.
Of course, once you enter your payment details, then things can go very wrong very quickly.
What could happen if a scammer gets my payment details?
If a scammer gets hold of your card details, they could potentially engage in fraudulent activities that can have serious consequences.
This could range anywhere from unauthorized purchases to identity theft, draining your account, damaging your credit score, and selling your information.
You’ve Logged Into PayPal & Your Account Says Money Is Waiting For You – What does this mean?
If you have reassured yourself that the email is not a scam and you genuinely do have money pending in your PayPal account, then in this case, you may have received a payment that has not yet been added to your balance.
In this case, it should be relatively straightforward to click on the ‘accept balance’ button in your PayPal account to have the money transferred directly to your account.
Why Am I Receiving A Paypal “Money Is Waiting For You” Message?
Often, the reason PayPal sends this message is to ask you to verify your identity or complete your account setup. The payment will be added to your PayPal balance when this is done successfully.
PayPal may ask you to re-enter your login details or use one of your two-factor authentication methods to verify you are who you say you are (i.e. send a text or phone call to the number you have registered with them).
Currency variations
Another reason the “money is waiting for you” message might be triggered is when you’ve been sent a payment in another currency.
You can convert currencies on PayPal, but you might need to arrange this manually rather than PayPal doing it automatically – hence the need for you to log in and accept the payment.
Business accounts
In addition, business accounts may be required at times to accept payments manually for security reasons.
To accept funds, you simply need to go to the “Activity” section of your PayPal account and accept any pending transactions.
Have you ever wondered how PayPal actually makes money? We answer all your questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not always. While this is a legitimate message that PayPal sends when money has been sent to your account, scammers can also send fake emails with this message in an attempt to trick you into revealing your personal information.
Always log into your PayPal account directly (not through the email link) to check if the money is really there.
Look for signs like poor grammar and spelling, a generic greeting (like “Dear user” instead of your name), or a sense of urgency in the message.
Check the email address it’s sent from – a legitimate email from PayPal will come from an “@paypal.com” email address. If you’re unsure, contact PayPal’s customer service directly.
While your PayPal email and name are important pieces of information, they alone are not enough for a scammer to directly withdraw money from your account.
However, they can be used in phishing scams where the scammer may send you an email pretending to be PayPal, asking you to confirm your account details or password. Always be cautious and never share your password or other sensitive information. If you receive a suspicious email, report it to PayPal’s security center.
Your PayPal email is what people use to send you money, and in that sense, it’s safe to give out. However, it can also be used in phishing scams, similar to the scenario above.
Scammers might send you fake emails pretending to be from PayPal in an attempt to trick you into revealing your password or other personal information. Always be vigilant and verify any emails you receive.
Not all requests for art commissions are scams, and many artists do get paid through PayPal.
However, it’s important to be cautious. Scammers may send a fake payment confirmation email or overpay and ask for a refund of the difference.
To protect yourself, never ship artwork or refund an overpayment until the money is cleared in your PayPal account. Also, consider using PayPal’s Goods and Services option, which offers some protection for sellers.
It could be either. PayPal does occasionally send out promotional offers, but scammers also send out fake emails offering rewards in an attempt to gather personal information.
Always check the email address it’s sent from and never click on any links or download any attachments from an email you’re unsure about. If you’re unsure, you can log into your PayPal account directly (not through the email link) to see if the offer shows up there. If it doesn’t, it’s likely a scam.
Do not click on any links or download any attachments from the email. Instead, log into your PayPal account directly to check if the money is really there.
If you believe the email is a scam, forward it to [email protected] and then delete it.
PayPal has a number of security measures in place to protect its users. These include data encryption, 24/7 transaction monitoring, fraud prevention, and seller and purchase protection policies.
If you suspect fraudulent activity on your account, contact PayPal immediately.