Phishing scams and AI Protection

One very useful protection against online scams that AI can provide is a “Is this a scam” check? A customer recently email this query to Jascom Ltd and even though we immediately recognised it as a scam a less experience person might not. So we dropped it into Chat GPT and asked for an opinion – the reply as was instant and 100% accurate

 

Question – Is this a scam?

Yes, this email is almost certainly a scam (phishing attempt). Here are the key red flags that confirm it’s not a genuine PayPal message:

đź”´ RED FLAGS:

  1. Urgency & Threats:

    • Phrases like “you have 6 hours to do so” and “if no action is taken…” are common scam tactics to create panic and push you into reacting quickly without thinking.

  2. Suspicious Phone Number:

    • The number +44 8083 04 0424 is not a known PayPal support number.

    • PayPal never asks you to call a number to cancel a charge—everything is handled securely within your account.

  3. Unusual Purchase (BTC):

    • A charge for 0.0042 BTC (ÂŁ329.99) is unlikely unless you’re knowingly purchasing cryptocurrency. This is meant to alarm the recipient.

  4. Poor Formatting & Language:

    • Unprofessional phrases like “excited as we are!” are not typical of official PayPal communication.

    • Inconsistent formatting and excessive highlighting are common in scam emails.

  5. Request for No Reply:

    • The email says, “Do not reply to this email” and directs you to call instead. Real PayPal emails typically direct you to log in to your PayPal account to review activity, not to call a phone number.

âś… What You Should Do:

  • Do NOT call the number.

  • Do NOT click on any links (if this were a full email with links).

  • Do NOT reply.

  • Log in to your PayPal account directly (via paypal.com) to check for any charges — if nothing is listed there, the email is fake.

  • Report the email to PayPal: Forward it to spoof@paypal.com.

  • Delete the email once reported.