02 8551 7076 - 0285517076: PayPal Impersonation Scam

• Scam

02 8551 7076 (0285517076): Six community reports of PayPal impersonation emails and SMS claiming unauthorised charges. Callers/senders request callback and personal financial data.

PayPal Impersonation Reports for 02 8551 7076

Six contributors have flagged 02 8551 7076 (also written as 0285517076) for coordinated PayPal impersonation scams. The pattern involves fake emails and SMS messages claiming unauthorised charges on PayPal accounts, with senders impersonating PayPal staff using names like Nora Ray and Harry Titus. All reports describe requests to call 02 8551 7076 or provide personal financial information to "resolve" disputed charges.

The consistent use of legitimate-sounding email addresses from suspicious Gmail accounts alongside this contact number suggests a coordinated operation. Multiple contributors reported receiving both email and SMS versions of the same scam within days of each other, indicating the scammers target the same victim through multiple channels.

What Callers and Senders from 02 8551 7076 Claim

Contributors report receiving fake PayPal notices claiming charges between $929.97 and $939.97 for either McAfee antivirus subscriptions or air conditioning services. The scammers create urgency by demanding callback within 24 hours, threatening account suspension or immediate payment if the charges go uncontested.

One contributor received an email from someone claiming to be PayPal about a $929.97 McAfee charge with instructions to call 0285517076 if the charge was unrecognised. Another report described a threatening SMS about an air conditioning service charge demanding action within 24 hours. A third contributor was contacted via email from Bert Heavox requesting details about PayPal and Bitcoin, a common tactic to harvest cryptocurrency wallet information alongside account credentials.

The fake senders use professional-sounding names (Nora Ray, Harry Titus, Bert Heavox) paired with suspicious Gmail addresses rather than official PayPal domains. One contributor noted the scam receipt itself displayed 02 8551 7076 as the contact number, making it appear official at first glance.

Report Patterns and Timing

All six reports occurred between late January and mid-November 2025, with clustering in early February suggesting an active campaign period. Reports came via email, SMS, and other channels, showing the scammers adapt their delivery method. Four of six reports explicitly mention phishing links embedded in emails designed to capture login credentials when contributors clicked through.

One contributor reported receiving both email and phone contact from the same scam operation, indicating persistence and multi-channel targeting. The use of different sender names across reports suggests either a distributed scam network or automated email generation from a single malicious source.

What to Do If You Receive a Call from 02 8551 7076

If 02 8551 7076 calls you claiming to be PayPal:

• Do not: Answer or return the call, provide any personal or financial details, verify your PayPal password, or click any links they send
• Do: Hang up immediately, block the number, and verify the charge by logging into your official PayPal account directly (not via any link provided)
• Verify independently: Contact PayPal directly using the phone number on their official website or your account statement, never use contact details from the caller
• Check your account: Log into PayPal directly to confirm whether any charge actually exists before taking action

What to Do If You Receive an Email or SMS from 02 8551 7076

If you receive an email or SMS mentioning 02 8551 7076 as a PayPal contact number:

• Do not: Click any links in the message, reply to the sender, or call the number provided
• Do: Delete the message immediately, mark it as spam or phishing in your email client, and report it to PayPal directly
• Forward suspicious SMS: Report SMS scams by forwarding to 0429 999 888 (the official Australian SMS phishing report number)
• Report the email: Forward phishing emails to spoof@paypal.com (PayPal's official phishing report address) or report via your email provider's spam/phishing tools

How to Report 02 8551 7076

If you have been contacted by this number or received emails/SMS linked to 02 8551 7076:

• Report to Scamwatch: Visit scamwatch.gov.au and file a detailed report. Include the exact message content, sender names, and dates received.
• Report to ACMA: The Australian Communications and Media Authority can investigate suspicious phone numbers at acma.gov.au
• Report to PayPal directly: If the scam impersonated PayPal, report it via your PayPal account settings or contact their fraud team
• Report to ReportCyber: Visit cyber.gov.au to report phishing attempts and credential harvesting scams
• Share on Reverseau: Add your experience with 0285517076 to help other Australians identify this scam faster

Frequently Asked Questions