- Scam
Community report for 1800 312 847 (1800312847): Caller impersonated PayPal claiming McAfee charge of $671.99 owed, requesting personal information.
PayPal Impersonation Reports for 1800 312 847
One contributor has reported a scam call from 1800 312 847 (also written as 1800312847) involving impersonation of PayPal. The caller claimed the recipient owed $671.99 for McAfee protection software and attempted to extract personal information during the call. This pattern - falsely invoking a trusted payment service to justify an unexpected charge - is a common social engineering tactic designed to pressure victims into revealing sensitive details.
What the Caller from 1800 312 847 Claimed
The contributor reported that the caller from 1800 312 847 posed as PayPal support and stated an outstanding charge of $671.99 for McAfee protection. The scammer's approach combined two psychological triggers: invoking a recognisable brand (PayPal) and linking it to security software (McAfee) to create urgency and legitimacy. The caller then attempted to obtain personal information from the recipient, a typical next step in account compromise scams.
What to Do If You Receive a Call from 1800 312 847
If 1800 312 847 calls you claiming to be PayPal or referencing an unexpected charge:
- Do not: Provide any personal information, account details, passwords, or payment information over the phone
- Do not: Follow any links or download anything the caller suggests
- Do not: Return the call to the number provided
- Do: Hang up immediately if you don't recognise the caller
- Do: Contact PayPal directly using the official number on your statement or the PayPal website (not a number the caller provides)
- Do: Block 1800 312 847 on your phone to prevent future calls
- Do: Check your PayPal account directly online to verify whether any charges exist
How to Report 1800 312 847
If you receive a scam call from 1800 312 847, report it to the relevant authorities:
- Report to Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au - include details of what the caller claimed and any information you provided
- Report to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) at acma.gov.au for phone number investigation
- If you provided financial information, contact your bank immediately and consider placing a fraud alert on your credit file
- Report the incident to PayPal directly through your account settings or their official support channels
- Contribute your experience to Reverseau to help other Australians identify this scam number
Help others by sharing your experience with 1800 312 847!
WRITE A REVIEWRatings Distribution
What Our Users Reviewed
Posing as paypal saying I owe 671.99 for Mcafee protection, total scam
Help others by sharing your experience with 1800 312 847!
WRITE A REVIEWFrequently Asked Questions
Why would a scammer claim a charge for McAfee on my PayPal account?
Scammers use recognisable brands like PayPal and security software like McAfee because they sound legitimate and urgent. By claiming an unexpected $671.99 charge, they create panic and pressure you to act quickly without thinking - this is when people often reveal personal information. The caller from 1800 312 847 relied on this panic to extract details.
What personal information should I never give over the phone?
Never provide your password, PIN, full credit card number, banking details, date of birth, or identity document numbers over the phone - even if the caller claims to be from PayPal or your bank. Legitimate companies like PayPal will never ask for passwords over the phone. If 1800 312 847 or any number requests this information, it is a scam.
How do I verify if a PayPal charge is real?
Do not trust any information the caller provides. Instead, log into your PayPal account directly via the official PayPal website (or app) and check your transaction history. You can also call PayPal using the number on the back of your statement or on the official PayPal website. Never use a phone number the caller from 1800 312 847 gives you.
Should I call 1800 312 847 back to dispute the charge?
No. Do not call 1800 312 847 back. If this number called you claiming to be PayPal, it is not legitimate. Calling back confirms your number is active and may lead to more scam calls. Instead, contact PayPal directly using the official contact details from your statement or the PayPal website.
What should I do if I already gave information to the caller from 1800 312 847?
Contact your bank and PayPal immediately to report the incident. If you provided credit card details, ask your bank to issue a new card. If you shared your PayPal password, change it right away and enable two-factor authentication. Report the scam to Scamwatch (scamwatch.gov.au) and ACMA (acma.gov.au) so authorities can investigate 1800 312 847.
Can I block 1800 312 847 on my phone?
Yes. Most phones allow you to block specific numbers in your settings or contacts app. Block 1800 312 847 to prevent future calls from this number. However, scammers often use different numbers, so stay alert for similar calls claiming to be from PayPal or other services.