- Scam
SMS scam alert: 1800 849 718 (1800849718) impersonates PayPal claiming unauthorized $720.50 transaction. Do not call or click links.
PayPal Impersonation Scam via 1800 849 718
A contributor has reported receiving an SMS scam impersonating PayPal from 1800 849 718 (also written as 1800849718). The message claims an unrecognized transaction of A$720.50 was initiated on the recipient's account and urges immediate contact to verify account security. The contributor confirmed this is fraudulent, as they do not have a PayPal account.
The SMS from 1800 849 718 follows a common impersonation pattern: creating false urgency around account activity, requesting immediate action, and directing the recipient to call the provided number. The text message originated from an email address (bradleysingh6601xefg@outlook.com) associated with the scam, indicating coordinated fraud activity.
What the Scam Message Claims
The SMS impersonating PayPal presents itself as an alert about suspicious account activity. Key claims in the message about 1800849718 include:
- A transaction request of A$720.50 from an unrecognized device
- The transaction is "currently being processed" (creating urgency)
- Instructions to "contact our support team immediately" by calling 1800 849 718
- Statement that "account security is our top priority" to build false credibility
The scam exploits the fact that many Australians have PayPal accounts and may panic upon seeing such a message, making them more likely to call the number without verifying legitimacy.
Why This Is Fraudulent
Several indicators confirm this SMS from 1800 849 718 is not legitimate PayPal communication:
- PayPal does not request account verification via SMS directing you to call a number
- The contributor does not have a PayPal account, yet received the alert
- The originating email address (bradleysingh6601xefg@outlook.com) is not PayPal's official domain
- Legitimate PayPal alerts direct users to their official website or app, never to a phone number
What to Do If You Receive an SMS from 1800 849 718
If you receive a message like this from 1800 849 718, take these steps:
- Do not: Call the number provided, click any links in the message, or reply to the SMS
- Do not: Provide personal information, account details, or payment information to the caller
- Do: Delete the message immediately
- Do: Block 1800849718 in your phone settings to prevent future messages
- Do: If you have a PayPal account, log in directly through the official PayPal app or website (not via any link in the SMS) to check your account status
- Do: Report the SMS as spam by forwarding it to 0429 999 888 (ACMA's SMS spam reporting service)
How to Report 1800 849 718
Report this PayPal impersonation scam through these Australian resources:
- Scamwatch: Report the scam at scamwatch.gov.au. Include the SMS text, the number 1800 849 718, and the originating email address.
- ACMA (Australian Communications and Media Authority): Report SMS spam directly by forwarding the message to 0429 999 888 or visiting acma.gov.au
- ReportCyber: If you clicked any link or provided information, report to cyber.gov.au
- PayPal: If you have a PayPal account, report the fraudulent message through your account's "Report a Problem" section or contact PayPal directly via their official website
- Reverseau: Contribute your experience with 1800849718 to help other Australians identify this scam
Help others by sharing your experience with 1800 849 718!
WRITE A REVIEWRatings Distribution
What Our Users Reviewed
🚨😡 Also got the scam message from “PayPal”
Don’t have a PayPal account.
What these scammers tend to do is use the “urgency” tone by sending messages after hours when they *think* unsuspecting people will be caught off guard.
Also if you look at the email address:
Bradleysingh6601xefg@outlook.com.
If they even want it to sound plausible, you would think the email address would contain PayPal seeing it is allegedly from them.
I also received the scam SMS from PayPal.
What made it interesting is that the 1800 number, which is an Australian Wide Toll Free number, yet these scammers felt compelled to add a +61 in front of 1800 849 718.
Amateurs 🙄
I got the same “dinner time” scam text message supposedly from PayPal. I blocked my number and went to call the 1800 849 718 number and got a recording that said “I’m sorry we do not accept calls from blocked numbers, please display your number or call from another number!”
As if!
My message also came from the indian “Bradley Singh”
Bradleysingh6601xefg@outlook.com.
Message received:
PayPal,
Alert— We are reaching out to inform you of a recent transaction request of A$720.50 initiated on May 04,2026, from an unrecognized device associated with your account. Please note that this request is currently being processed.
Action Required:
If this activity was not made by you, we urge you to contact our support team immediately.
Call now: +61 1800 849718 for assistance.
Your account security is our top priority.
Thank you,
Team PayPal.
🚨🚨🚨🚨 SCAM TEXT MESSAGE JUST RECEIVED AT 5:56 PM 🚨🚨🚨🚨
Ok, so the message came from “PayPal” and when I went to copy number to list it here, came as an email address which I will include in this report. The phone number above is the number the text message listed as the one to call.
By the way, I don’t have a PayPal account, so it solidifies the fact this is a SCAM!!!
PayPal,
Alert— We are reaching out to inform you of a recent transaction request of A$720.50 initiated on May 04,2026, from an unrecognized device associated with your account. Please note that this request is currently being processed.
Action Required:
If this activity was not made by you, we urge you to contact our support team immediately.
Call now: +61 1800 849718 for assistance.
Your account security is our top priority.
Thank you,
Team PayPal.
(The email address the text came from is: bradleysingh6601xefg@outlook. Com - so an indian scammer)
Help others by sharing your experience with 1800 849 718!
WRITE A REVIEWFrequently Asked Questions
Is 1800 849 718 a real PayPal number?
No. PayPal does not contact customers via unsolicited SMS asking them to call a number to verify account activity. The SMS from 1800849718 is fraudulent. PayPal's legitimate support channels are accessed through the official PayPal app or website, not by calling a number provided in an unsolicited text message.
What should I do if I already called 1800 849 718?
If you called 1800849718 and provided any personal or financial information, monitor your accounts closely for unauthorised activity. Contact your bank and PayPal directly (using official contact details from their websites, not from the scam message). Consider placing a fraud alert with your bank and reviewing your credit file at equifax.com.au or experian.com.au. Report the incident to Scamwatch (scamwatch.gov.au) and ReportCyber (cyber.gov.au).
Can I block 1800 849 718 from texting me?
Yes. Add 1800849718 to your phone's blocked contacts or spam list. On most Australian phones, you can block the number by selecting the message thread from 1800 849 718, opening it, and choosing "Block" or "Report Spam". Additionally, forward the SMS to 0429 999 888 to report it to ACMA as spam.
Why did I receive a PayPal scam SMS if I don't have a PayPal account?
Scammers use mass SMS campaigns targeting large numbers of Australians, regardless of whether they have PayPal accounts. The aim is to create panic through a false sense of urgency. Some recipients will have accounts and may be more likely to respond. Additionally, your number may have been obtained from a data breach or sold to scammers on the dark web. Even if you don't have an account, always verify alerts by contacting the company directly via official channels, never by calling a number in an unsolicited message.
What is the email address in the 1800 849 718 scam?
The SMS originating from 1800849718 came from the email address bradleysingh6601xefg@outlook.com. This address is associated with the fraudulent PayPal impersonation scheme and should never be contacted or trusted. Do not respond to any messages from this address. Report it to Scamwatch (scamwatch.gov.au) and the email provider (Outlook/Microsoft).
How do I verify a real PayPal alert without calling 1800 849 718?
Do not use any phone number, email address, or link from an unsolicited SMS. Instead, open the official PayPal app on your phone or visit paypal.com directly in your browser. Log in with your credentials and check your account activity. You can also contact PayPal through the "Help" or "Contact Us" section within the app or website. If you're unsure whether an alert is legitimate, use these official channels rather than calling 1800849718 or any number provided in a message.