- Scam
- Suspicious
1800 861 489 (1800861489): Community report of PayPal impersonation scam call. Caller falsely claimed to represent PayPal.
PayPal Impersonation Report for 1800 861 489
A contributor has reported receiving a call from 1800 861 489 (also written as 1800861489) where the caller falsely claimed to represent PayPal. The call was answered, and the contributor immediately recognised the impersonation as a scam attempt. This type of approach, where scammers pose as legitimate financial services, is designed to establish false credibility before requesting sensitive account or payment information.
What the Caller from 1800 861 489 Said
The contributor reported that the caller on 1800 861 489 stated they were calling from PayPal. No additional details about specific claims or requests were provided in the report, but the caller's immediate identification as PayPal represents the opening tactic in this scam attempt. Scammers using this approach typically follow up with false claims about account issues, suspicious activity, or payment problems requiring urgent verification of personal or financial details.
What to Do If You Receive a Call from 1800 861 489
If 1800 861 489 calls you:
- Do not: Accept the caller's claim to represent PayPal, provide any personal information, account details, passwords, or payment information
- Do: Hang up immediately and independently verify by contacting PayPal directly using the official contact number on your statement or the PayPal website
- Do: Block 1800 861 489 if the call repeats
- Do: Report the number to ACMA and Scamwatch with details of what was said
Why PayPal Impersonation Works
Financial services impersonation is effective because callers leverage the legitimate reputation of PayPal to bypass initial scepticism. A contributor who answers a call claiming to be from a trusted payments service may lower their guard momentarily. Real PayPal will never call you requesting passwords, PIN codes, or full account details over the phone. If PayPal needs to contact you about account issues, they will do so through your account dashboard or official email address registered with PayPal, not via unsolicited inbound calls.
How to Report 1800 861 489
If you receive a scam call from 1800 861 489, report it to the following Australian authorities:
- ACMA (Australian Communications and Media Authority): Report the call at acma.gov.au - ACMA tracks scam numbers and can take action against serious repeat offenders
- Scamwatch: Lodge a report at scamwatch.gov.au with details of what the caller said and claimed
- PayPal directly: Contact PayPal through your account or their official support channels to report the impersonation attempt
- Reverseau: Contribute your experience on Reverseau to help other Australians identify this number
Help others by sharing your experience with 1800 861 489!
WRITE A REVIEWRatings Distribution
What Our Users Reviewed
Claimed to be PayPal, looks like a scam
PayPal message about account logged in from Hong Kong, asked to dial a number immediately
Definitely a scammer, sms say my PayPal account has had a transaction in Dubai, the sms came from 0481 691 977.
Called saying PayPal accessed from Indonesia, I don't have PayPal
PayPal scam, account accessed from Russia, asked to ring 1800 861 489
PayPal text about login from Nigeria on new device, asked to dial number immediately, don't have PayPal
Yep, a scam number pertaining to be from PayPal. Checked my account and all seems fine. Didn't even bother calling the 1800 number provided in the SMS. Beware.
1800861489 today is a number texted purportedly from PayPal to advise the PayPal account accessed from Russia and to call the 1800861489. They answer PayPal, but I can find nothing to indicate they are PayPal.
PayPal scam
Received this text message. PayPal, Dear User; You have attempted a transaction from New York U.S. A with unknown device, Today at 12:25 pm, Is this you? DiaI +611800861489 If not you.
I checked my PayPal account and no message or transaction so obviously a scam.
Call claiming to be PayPal, asking for sensitive information
Help others by sharing your experience with 1800 861 489!
WRITE A REVIEWFrequently Asked Questions
Did the caller on 1800 861 489 ask for money or personal information?
The contributor who reported 1800 861 489 did not provide details about specific requests made during the call. However, PayPal impersonation scams typically follow the same pattern: the scammer claims there's a problem with your account and requests verification of personal details, payment information, or passwords. Real PayPal will never ask for these details over the phone.
Is 1800 861 489 actually PayPal's customer service number?
No. The number 1800 861 489 is not a PayPal official contact number. PayPal's legitimate support in Australia is available through your PayPal account dashboard or at paypal.com. If you need to verify a call claiming to be from PayPal, hang up and independently call PayPal using the number on their official website or your account statement - never use a number the caller provided.
What should I do if I already gave information to the caller from 1800 861 489?
If you provided personal information, account details, or payment information to the caller claiming to be from PayPal on 1800 861 489, contact PayPal immediately through your account or official website to report the incident. Change your PayPal password, monitor your account for unauthorised activity, and consider placing fraud alerts with your bank. Report the call to Scamwatch (scamwatch.gov.au) and ACMA (acma.gov.au).
How common are PayPal impersonation calls in Australia?
PayPal impersonation is a consistently reported scam tactic in Australia. Financial services impersonation, including fake calls from PayPal, banks, and payment providers, remains one of the most frequent scam categories reported to Australian authorities. The contributor who reported 1800 861 489 is part of a larger pattern of these scam attempts targeting Australian consumers.
Can I block 1800 861 489 on my phone?
Yes. Most modern mobile phones allow you to block specific numbers. After blocking 1800 861 489, calls from that number will go directly to voicemail or be rejected. Note that scammers sometimes use different numbers for subsequent calls, so blocking a single number provides limited long-term protection. Awareness of scam tactics and verification practices is more effective than blocking alone.
What makes 1800 861 489 appear legitimate?
1800 861 489 uses an 1800 freephone number format, which is commonly used by legitimate Australian businesses. Scammers deliberately use 1800 numbers to appear credible. The freephone format alone does not indicate legitimacy. Combined with the false claim of being PayPal, it represents a deliberate impersonation tactic. Always verify independently by contacting the organisation directly using official contact details you find yourself, never details provided by the caller.