1800 874 922 - 1800874922: PayPal and McAfee Impersonation Scam

• Scam

Community reports for 1800 874 922 (1800874922): Scammers impersonating PayPal and McAfee, requesting banking details and sending phishing SMS about fake charges.

PayPal and McAfee Impersonation Scam Reports for 1800 874 922

Three contributors have reported suspicious activity from 1800 874 922 (also written as 1800874922), with a clear pattern of impersonation targeting major payment and security service providers. Two reports specifically flag fake PayPal and McAfee communications, while a third involves a voicemail claiming to be PayPal but with suspicious characteristics. The scammers behind 1800 874 922 are using well-known brand names to create urgency and trick recipients into sharing sensitive financial information.

The reports about 1800874922 reveal deliberate impersonation of trusted services. One contributor received an SMS claiming to be from PayPal notifying them of a $890 charge to "M.S. Media," but upon checking their actual PayPal account, no such transaction existed. Another contributor reported a call from 1800 874 922 where the caller claimed to represent McAfee and explicitly asked for banking details, a major red flag that should never happen with legitimate security software providers.

What Callers from 1800 874 922 Claim

Contributors report two distinct impersonation tactics from 1800874922. The PayPal-related contacts involve false charge notifications designed to panic the recipient into taking action without verifying the claim independently. The McAfee impersonation is particularly concerning because the caller directly requested banking details, a request that legitimate antivirus companies never make through unsolicited calls.

One contributor who called back the voicemail left by 1800 874 922 found the mailbox full, suggesting the scammers are using disposable contact methods to avoid tracing. This behaviour is consistent with organised scam operations that set up temporary lines specifically for running short campaigns before abandoning them.

SMS Phishing and Direct Information Requests

The SMS from 1800 874 922 claiming to be from PayPal is a classic phishing attempt. Rather than asking the recipient to log into their legitimate PayPal account to investigate, the SMS likely contained a link designed to harvest credentials. This tactic exploits the natural concern someone feels when seeing an unexpected charge notification.

The call from 1800874922 requesting banking details is even more aggressive. Legitimate companies operate under strict policies never to request sensitive banking information through unsolicited contact. The fact that the caller specifically identified themselves as McAfee and then asked for banking details shows deliberate social engineering.

Report Patterns and Timing

Reports about 1800 874 922 span recent dates in December 2025, suggesting this number is actively being used in a current scam campaign. The mix of SMS and call attempts indicates the scammers are using multiple contact channels to maximise the chance of reaching victims. Two separate impersonations (PayPal and McAfee) from the same number suggests either a coordinated operation running multiple parallel scams or criminals cycling through different personas as they work through lists of potential targets.

The pattern of using well-known brand names is deliberate. PayPal and McAfee are trusted names that most Australians recognise, making it more likely recipients will respond before thinking critically about the communication. The $890 charge amount cited in the SMS is specific enough to seem credible without being so large it triggers immediate suspicion.

What to Do If You Receive a Call from 1800 874 922

If 1800 874 922 calls you:

• Do not: Answer calls from unknown numbers, especially 1800 numbers claiming to be PayPal or McAfee; provide any banking, credit card, or personal information; agree to remote access of your computer; stay on the line if the caller becomes aggressive or pressures you for immediate action
• Do: Let the call go to voicemail; hang up immediately if the caller asks for banking details; independently verify claims by calling the official PayPal or McAfee numbers from their official websites; block the number on your phone if it calls repeatedly
• Remember: Legitimate companies never request banking details through unsolicited calls or SMS

What to Do If You Receive an SMS from 1800 874 922

If you receive an SMS from 1800 874 922:

• Do not: Click any links in the message; reply to the SMS; provide any personal or financial information; assume the charge is real without independently checking your account
• Do: Delete the message immediately; log into your PayPal account directly (by typing the URL yourself, not using any link from the SMS) to verify whether the charge is genuine; report the SMS as spam to your provider by forwarding it to 0429 999 888; block the number
• If you clicked a link: Change your passwords immediately, monitor your bank and PayPal accounts closely for suspicious activity, and consider placing a fraud alert with your bank

How to Report 1800 874 922

Report your experience with 1800 874 922 to the following Australian authorities:

• Scamwatch: Visit scamwatch.gov.au to report the scam and warn other Australians. This helps authorities identify scam patterns and trends.
• Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA): File a complaint at acma.gov.au about unwanted calls and SMS. ACMA tracks phone-based scam complaints and can take enforcement action against telecommunications providers facilitating the scam.
• ReportCyber: If the SMS contained a phishing link or you clicked it, report the cybercrime at cyber.gov.au. This data helps the Australian Cyber Security Centre understand emerging threats.
• Reverseau: Contribute your experience on Reverseau to help other Australians identify and avoid this number. Community reports are the foundation of our lookup service.

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