Mike Hurm, Agent, Senior Solutions Representative

Millions of people use PayPal to make secure payments online, but cybercriminals have figured out a way to use it maliciously. The email you receive is actually from PayPal and even contains a real PayPal link. Even though the email is real, it’s part of a scam by cybercriminals.

The email that is sent to your email address is also sent to an email address you do not recognize. This unrecognized email address actually belongs to the cybercriminals. If you click the link in the email, their email address will be connected to your PayPal account.

Follow these tips to avoid falling victim:

• Never submit payments after receiving an unexpected email. Instead, navigate directly to an organization’s official website or app to submit a secure payment.

• ​​Check the email recipients carefully.

• Remember that emails can be malicious even if the sender’s email address is from a trusted domain. Cybercriminals can gain access to trusted domains to make their scams more believable.

Be leary of unsolicited text messages and phone calls. Talk with local and trusted Medicare insurance professionals like First Mid Insurance Group’s Senior Solutions team of agents.

Happy Thanksgiving from the Senior Solutions team at First Mid Insurance Group, a division of First Mid Bank & Trust.