PayPal users are being urged to stay aware of their security protection following a surge of scam emails.
Scammers are targeting users of the payment site with official-looking emails saying that their accounts have been tampered with.
The emails contain a link to a fake PayPal log-in site which grabs the user's details, including password and answer to security questions, which can then be used to access their account.
Headlined "Important: We noticed unusual activity in your PayPal account", the emails include official PayPal imagery and legal boilerplate.
It goes on to say, "We're concerned that someone is using your PayPal account without your knowledge."
The user is then prompted to click on a link that will allow them to log in to their account and confirm information such as password.
However the fraudulent emails can be identified by looking at the source email, which is often the hacker's Hotmail or Gmail address rather than coming from a PayPal source.
Such 'phishing' accounts, which look to hook in victims with fake correspondence, are becoming unfortunately common as hackers look to spread their reach.
PayPal's dedicated phishing site says that the company is, "committed to helping shut down these sites and ensure that you're able to spot phishing immediately."
It emphasises that the company will only ever ask you to enter personal details on the secure PayPal website, after you have safely logged in to your PayPal account.
The scam is the latest to target PayPal users in recent weeks.
Last month, security firms warned that scammers were monitoring social media sites such as Twitter to find disgruntled users.
Once found, the criminals then pose as customer support agents, offering to help if the customer sends over their personal information, which is then stolen and sold on.
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