Online Threat Alerts (OTA) - Alerting you to scams and frauds.

"Avram Bytewave_LLC" PayPal Scam
Avram Bytewave_LLC PayPal Scam

If you received a message that appears to be from "Avram Bytewave LLC", claiming your PayPal account processed a payout by a small deposit($0.11), DO NOT call the fake PayPal customer service number in it. The message is a scam, and the telephone is not associated with PayPal. The number is linked to a call center operated by scammers pretending to be from PayPal.

The PayPal Scam

Pending deposit of USD 987.90 for account activation. Questions? Call-xxx-xxx-xxxx.

Avram Bytewave_LLC +PO.11 PHP

Payment Received

"Pre-fund confirmation: USD 987.90 is pending deposit to Coinbase via PayPal. This small deposit is just used for the account a...

Even if the message has your full name and appears to have been sent from a legitimate PayPal email address, do not call the telephone number. The clever part of this scam is that the scammer sent an actual transaction of 1 cent from PayPal to make the scam look legit. If you go to your PayPal account, you will see the transaction. But the trick is to convince you into calling the bogus customer service telephone number (800) 385-xxxx.

If You Were Tricked

If you were tricked into calling the fake number and giving the scammers your account credentials or banking information, please change your account passwords or contact your bank for help.

Here is PayPal's legitimate Customer Support information, if you need help:

  • 1-888-221-1161

    Customer Service Hours: 6:00 AM PST to 6:00 PM PST Monday through Sunday

  • Message them: 1-402-935-2050 (if calling from outside the U.S.)
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