Overview

• PayPal attributes the disruption to a 23–24 August system‑update error and says under 5% of German users were directly affected.
• Most merchant payouts tied to the incident have been completed, with some transactions still under review, according to PayPal.
• Sparkassen report contacting customers about questionable PayPal debits based on lists reportedly shared by PayPal, while advising that staff will never ask for PINs or passwords by phone.
• Consumer advisers highlight new phishing waves targeting Sparkasse (“S‑ID‑Check” emails), Volksbank, Deutsche Bank and Advanzia Bank, urging verification only via official apps or websites.
• Police and consumer groups cite high‑loss cases, including a €13,000 fake‑shop theft and marketplace scams using QR codes and “Friends & Family,” and recommend strong unique passwords, two‑factor authentication and immediate reporting of suspicious activity.