PayPal Fraud

Mike Kozak

Just found out today that someone hacked into my paypal account (guessed my password) and tried to move 1000.00 from my checking to paypal acct. Called my bank and they will look into it on Monday, called paypal, locked acct, they ssaid another attempt was made for 8000.00 on the 3rd.

Closing Paypal at once!! Beware, this can happen!!

BeefJerky

Yes, and it could happen with any online account. This includes accounts with your bank or any company you do financial business with. Therefore, if you are going to let this fear consume you, make sure to close all of your online financial-related accounts, not just Paypal.

On that note, maybe you need a stronger online password. If it is that easy to guess, you need something better. Or, did you maybe fall for a phishing email?

heiney9

How strong was your password?

obieone

I don't have an acct. w/ paypal, but I sometimes do business with sites that use it, am I at risk?

thesurfer

obieone wrote: »

I don't have an acct. w/ paypal, but I sometimes do business with sites that use it, am I at risk?

Your always at risk when it comes to sites like ebay, paypal, If they dont accept postal money order, i move on.

BeefJerky

thesurfer wrote: »

Your always at risk when it comes to sites like ebay, paypal, If they dont accept postal money order, i move on.

Sounds like plain old FUD to me. As long as you are smart with your online activities, the risk is minimal at best. However, not everyone is capable of that, and some seem to just turn off their brain when using the internet; and that is the reason internet/email scams do work on some people.

As far as postal money orders go, this opens up a risk for the seller. These can be faked, just like any other money order. I don't blame many sellers for not wanting to take them, and I won't in my sales either, unless it is from a very trusted individual.

thesurfer

BeefJerky wrote: »

Sounds like plain old FUD to me. As long as you are smart with your online activities, the risk is minimal at best. However, not everyone is capable of that, and some seem to just turn off their brain when using the internet; and that is the reason internet/email scams do work on some people.

As far as postal money orders go, this opens up a risk for the seller. These can be faked, just like any other money order. I don't blame many sellers for not wanting to take them, and I won't in my sales either, unless it is from a very trusted individual.

Never heard of a postal money order being faked, never, And, when i ask a seller if they well accept one, 9, out of ten are more than happy to, as it keeps paypal, otta there pockets, So slack that jaw,

maximillian

This is why I don't link Paypal to my bank accounts, only a CC. Anything weird happens then I still have CC protection.

I do use postal money orders for some transactions but only people I tend to trust. Otherwise paying by CC (through Paypal) provides the best protection.

heiney9

I do have a separate account linked to paypal and generally I try not to leave a large balance in there. But honestly, I do almost everything on-line and I use strong passwords so I don't really worry, but I try to be as careful as I can be.

H9

BeefJerky

thesurfer wrote: »

Never heard of a postal money order being faked, never,

So, because you haven't heard of it, that means it doesn't exist? Sorry, but that isn't actually a valid argument in your favor.
http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/SpecialAlert/2005/sa2305.html
http://www.tucsonnewsnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=5304208

Those links came from a quick 1 minute Google search. The first one is on an official FDIC page too, so it's not exactly some hidden secret.

And, when i ask a seller if they well accept one, 9, out of ten are more than happy to, as it keeps paypal, otta there pockets,

And, they are welcome to do so. That is their business, not mine.

So slack that jaw,

I still say that your point of view sounds like a textbook case of fear, uncertainty and doubt.

BeefJerky

heiney9 wrote: »

I do have a separate account linked to paypal and generally I try not to leave a large balance in there. But honestly, I do almost everything on-line and I use strong passwords so I don't really worry, but I try to be as careful as I can be.

H9

That is the key: being smart and careful. Maximillian's idea of only linking a CC can help to alleviate some risk as well. The primary reason I have a bank account listed is to make it easier to get money from my Paypal account to my bank account. However, I always pay with my CC; that way if I get screwed with Paypal, I can file a claim with my CC company.

Polkie2009

I think I've heard if someone jacks you over with a fake US Postal Money Order, or you paid with a USPMO and never received the item, or received an empty box, more heat will come down on that person.

Syndil

FYI if you use PayPal regularly (I do) you can increase your security on your account by having it ask you for a security key every time you log in. This is in addition to your password.

https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/?&cmd=xpt/Marketing_CommandDriven/securitycenter/PayPalSecurityKey-outside

When I log in, PayPal sends me a text message with a 6-digit number in it, and I have to enter that 6-digit number to complete the login process. If I don't have my mobile with me, I have to answer two security questions about myself. I think you can even set it to where if you can't get the text, you just can't log in period. Either way I think it's a very good idea to do. I've never had any sort of problems with my PayPal account and I think that has something to do with it.

dorokusai

Yeah, I've had the security card fob for a couple years and it's fraud proof unless they are something out of a movie. Even before, when I had an issue with PayPal, it was handled perfectly and promptly. The "horror" stories I've read about are 50% user error when you get down to the brass tacks and the others are for the most part valid. Why you would not use it based on something you read on the "internet" is a bit silly as most of our lives our electronic now and it's moreso an excuse to cover up you being dumb.

I highly suggest the FREE security option they offer to all patrons of the service. Sleep well and use often.

cstmar01

Cashiers checks and money orders can be fakes easily. Just have to get the right papaer the right look and no problems. Any account can be hacked if someone doesn't use a strong enough password etc. I work for a bank and cashiers checks get called on all the time to verify if they are real. It is a problem but it can be a pain to try and copy it just has to be someone willing to take one, not call the bank to verify funds and willing to give the item up before it clears.

dorokusai

Absolutely Chris, they are NO guarantee of validity.

evhudsons

Strange indeed. I just now got an email from ebay saying that a seller whom I bought something from is opening a cancel transaction case, and for me to respond. I've already paid for the item from a buy now option using paypal. Not trusting emails, I opened a new tab and logged into ebay and paypal. The ebay message was there, so I emailed the seller to ask what was up. I mean, I have the item, he has the money. I don't know what there could be to cancel so I thought it was a scam, but I can't figure out what it would be. I checked my paypal account, it all seems fine and the history shows my payment.

Oh well, I then saw this thread and took pause. I will update my paypal security just for good measure.

evhudsons

just got a response from the seller: Sorry about that, please ignore! Take care.


Just for the record, it was a killer Steiner commander binoculars that are waterproof and crystal clear. I've always wanted a good pair, but never knew that great quality is a whole different thing. For the price of a new just ok waterproof binocular I could have a top tier one used for the same price. Thing is shock and water proof. I use it for star gazing, and for searching for circling birds when tuna fishing.

and spring break girls.

dorokusai

Every man should have a nice pair of Steiner binoculars....period.

Syndil

evhudsons wrote: »

just got a response from the seller: Sorry about that, please ignore! Take care.

If you had accepted his cancel request, you would have been refunded the purchase price. So I am sure he did it by accident, especially if you have already received the item.

Mr. Sharpe

I have a paypal account i don't use. I have gotten some "fraud" emails on my aol before which are sooooooooooo ****. I can't stand them. i finally replied to one and said something like "so much for the fake huh dumbF**ks?" lol I laughed and when I was done laughing I pushed send.

they make them look so real too, they put the little "secure" thing with a little lock beside it and highlight it in blue and underline it and whatnot, it's great. pretty legit looking, unfortunately I changed the email they send it too so some hacker has the wrong email address.

I hope you get yours fixed. I should probably just get rid of mine I guess... there aren't any cards on it... it's just there ya know

jim 249

If they dont accept postal money order, i move on.

Amen

Mr. Sharpe

Can't argue with them strong words.

snow

Some ways are more secure than others but today you are certainly at risk no matter what form of payment you send or take payment from. Postal money orders and cashiers checks are a few of the most faked types of payment, it can be more secure than PayPal if you take the money order to your local post office and cash it before you send off your item.

Recently my checking account had been accessed by someone other than myself, not sure who or where but someone from out of state. I got an email stating that my online access had been frozen and to contact the bank, so I did and was asked if I had been traveling in the last 30 days, I replied no and was told that someone had accessed my account from out of state on the 18th, this was on the 28th He told me this is why my access had been frozen and that I needed to change my account name and password so I did. It appeared that no money had been taken out or transferred just accessed by someone unknown.

What was odd though is if the bank knew about this on the 18th why did they wait 10 days to contact me? I guess better late than never but.....



REGARDS SNOW

BeefJerky

snow wrote: »

Some ways are more secure than others but today you are certainly at risk no matter what form of payment you send or take payment from. Postal money orders and cashiers checks are a few of the most faked types of payment, it can be more secure than PayPal if you take the money order to your local post office and cash it before you send off your item.

Recently my checking account had been accessed by someone other than myself, not sure who or where but someone from out of state. I got an email stating that my online access had been frozen and to contact the bank, so I did and was asked if I had been traveling in the last 30 days, I replied no and was told that someone had accessed my account from out of state on the 18th, this was on the 28th He told me this is why my access had been frozen and that I needed to change my account name and password so I did. It appeared that no money had been taken out or transferred just accessed by someone unknown.

What was odd though is if the bank knew about this on the 18th why did they wait 10 days to contact me? I guess better late than never but.....



REGARDS SNOW

Yeah, 10 days seems like an awful long time to contact you. What bank is it?

snow

Wells Fargo.



REGARDS SNOW

cstmar01

Thats OK someone at our banking office opened an account in my name for someone else to use. They were I guess trying to open it for a Chris Martin and just thought it was the same profile when they selected mine. That was fun.....

and I work for the bank and you know they are supposed to verify ID and all that, yeah never did.

Mr. Sharpe

snow wrote: »

Wells Fargo.



REGARDS SNOW

COULD NOT HAVE SAID THAT BETTER MYSELF!!! they'll wait a year so your account will over draw with fee's then you're screwed, game over, no way out. Government runs well fargo, not the bank.

fossy

I have a card with BOA & recently was contacted about fradulent activity . Luckily , BOA caught it & didn't let the charges go through. They contacted me immediately. 4 different charges were tried....... they said it looked like a random # generator kinda theft..... ppl use a random # thingy to come up with millions of #'s & they got an approval for one dollar & then it was 400 & 800 & 500 bucks .......... joke was on them though cause that card's maxed ....:rolleyes: ....wonder what would have happened if there was room on the card for the charges ??

WHEW !!!!!

Slaine777

I believe the maximum you can have postal money order for is $1000. If someone offers one for more, beware.

quadzilla

thesurfer wrote: »

Never heard of a postal money order being faked, never, And, when i ask a seller if they well accept one, 9, out of ten are more than happy to, as it keeps paypal, otta there pockets, So slack that jaw,

There's a whole industry built around fake postal money orders, as well as bank money orders. Cashier's checks too. If that's what you're relying on, you're woefully misinformed. I do business via pp verified, and nothing else. That's at least harder to fake, since the account has to be tied to a bank account. Not saying that can't be faked, just that it's harder. And since my bank protects me again all forms of on-line fraud, it's the safest for me. YMMV.