Posted by Ernest__CT on 1/18/07 5:20pm
Msg #171579

Fraud alert: PayPal, etc.

Today my bank contacted me about questionable activity on my card. Sure enough, there were several transactions that were fraudulent. I had to cancel the card to avoid any more issues, then contact each of the merchants to alert them to the fraud. That also means having to receive a new card, then supply the new number to all the firms that debit my account regularly.

I don't think I'm special! The point of this Post is to encourage you to keep track of YOUR accounts, PayPal and otherwise, for evidence of fraud. Even more important is being very careful of the places where you reveal your card number....

Reply by Ndwa on 1/18/07 6:04pm
Msg #171584

Keep track of your online registration passwords and change them as often as you can. Scan your computer for spy-ware and viruses as often as you can. Trojan/worm spy can sneak into your computer before your avi is updated or scan to detect them.

Reply by Michelle/AL on 1/18/07 7:25pm
Msg #171598

Coincidental?

I signed up w/Paypal a few months ago and soon thereafter I received similiar notices from my bank about fraudulent charges. While I can't say for sure the breech in security was Pay-pal related - my gut sure thinks so. I still have reactivated my Paypal account. Not sure if I will.

Reply by MikeC/NY on 1/18/07 7:56pm
Msg #171603

Re: Coincidental?

I've had a Paypal account for about 5 years and have never had a problem (he says, while looking around for wood to knock on...).

Like Andy said, you need to keep on top of it and change your password regularly - and be aware of phishing attempts.

Reply by jlissem on 1/18/07 8:15pm
Msg #171610

Re: Coincidental?

I also have one for years. Beware of phishing. Never respond to emails asking to verify your p/w. The good part is that people you buy from DO NOT get you credit card info. I also use it to send e/mail invoices to accounts that have not established credit. They can pay with any major credit card and cost to you is approx 3% of invoice. If they pay with a paypal account there is no charge.
You can set it up with a seperate bank a/c with a limited $ amount in the account.

Reply by MelissaCT on 1/18/07 10:28pm
Msg #171624

No problems here either.

I've had a PayPal account for several years without incident. Although my ex- MIL had her number stolen from a gas station where she regularly purchased gas. Seems the people there were using the numbers of their customers to send $$ back to the homeland. It happened to her twice before she made the connection of where someone was getting her number.

Reply by NotaryGirl71 on 1/19/07 3:35pm
Msg #171715

Re: No problems here either.

A couple of months ago someone stole $4,900 thru PayPal from my savings account....now mind you at the time I had a PayPal acct thru my checking acct but not thru my savings.

The $$$ was returned to me about 2 weeks later.