Pay Pal users - Be Careful

This is one time I'm going to copy a thread to TGB&U instead of moving it -- that way it'll stay on the first page in the General Blade Discussion Forum longer.
 
Thanks man, it was a good read and very informative. I will heed the advice. Big D1
 
Crud! I wish I'd read this last night before sending out a chunk to a link from an e-mail...
_
 
Could this technique be used on other internet payment links, like 1SKS or Discount Knives, J.Crew, WalMart, etc? Or are their secured links within their own systems and thus fairly immune?

Karl
 
That's one of the reasons I stopped using Paypal. I refused to provide them with my checking account number. I had around $450 in my account from knife sales and tried to buy a knife for $200 via a Paypal transfer. They said my spending limit was $83 even though they held $450 of MY money! I had them send me a check and never used them again. I also will not order over the internet, I get the vendors phone number from their home or "contact us" page and call them with credit card info. Still not foolproof but safer than sending credit card or checking account numbers over the web.
 
A Trojan Horse like what you describe is very easy to write and can be used for any site. The hard part is getting you to link to the Trojan but that can be done through any live link.

But before you swear off all internet shopping, remember, many of the phone banks that you call to securely transmit your credit card numbers are answered by prisoners. And when you give your credit card to the waiter? Or the unidentified alien in the quick stop?
 
I'm low tech enough to be safe. I never noticed the links and always opened a second window to connect to PayPal

Richard - I use PayPal with a credit card. I think it's safer this way. After ~$500 in buys they did say I HAD to provide my checking acount number. I ignored it and PayPal still works.
 
:)

Get real people! In ten years real money may be outlawed! I'm sure folks in the 1900's didn't think checks were legit either. I feel better about ordering over the net than I do about handing my card to some geek at the local gas station.

Even checking accounts are now at risk, all they need is the number at the bottom of the check.

Okay, now people don't have to actually steal your checkbook, but the safeguards are the same - check your account activity frequently and ask about anything that seems odd. Maybe you didn't think you needed to do this before, but you should have.

I check my savings, checking and PayPal accounts daily...it takes about ten minutes and I have a slow (14.4) modem. I also note to whom I am connected...this is not rocket science....

PayPal is as secure as anything on the net, by which I mean, more secure than a check or using your card in person.


Steve-O
 
The article said his internet activity had been tracked by "spyware".
Many of you have spyware working in your computer reporting back to it's home base telling them every site you have visited on the net.
I was amazed what I found on my computer. Here is a link to a download for Ad-aware. It is a program that scans your computer, identifies spyware and removes it. You can also do a search on Ad-aware or spyware to learn more about the program. It is a free program. Give it a try. I don't like the idea of anyone tracking my net activity.
http://download.cnet.com/downloads/0-10106-100-7302674.html
 
I've used Pay Pal HUNDREDS of times without a hitch. They have my C.A. number and it's never caused me any grief. I've always gone to their site using their URL though. There will always be fraud and deception ANYWHERE there's money involved. Frankly, with as many transactions they accomplish a day, I think their track record is great. I don't know why most folks don't utilize them more. Even with their minuscule fee, they're a bargain in simplicity and convenience. Thanks for the "heads up" though.
 
I used them ever since they went intl. and I have no problems with them.

Being careful is always smart and this link just tells you how to do that.

Steve - O: checks have been around more then a thousand years - not from 1900.... :)
 
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