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Member
Posts: 625
Location: LaCrosse, WI | There's always some loser out there trying to screw over anybody who actually works for a living. Some A-Hole got into my Paypal account and ordered $150 worth of online poker transactions 8 times (totalling $1200) dollars. Paypal caught this and suspended the account.
We worked on this yesterday, and Paypal was pretty sure the funds would not go through to my bank account. Well today I see 8 $150 transactions. Of course I did not have $1200 in that particular account, so I recieved about $120 in NSF fees. My wife is at the bank now filling out the unauthorized transaction forms and we should get the $1200 back today (hopefully).
I'll still be out the $120 in NSF fees at least until Paypal resolves the case, then they will work with the bank to waive those charges (in 2-6 weeks). So best case scenario, I get my money back and wait 2-6 weeks to get my nsf fees back while those NSF fees screw up my credit score that I've worked hard at maintaining for the last 8 or so years.
I hope to God that I never meet anybody who would do anything like this. They will not enjoy the outcome, and that is a fact. Remember to change passwords often, check your antivirus and make sure it's up to date, and use a firewall on your home computers. Losers are everywhere, and would love to live off of your money for a while. |
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Member
Posts: 2393
Location: Waukesha Wisconsin | GNWC Rookie:
sorry to here about this. It SUCKS! Any thoughts for the rest of us on how to avoid this (besides changing passwords) Any idea how it was generated or happened? From what account? Should we get rid of Paypal? Did it come from there or do you go to poker sites and possible got taken there? any more info worth sharing?
I had someone take over my identity awhile back. It happened either through yahoo or Facebook. Friends (some of you ) were communicating with someone who stole my email. It sucks and I feel your pain. Fortunately for me, it was not a financial problem except I still owe Rich money  because he sent a bailout check. |
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Member
Posts: 591
Location: in the boat off the east shore somewhere | that blow's i should just shut down all of my accounts.. my wife likes to use on line bill bay also and i am afraid it could happen to me also. If the guy would have won a bunch of money would it have gone into your checking account? I think not.. I cant understand why these folks can take from an account and not mandated to put it back where it came from. This is sad! |
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Member
Posts: 625
Location: LaCrosse, WI | I do not play online poker, so I'm not sure how it was comprimised. Paypal basically told me it just happens. To their credit, they have been pretty good about it, and shut it down before more damage could be done. My credit union has refunded 1/2 of the NSF fees allready, and is placing the $1200 back where it belongs.
The account that my Paypal is linked to is my business account for my web site. I don't keep a lot of money in there because my goal for 2009 was to increase inventory, so it goes out as fast as it comes in. I would suggest anybody using a Paypal account, or doing any other online transactions have a separate account just for this. I truely feel that having Paypal linked to this account helped prevent more damage from being done.
I'd hate to think what would've happened had Paypal been linked to our personal checking and savings. I'm using this as a learning experience to really tighten up security on my home computers.
Here are the things I would suggest to everybody to keep from getting into the same situation.
Check your virus scan/protection make sure it’s up to date, do a system scan
Check your firewall for updates or get one (zone alarm is a decent free one)
Change passwords on all of your vital online accounts (email, bank, paypal, ebay etc….)
Monitor your bank website and any other online payment website
Make sure all of your contact info is current on your bank site, paypal etc… so they can get a hold of you in case someone’s trying to steal from you.
Have a separate account that you can transfer money into, if you need to make online purchases.
Never, send anybody personal info like passwords, answers to strange questions etc… through email.
For services like Facebook/Twitter etc… don’t install tons of applications as most feel this is where the viruses hackers may come from. The programs themselves are usually OK, it’s all the junk that gets added after the fact.
I hope my experience helps others avoid this. |
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Member
Posts: 2393
Location: Waukesha Wisconsin | Thanks Rookie:
Great advise and very thorough. |
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Member
Posts: 744
| Sad thing I didn't even win any money playing poker with yours...
Just kidding. I feel your pain and hope it all works out well. |
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| poker is fun everyone should play |
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Member
Posts: 650
| hey great advice... I use paypal for everything... had a similar experience and got refunded... |
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Member
Posts: 794
Location: Elgin, Illinois | I use PayPal for online purchases. I had a bad experience some time ago... I learned from that to do some things a bit differenently.
One, I opened a "prepaid" Debit card account at a local currency exchange. I can put up to $7500 into it and spend it on internet purchases or to fund paypal transactions. It costs $5 per month. I carry a $20-50 balance in that account when I am not using it... When I find something I want/need for business or pleasure (I collect old reels) say on eBay... I put the money on the Debit card and "spend" it almost immediately... Likewise, if I need computer hardware for a client I get the money from the client and put it in the account and "spend" it immediately...
Two... I am very careful about all other electromic transactions. Do not ever use the "bar/convenience store" ATMs (those little kiosks). Those can be hacked very easily and your data captured by "bad boys". Some are actually interfaced with the internet through wireless connections shared by internet jukeboxes and public hot spots. You can get special internet use credit cards that change account numbers for every transaction... If you have an ATM card use a second account, other than your primary bank account and limit the transactions to low dollar amounts and keep a low balance in that account. |
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Member
Posts: 181
Location: Manawa Wiscowsin | I also use Paypal for eBay. I opened a special checking account that is linked to Paypal. I only keep enough in the account to keep it open ($25). I only keep a small amount in the funded Paypal account itself ($50 to $100). This minimizes the amount I could lose if my account info is stolen. When I sell on eBay and the Paypal account gets up to approximately $100, I transfer the funds to the checking account then, the next time I am at the bank, I transfer the money from that checking account. For other purchases / payments I use a credit card that is insured against unauthorized use. It costs a little extra for the card insurance but I feel it has been worth the cost. Up until now I have only suffered a small loss because of doing business with a company that was charged with / convicted of consumer fraud by the State of Arizona. I don't use an ATM card even though I install ATMs for a friend who has a small business providing ATM and credit card services. I guess the bottom line is protect your assets or some ### will party on your hard work. |
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| Happened to me last week. $3000.00. Paypal stopped it but my bank still transfered to paypal even after I told them not to. I believe for whatever reason my Norton did not start up after I re-booted and some type of spyware stole my password. I removed my checking account as an option on the paypal. I believe the credit card will be safer. |
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