Anyone else had their PayPal accounts scammed?
ms71
Posts: 1,546 ✭✭✭✭✭
My son-in-law got a nasty surprise today. An email from PayPal verifying a transaction sending about $1300 to somebody he'd never heard of.
He (unfortunately) had the "verified" type account where you give PayPal access to your checking account. He immediately went to the PayPal site, but the front page where you check in and see your account had no trace of the transaction. Going to the detailed history, however, turned it up. (I use PayPal, and am no expert, but he tells me that the scammer could have "filed" the transaction so that it wouldn't show up with the recent stuff on the front page).
Since he was right at his computer when the email came, he was apparently able to contact the bank in time. The bank wouldn't let him prevent the transaction or close the account with a phone call, but he was able to transfer funds between accounts so he transferred all but a very few bucks out of the checking account into his savings account. He contacted PayPal, who assures him they're looking at it, but nothing else from them yet. I am very surprised that the phone transfer of funds could have beaten the transaction, I would have thought the transaction would have been instantaneous.
I have never gone to the "veified" type Paypal account for just this reason, I had paranoid visions of waking up one day to find the checking account drained and feeling powerless to do anything about it except try to get somebody to respond to frantic emails.
Maybe I'm over-reacting, but I have closed my PayPal account (I had it set up to use a credit card, not my checking account). I have used the account for numerous transactions on ebay, and will miss it. I know the credit card affords an added layer of protection, but if it was that easy for someone to get access to his account, I just can't accept the risk.
Has anybody on the forum had similar experience?
He (unfortunately) had the "verified" type account where you give PayPal access to your checking account. He immediately went to the PayPal site, but the front page where you check in and see your account had no trace of the transaction. Going to the detailed history, however, turned it up. (I use PayPal, and am no expert, but he tells me that the scammer could have "filed" the transaction so that it wouldn't show up with the recent stuff on the front page).
Since he was right at his computer when the email came, he was apparently able to contact the bank in time. The bank wouldn't let him prevent the transaction or close the account with a phone call, but he was able to transfer funds between accounts so he transferred all but a very few bucks out of the checking account into his savings account. He contacted PayPal, who assures him they're looking at it, but nothing else from them yet. I am very surprised that the phone transfer of funds could have beaten the transaction, I would have thought the transaction would have been instantaneous.
I have never gone to the "veified" type Paypal account for just this reason, I had paranoid visions of waking up one day to find the checking account drained and feeling powerless to do anything about it except try to get somebody to respond to frantic emails.
Maybe I'm over-reacting, but I have closed my PayPal account (I had it set up to use a credit card, not my checking account). I have used the account for numerous transactions on ebay, and will miss it. I know the credit card affords an added layer of protection, but if it was that easy for someone to get access to his account, I just can't accept the risk.
Has anybody on the forum had similar experience?
Successful BST transactions: EagleEye, Christos, Proofmorgan,
Coinlearner, Ahrensdad, Nolawyer, RG, coinlieutenant, Yorkshireman, lordmarcovan, Soldi, masscrew, JimTyler, Relaxn, jclovescoins
Now listen boy, I'm tryin' to teach you sumthin' . . . . that ain't no optical illusion, it only looks like an optical illusion.
My mind reader refuses to charge me....
Coinlearner, Ahrensdad, Nolawyer, RG, coinlieutenant, Yorkshireman, lordmarcovan, Soldi, masscrew, JimTyler, Relaxn, jclovescoins
Now listen boy, I'm tryin' to teach you sumthin' . . . . that ain't no optical illusion, it only looks like an optical illusion.
My mind reader refuses to charge me....
0
Comments
<< <i>I had paranoid visions of waking up one day to find the checking account drained >>
I set up a seperate checking account dedicated only to PayPal; remove funds when they come in, and only place funds when I'm making a purchase. They could drain, but they won't be getting much.
Russ, NCNE
Looking for PCGS AU58 Washington's, 32-63.
I know I'm a bit paranoid, but not enough for medication yet.
Please post the progress and process of this problem as it unfolds.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson