account was frozen due to some one in China trying to access it. Pay pal immediately put a stop to the transaction and froze my account. After several lenghtly conversations, hopefully , this is resolved. Just wanted to to let others know that this is a serious threat and check your account if you use pay pal to buy designs. I am impressed with Pay Pal actions to protect me. Kay

Thanks for sharing. I have a credit card attached to my paypal with a very low limit. I only use that card for buying on the internet. I don't ever want to tie a debit card or checking to anything like paypal - you don't have the protections of a credit card and it is much harder to get your money back if something goes wrong. Also, credit card systems have a monitoring process in place and debit card systems don't. Thanks for reminding us thieves are everywhere.

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by katydid 05 Oct 2010

I agree. Debit cards are dangerous. I don't use one at all. What scares me is how did they figure my name from my email address. They must have accessed my account on some web site where I registered my name.

Thanks Kay. This is good to know. I always use paypal for my purchases.

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by katydid 05 Oct 2010

I will admit, that I am afraid now.

ttt

I just used PayPal today (make-up) on Ebay....I've only had one problem, someone sent me an e-mail that said they were from Ebay I started filling out the info. until they ask for my bank account number, there was no way I was filling that out....contacted Ebay, sent them the e-mail, changed my password and it has been fine since then......I will certainly keep an eye on my account.....thanks for the info......blessings Janet

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by honeychyle 02 Oct 2010

Wish I had been as smart as you!

by katydid 04 Oct 2010

oh no another try!!

Thanks for all your comments. I know this scary stuff. One reason Pay Pal was on this transaction so fast and froze my account was that I had never made a purchase using pay pal from any place except the Atlanta, Ga. area. if I had used it from all over the place, they would not have zeroed in as fast. Kay

My Daughters paypal was compromised and it took several phone calls to paypal and two weeks to return her money and a couple trips to the bank to get the overdraft charges removed. We now get one of those Master Cards as in gift cards and load on it what is needed to make the purchase. We have no fear of being wiped out using this card. We got the one that you can add more money on it as needed.

Newbies and cuties - THERE IS GREAT ADVICE HERE. Make sure you read what others are saying; best way to remain safe!TU.

I also had trouble using my credit card on paypal while in USA earlier this year. emailed them from daughters home & received an email to my own email server telling me someone had tried to access my account in the USA. sorted it out & was able to use paypal when I arrived home as desktop had all info on it, I was very impressed & also very frustrated at the same time. Felt realy safe after they explained why thy had frozened my account. *4u

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by katydid 02 Oct 2010

That is exactly how I felt.

Thanks so much. That's what I use most of the time will keep my eyes open. Thanks again. Arlene

The low level credit card is the safest way to go. You might risk loosing what little is on it; but, you won't loose all of your funds. I once read a warning that NO Offical PayPal notices will EVER go out asking for you to reaffirm your information. They are always scams if you are asked for your information again. And that goes for Yahoo, too. It is too easy for criminals to re-create a logo and imitation site to gather people's info.

WOW happened to me last week, but was using it for E-Bay...someone bought a guitar for over five grand.....it took so long to get it resolved and now had to change my password of over five years....NOW I have to REMEMBER a new one....OMG, that is not going to be easy lol....Yes Paypal is on top of it and that is just why it is such a great company....Glad they watch out for us...

Wow paypal is all i ever use i will be watching thanksCarolyn

I used to use Pay Pal because it sounded so much safer. Then I started getting lots of requests to attach my bank accounts to it (I was using a credit card only) and to re-send them my credit card number and other information. It is obviously not as secure as they say. I now use only one credit card with a low max limit. It is a visa card and they have an online system you can register with to monitor any transactions on your card. I have had no problems since. Also unlike Pay Pal this service is free to any Visa card client. Perhaps other credit card companies have a similar service.

Thanks for the warning. I have to admit I am very fearful of something like this happening to me.

Thank you very much for the warning. It is good to know Pay Pal is working. I do not have it anymore since I closed all my credit cards, and that is a problem I can not buy from internet any more, last time I was able to buy some credit cards from a pharmacy I do not have the facility to buy them here in Dominican Republic. How do you make an account with PaY Pal to have just a minimun amount? I have a debit card only. Thank you.

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by anne55 02 Oct 2010

As far as I am aware of you can set up PayPal with a confirmed checking account or debit card. I don't know if they actually require a credit card for a backup or not. It's worth a try.

by eleen 02 Oct 2010

I have linked a debit card to paypal. They have not required any credit card details as backup. I think a debit or credit card from a sellers point of view is the same thing - it is only for the buyer it would have a difference as for the one you can buy on credit - for the other you need to have a balance or an arranged overdraft facility.

by katydid 02 Oct 2010

I would be afraid to use a debit card, because it gives a direct link to your Checking account and if if got in wrong hands, your whole account could be wiped out. Ouch!!! I also under stand that a debit transaction can not be disputed like you can if a merchant makes a mistake or ships damage goods.

by eleen 02 Oct 2010

I do not know about USA banking rules but we have in the past disputed transaction going through our account via internet and it was reversed by our bank. With regards to paypal or any internet activity I am very cautious I haven't experienced problems but I regularly change my password, have not bookmarked paypal but opens it up separately and also do not subscribe to unknown sites also not using same passwords. Some time ago I've realised that I sit in front of the computer downloading and buying designs for which I did not even had time to properly file what to say embroider - I've became a computer fanatic and could no longer say my hobby was embroidery and then I made the decision that I will no longer download freebies untill I've stitched out the purchased ones ( by the way I only use the wellknown sites to buy from) and it works. I have a little black book with user names and passwords and if you can figure out what the codes mean you will probably be able to steal my life. Must say I hide the little book so good you would think it is my secret diary LOL

by eleen 02 Oct 2010

Ps I also take note of posting like this one. Have just for in case changed my password.

by eleen 02 Oct 2010

Ps I also take note of posting like this one. Have just for in case changed my password.

Kay, I had problems with Pay pal about 3 yrs ago. They cost me extra money because of their goof. I no longer deal with them. H&*

About five yrs. ago I got an Email saying PayPal needed to reaffirm my account info. Like the dummy I am, I sent it all to them. They were a bunch of crooks from another country and they cleaned out my bank account! I'm an old lady living on Social Security, the bank took pity on me and returned half of it. That month, and several after were really tight on money. I'll never forget it. Watch your transactions very carefully and report anything suspicious.

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by katydid 02 Oct 2010

That would be a nightmare11

Last summer I had a problem with it also. My charge card was charged with several charges from this. It got straightened out, thank God. Must be very careful.

Kay, Thank you for the warning. I too use pay pal especially for the embroidery designs and on ebay. It is good to know that it was caught before serious damage took place.

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by katydid 02 Oct 2010

Yes, I guess it could have been much worse, but now I am arfaid it will happen again.

thanks for the warning.

Thanks for the info, I use paypal all the time, I thought it was safer than credit card, I have had my credit card billed for stuff I didn't buy in the past, but my credit union is on to that really fast and they have got my money back for me.
Alice.

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by katydid 02 Oct 2010

Good!!

Do you download from any of those chinese sites? That could add to the problem.

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by anne55 02 Oct 2010

I won't even go to them. It isn't worth the potential problems for a few freebies. I try to stick to well-known sites and vendors. I'm hoping and praying that will keep me out of trouble!

by bevintex 02 Oct 2010

i also avoid these sites, the freebies there are not worth the hassle.

by katydid 02 Oct 2010

I don't go to these sites at all. I told Pay pal that and they explained that most likely my info came from a forwarded E-mail. You know how we get something and we pass it on. I don't know how they got my last name.

I use my paypal quite frequently. thanks for the heads up

Kay, thanks for the heads up on this one.

This same thing happened to me last year, but they actually got $$$$ from my account. I made the mistake of using the same password on my PayPal account and other things. I learned the hard way. Make sure you use different passwords for everything! I had to wait ten business days to get my money back even though I was alerted by PayPal that they suspected fraudulent activity, which I confirmed it was!

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by katydid 02 Oct 2010

Wow, I know it could have been worse.

Sorry you had to deal with this problem but was happy to hear that Pay Pal was on their toes and took care of this matter immediately.

Wow, glad they caught it! I use it for ebay and for designs.

How terrible, KatyDid ! I'm glad PayPal was on the ball and you didn't lose anything. I've always heard to keep less than $20. in PPal, just in case, but most of us have our accounts connected to checking and other bank accounts. Thanks for the heads-up !

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by teddybear117 05 Oct 2010

Sounds like a good idea but I have had a problem with PayPal where they charged me for something I never received and there were no funds in PayPal and all back up funding removed. I don't trust PayPal because of it. It was only a 'debit' card. I don't know how they can sleep at night.

Good to know, Kay as I use my paypal quite frequently.

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by katydid 02 Oct 2010

I have used it since I have had my computer, now I will be afraid this will happen again.