Online shopping with Paypal or Debit?

[xeney]

Please tell me that when you logged into PayPal, you did it by typing "paypal.com" into your web browser, and not by following a link in that e-mail ... because those e-mails are usually phishing. They give you a link that looks like PayPal, but it's not, and then you enter your password and, bam, they have access to your real PayPal account.

If you followed the link in that e-mail, you should go to PayPal right now and make sure things are okay.

[cherinyc]

xeney - yes that was the first thing I had thought about, because days before I had received an email saying that PayPal need me to verify certain info. I clicked on it of course and right after signing in, I thought...this is strange, I've already verified everything, so I left the sight. 2 days later, I get this funky charge. I think you are right about someone sending emails out pretending to be PayPal.
Scary stuff!

[Bluetree]

Please tell me that when you logged into PayPal, you did it by typing "paypal.com" into your web browser, and not by following a link in that e-mail ... because those e-mails are usually phishing. They give you a link that looks like PayPal, but it's not, and then you enter your password and, bam, they have access to your real PayPal account.

If you followed the link in that e-mail, you should go to PayPal right now and make sure things are okay.

Agree. Paypal/eBay warns you not to respond to those links. I never have and have not had any problems (knock on wood). I use PayPal frequently and am very satisfied with it. I did have a few issues with stuff I bought in the past, but had it resolved on my favor when I filed claims. With over 300+ transactions as both a buyer and seller, I'm fairly confident with it --- yet I remain vigilant.

[xeney]

PayPal is not ever going to send you an e-mail asking you to verify some stuff that way. Those are phishing e-mails. Good luck getting all of that resolved.

[Eden]

Agreed - there are some very, very good phising emails out there trying to get paypal accounts. I got one once about a phone that I supposedly bought and I was completely ready to get on paypal and dispute the charge, but something seemed off about it. Turns out the email had nothing at all to do with my paypal account and was a really sophisticated attempt to gain my info. It almost took me in and I consider myself pretty saavy about that kind of thing. They made me mad and that's what almost got me. I was ready to charge right in and dispute the purchase. I'm glad I spotted the scam before I did anything.
I can't really blame paypal though, they do all that they can to make their site secure and its up to us to be sure to watch for phishers.

[texascyclist]

I use Paypal and my debit card all the time for online purchases. I have never had a problem yet....knock on wood. One option is do what my DH and I did. We opened a seperate checking account that we use only for online purchases and nothing else. We keep a very mimimum amount in that account just in case our card or number is ever stolen. We transfer funds between accounts as needed. This way it gives us a little more sense of security knowing that if someone stole our number they wouldn't get much out of it. This has worked for us for over 5 years now.

[chickwhorips]

i use paypal and my credit card online. i mainly use my AK airlines credit card (i need the miles). i haven't had any problems with either of them... knocking on wood.

being i have to order everything either online or over the phone living here i'm glad places accept either. usually if a websight accepts paypal they will have the logo sticker on their front page.

i've had those "fake" emails from 'paypa' before, i fwd them to paypal's email they have set up to try and catch the bad guys.

[uforgot]

You can actually get a debit card through paypal that acts like a charge card. You can only "charge" what is in your paypal account, but you get back 1.5% or so. This you can use on any site or in any store that takes Master Card. I like it because I can put money in my paypal account, and then when I "charge", I'm using money that's already there, not borrowing someone else.

[CyclChyk]

CheryinNY - just like Xeney stated, if you clicked on the link even for a second or two, its all the time needed for the hackers to get to your info. Even though you closed the link, the damage was done. Never click on links in emails, pop ups (if AOL users); etc. And if ever in doubt, call the company on the phone. I for one prefer to dispute/verify anything in "person" rather than via internet.

(if it wasn't for internet shopping I would never get christmas covered!)

[pooks]

I've never had an ATM or a debit card -- I have enough trouble remembering to record checks when the checkbook is open in front of me, without adding cardswipes/no checkbook into the mix.

However. I'm beginning to think it would be smart for online purchases. Thanks for the info.

And I have never clicked on any paypal or bank or credit card notice that comes to me in email. I usually don't even go to the sites to make sure there's no problem. There are so many scams I just figure if there were a prob, I'd know about it, and delete delete delete.