Some asshole

Message

peacock2121 · #76 Post by **peacock2121** » Sat Sep 13, 2008 4:37 am

Thousandaire wrote:
PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote:
Bob Juch wrote: Very good point!

PSM, if you don't have a spyware scanner, please get Sunbelt's Vipre right now!
I have Norton 360.
Ironically, if you had that Mac, you wouldn't have to worry about any of that stuff.

It's a cult!

Don't listen.

It's a cult!

PlacentiaSoccerMom · #77 Post by **PlacentiaSoccerMom** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 12:29 pm

I was checking my bank balances last night and it turns out that the
$2,001 was taken from my checking account, despite PayPal's assurance that it won't be.

I got all fired up about the whole thing, but naturally PayPal was closed. They didn't open until 6:00 a.m. so I got about two hours of sleep.

I called them again and they said that it would take about 10 days for me to get the the money back. I wondered why it would take so long when it only took them five minute to rob my bank account.

I also asked the person on the other end, what would happen to them if somebody took $2,001 out of their checking account would they be able to pay their bills?" She said no.

I had to add more to my checking account because a credit card payment is hitting Sunday night. That's the only reason I had so much sitting in my bank account because I fund from another place.

My bank is disputing the transfer hoping to shorten the time. We put a stop payment on anything going to PayPal for the next six months. I am just going to have to refrain from going on eBay for a while.

The bank recommended that I set up a checking account for PayPal accounts. The said that I should keep $1 in it and fund it when I got shopping that way thieves can't take more than $1 from me. The banker told me that he hears about similar situations to mine all of the time.

#78 Post by **Bob78164** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 1:14 pm

minimetoo26 wrote:
PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote:This person sent messages to 8 people:

Please pay attention. Its my son BDAY tomorrow and I'm looking for a good present. Let me know if you're available to ship this mac today. Dont worry about shipping I have UPS corp so I will provide you with UPS prepaid ready-to-print shipping label for overnight deliver. Thank you
That's Showtimeness-type syntax. And UPS keeps it from being mail fraud. How clever.

Loser.

But using the Internet still leaves it as wire fraud. --Bob

PlacentiaSoccerMom · #79 Post by **PlacentiaSoccerMom** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 1:17 pm

The police won't really do anything because the crime was committed across many jurisdictions.

peacock2121 · #80 Post by **peacock2121** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 1:43 pm

PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote:I was checking my bank balances last night and it turns out that the
$2,001 was taken from my checking account, despite PayPal's assurance that it won't be.

I got all fired up about the whole thing, but naturally PayPal was closed. They didn't open until 6:00 a.m. so I got about two hours of sleep.

I called them again and they said that it would take about 10 days for me to get the the money back. I wondered why it would take so long when it only took them five minute to rob my bank account.

I also asked the person on the other end, what would happen to them if somebody took $2,001 out of their checking account would they be able to pay their bills?" She said no.

I had to add more to my checking account because a credit card payment is hitting Sunday night. That's the only reason I had so much sitting in my bank account because I fund from another place.

My bank is disputing the transfer hoping to shorten the time. We put a stop payment on anything going to PayPal for the next six months. I am just going to have to refrain from going on eBay for a while.

The bank recommended that I set up a checking account for PayPal accounts. The said that I should keep $1 in it and fund it when I got shopping that way thieves can't take more than $1 from me. The banker told me that he hears about similar situations to mine all of the time.

You are correct, most people could not float that much money for 10 days. I am happy you are in the position that you can.

Bob Juch · #81 Post by **Bob Juch** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 2:05 pm

PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote:The police won't really do anything because the crime was committed across many jurisdictions.

That's why the Secret Service has jurisdiction.

TheCalvinator24 · #82 Post by **TheCalvinator24** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 2:23 pm

From my experience, the amount in question is WAY too low for the Feds to bother with it.

We have an aggressive ID Theft Task Force in Dallas County (of which I am a part). We get several cases referred to us from the Feds who won't take them on because there isn't enough money involved to make it worth their time.

Bob Juch · #83 Post by **Bob Juch** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 2:30 pm

TheCalvinator24 wrote:From my experience, the amount in question is WAY too low for the Feds to bother with it.

We have an aggressive ID Theft Task Force in Dallas County (of which I am a part). We get several cases referred to us from the Feds who won't take them on because there isn't enough money involved to make it worth their time.

The amount of each incident is low but there is obviously a widespread ID theft conspiracy going on. If I can steal $2001 from 1000 people without having to worry about being caught, I'm retiring.

PlacentiaSoccerMom · #84 Post by **PlacentiaSoccerMom** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 2:34 pm

Bob Juch wrote:
TheCalvinator24 wrote:From my experience, the amount in question is WAY too low for the Feds to bother with it.

We have an aggressive ID Theft Task Force in Dallas County (of which I am a part). We get several cases referred to us from the Feds who won't take them on because there isn't enough money involved to make it worth their time.
The amount of each incident is low but there is obviously a widespread ID theft conspiracy going on. If I can steal $2001 from 1000 people without having to worry about being caught, I'm retiring.

The police officer in Placentia told me that the Alabama police probably wouldn't do anything, because victims are not likely to travel their to testify.

I told him that I would travel to Alabama to testify because this thing has infuriated me so much.

He also said that big corporations like UPS are more likely to go after thieves in Civil Court because they have more financial resources at their disposal.

PlacentiaSoccerMom · #85 Post by **PlacentiaSoccerMom** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 2:35 pm

Paypal gave me a list of three places to report the crime:

o National Fraud Information Center: http://www.fraud.org
o Internet Crime Complaint Center: http://www.ic3.gov
o Better Business Bureau Online: http://www.bbbonline.org/

sunflower · #86 Post by **sunflower** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 2:44 pm

Wow...what a pain! I'm so sorry this happened to you!!

kayrharris · #87 Post by **kayrharris** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 3:42 pm

PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote:
Bob Juch wrote:
TheCalvinator24 wrote:From my experience, the amount in question is WAY too low for the Feds to bother with it.

We have an aggressive ID Theft Task Force in Dallas County (of which I am a part). We get several cases referred to us from the Feds who won't take them on because there isn't enough money involved to make it worth their time.
The amount of each incident is low but there is obviously a widespread ID theft conspiracy going on. If I can steal $2001 from 1000 people without having to worry about being caught, I'm retiring.
The police officer in Placentia told me that the Alabama police probably wouldn't do anything, because victims are not likely to travel their to testify.

I told him that I would travel to Alabama to testify because this thing has infuriated me so much.

He also said that big corporations like UPS are more likely to go after thieves in Civil Court because they have more financial resources at their disposal.

Come on down. You can stay with me. I'll even drive you wherever you need to go. I mean it.

christie1111 · #88 Post by **christie1111** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 4:10 pm

kayrharris wrote:
PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote:
Bob Juch wrote: The amount of each incident is low but there is obviously a widespread ID theft conspiracy going on. If I can steal $2001 from 1000 people without having to worry about being caught, I'm retiring.
The police officer in Placentia told me that the Alabama police probably wouldn't do anything, because victims are not likely to travel their to testify.

I told him that I would travel to Alabama to testify because this thing has infuriated me so much.

He also said that big corporations like UPS are more likely to go after thieves in Civil Court because they have more financial resources at their disposal.

Come on down. You can stay with me. I'll even drive you wherever you need to go. I mean it.

BBs are the best!

Kay means it and you can't get any better than that.

Don't get a BB pissed off. It isn't going to be pretty!

And seriously, if you want swampyturtles opinion, I would be happy to ask although I think you have all those types of answers as you need.

PlacentiaSoccerMom · #89 Post by **PlacentiaSoccerMom** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 7:19 pm

kayrharris wrote:
PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote:
Bob Juch wrote: The amount of each incident is low but there is obviously a widespread ID theft conspiracy going on. If I can steal $2001 from 1000 people without having to worry about being caught, I'm retiring.
The police officer in Placentia told me that the Alabama police probably wouldn't do anything, because victims are not likely to travel their to testify.

I told him that I would travel to Alabama to testify because this thing has infuriated me so much.

He also said that big corporations like UPS are more likely to go after thieves in Civil Court because they have more financial resources at their disposal.

Come on down. You can stay with me. I'll even drive you wherever you need to go. I mean it.

You are so sweet.

Seriously, if this goes to trial, I will come visit with you!

PlacentiaSoccerMom · #90 Post by **PlacentiaSoccerMom** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 7:20 pm

PayPal has processed my refund and now they are saying it's going to be 3 or 4 days until it goes back into my account.

I just feel so anxious about the whole thing.

I've told the kids that I won't be bidding on anything from eBay for a while.

sunflower · #91 Post by **sunflower** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 8:39 pm

You can use PayPal without linking it to a bank account, can't you? I have only bought a few things on ebay ever, so maybe I'm a novice, but I'm pretty sure when I get to paypal, I choose an option where I enter my credit card number instead of actually logging in to paypal (so you're still paying through paypal technically but not with a bank account). And if you use virtual card numbers, it's pretty secure (I hope).

Like I said, I might not know enough to give advice on this and it doesn't help what already happened but it might help you get back up and running with less hesitation.

peacock2121 · #92 Post by **peacock2121** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 6:08 am

Don't piss off a soccer mom.

really

PlacentiaSoccerMom · #93 Post by **PlacentiaSoccerMom** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 8:18 am

peacock2121 wrote:Don't piss off a soccer mom.

really

I really wish that I could just let this go, but I have a difficult time being a victim and I want to fight back.

I have felt physically ill since this all happened, I haven't slept very well and feel more in control of the situation by doing what I can to fight back.

MarleysGh0st · #94 Post by **MarleysGh0st** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 8:25 am

PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote:I really wish that I could just let this go, but I have a difficult time being a victim and I want to fight back.

Perfectly understandable, particularly since the authorities who should be handling this don't want to because it's not their jurisdiction or the amount involved (in this one instance of what is probably a long list of similar crimes) is too small.

PlacentiaSoccerMom · #95 Post by **PlacentiaSoccerMom** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 11:09 am

MarleysGh0st wrote:
PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote:I really wish that I could just let this go, but I have a difficult time being a victim and I want to fight back.
Perfectly understandable, particularly since the authorities who should be handling this don't want to because it's not their jurisdiction or the amount involved (in this one instance of what is probably a long list of similar crimes) is too small.

Thank you Marley.

I am making chicken soup today and trying to get back into a routine.

I am tempted to call the guy who lives at that address and yell at him, but I realize that it is not a productive choice and he may not even be involved.

gsabc · #96 Post by **gsabc** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 11:18 am

Sorry you're going through this, psm. We need to lobby the state and federal legislators to update fraud laws so that the individual state's police can investigate, and local DAs prosecute, this type of problem. Most of the laws don't cover computer fraud of most types. Bureaucrats being what they are, if it's not explicitly stated in the law, they're not willing to try and extend the current definitions.

I'm paranoid on the subject myself, thanks to GW. I check our various bank and credit card accounts every few days for unaccountable transactions. Your problem reminded me to add PayPal to that list.

ghostjmf · #97 Post by **ghostjmf** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 11:55 am

I use a virtual card to buy off of web sites. I don't use this often, though. Because I don't shop on the web often. Citi Card offers this service; so do some other card companies. Basically, you log into their card site & go for "virtual card", & they run you through the rigamarole to get one. It means typing my card # into a web site, but at least its my work site (thinks its secure; hah!) to Citi's site, which I hope is secure. Of course, you thought Pay Pal was secure, too.

It used to be that the # you got this way, which linked to your real # but wasn't it, was only good for an hour or less. (With card companies I don't have a card with, I'm told it was only good for a finite amount, which sounds like the way it should go until you find out you didn't get a virtual # that included the shipping fee, or whatever; amount limits are a bit restrictive for stuff like that.) Now its good for a month & a 1/2, which gives industrious hackers time to figure out ways to use it.

The problem with $1 debit accounts is that the fees for setting up the account at all are going to be high, I would think.

PlacentiaSoccerMom · #98 Post by **PlacentiaSoccerMom** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 1:04 pm

I sent notes to the City Council and Mayor of Hoover Alabama detailing what happened to me on Friday.

One of the City Council Members has given a copy of my letter to the Chief of Police.

cindy.wellman · #99 Post by **cindy.wellman** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 1:10 pm

Have you found out whether it was delivered or not? Did UPS have a tracking number on it?

This still sucks.

PlacentiaSoccerMom · #100 Post by **PlacentiaSoccerMom** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 1:14 pm

The seller was notified about the theft before he could ship the computer.

The thief mailed eight people asking if they could have a computer shipped overnight, so there may be other computers being shipped to the same address, that were bought on other eBay accounts.