WWTBAM Bored

A bored member called me today because he had money stolen from Ebay/PayPal today. He may or may not tell his story later.

From what I was told by my bank, this happens all of the time and this type of theft is becoming more frequent.

I am being bossy but I would encourage everyone to:

1. Make sure that your eBay and PayPal passwords are different from each other and from all of your other passwords.

2. Think about not connecting your checking account to your PayPal account. Use a credit card because it's easier to get your money back.

3. If you must use a checking account, having a checking account just for your PayPal purchases and fund it as you spend money. Make sure that there is no overdraft protection from your savings account to this account.

Any update on your situation?

I rarely use Ebay. I just closed my Ebay account. I had to tell them 5 different times I really wanted to close it. Sheesh!

PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote:A bored member called me today because he had money stolen from Ebay/PayPal today. He may or may not tell his story later.

From what I was told by my bank, this happens all of the time and this type of theft is becoming more frequent.

I am being bossy but I would encourage everyone to:

1. Make sure that your eBay and PayPal passwords are different from each other and from all of your other passwords.

2. Think about not connecting your checking account to your PayPal account. Use a credit card because it's easier to get your money back.

3. If you must use a checking account, having a checking account just for your PayPal purchases and fund it as you spend money. Make sure that there is no overdraft protection from your savings account to this account.

Thank you for the tips.

I just closed my paypal account. I will probably leave my ebay account open, although that has been compromised more than once. Nothing of financial impact to me, thankfully.

I don't think you actually need a paypal account unless you need to accept payments (which I don't). I believe you can buy something through paypal with a credit card, without having an account, and then you can use a virtual number that will expire.

After what happened to you PSM, I no longer trust PayPal or ebay at all!!!!

I second the suggestion to link your Paypal account to a secondary bank account. I use that account to deposit eBay funds in and pay eBay fees.

That's it.

One big problem I see (as an eBay instructor) is that people click the links from the phishing emails ...

Thanks for the note. I checked my accounts, and I'm okay at the moment. I'm about to make another eBay purchase, though, so I may change a password or two.

The person in question...was me.

I did a check on my bank statement and found some suspicious activity traced to suspicious eBay selling...which I never did.

I have been working with Ebay/Paypal all day.

Thanks again to PSM for all her help. She has been fantastic.

Jason