Paypal security question

[crazymomof4]

I have my paypal account linked to my credit card. (so payment for items purchased on e-bay can be transfered by paypal to my crdit card)

Is this secure? Are there any cases of hackers getting to your credit card # through Paypal? Should I remove it and just use my checking account. (I opened a seperate checking account, for e-bay activity only, that I plan on keeping only a small amount of money in.)

Thanks for any advice. I'm new to e-bay, as a buyer only so far, but I have been encouraged to start "Selling my way to Disney" by what I've read here on the BB. I'm still apprehensive, though!

 

[Franne]

I haven't had any problems with paypal (I hope this doesn't give me bad luck!)
I have been using it for about 3 years now and thank goodness nothing has ever happened. I think you are safe using the credit card.
I think I would be more apprehensive about the checking acct, in fact I didn't give them this info until last year. I just felt they didn't need to know that and there may not be any help if anything happens whereas with a credit card you do. The only reason I gave it was because of the transfers of money from my paypal account. I got tired of paying the $1.50 each time for a check to be sent to me.
Franne

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Most of the time, credit cards will have more protection for you against fraud than bank accounts. I'd keep it as it is.

Personally, I would not use pay pal as a seller. I used them for a while and found them to be terrible. Had multiple instances of buyers flat out lie to get their money back, even though I had proof of delivery and pay pal still sided with the buyers every time.

 

[DMRick]

I've been happily using it for three years. I've had one charge back that was rescinded back to me. 90% of my payments are from Paypal uses, both on eBay and my website.

 

[heathrow42]

I have a little bit of 'net security knowledge (it's kinda my day job, when I'm not reading the Dis or daydreaming about moving to Disney)


Just be vigilent, don't ever think it won't happen to you.. know what's out there, ask lots of questions, and think about what you are doing everytime you enter your username and password -- think about where it is going, do you trust the pc you are using? etc.

IF YOU ARE CAUTIOUS.. using a CC on paypal is ok.. and so is having your bank account number on there.. if you want to be extra careful.. set aside a paypal only bank account and credit card -- don't use them for anything else, don't have a lot of money in them or a high credit limit.

How to be cautious:
DO NOT click on links you get in email - this includes, ebay and paypal
get out of the habit.. even if you think it really is from ebay or paypal, or your best friend's, mother's cousin in kansas who would never send you to a bad site, she just thinks those dancing kittens are so darn cute. You can live without seeing dancing kittens.. lol
DO NOT log into paypal from a publicly accessible computer (library, school, your friend's house --if you don't know how safe their PC is)
DO NOT use the same password for Ebay and paypal -- your ebay and paypal passwords (and preferably usernames too) should be completely seperate and different. They should also be different than your login/dialup/email/disboards/anything else username and password
DO NOT use file sharing programs (napster/limeware/bearshare whatever) files shared over the net often have viruses/trojans/spyware/keyloggers -- people should be far more afraid of this than of the record companies coming after them.
DO NOT download/install anything you aren't sure of or aren't sure you would trust.
If at all possible DO NOT use Microsoft Outlook to read your mail

DO use a firewall
DO use anti-virus software
DO use legitimate spyware checking software
DO make sure (atleast 1 x month) you install the latest updates and patches (go to microsoft.com and click downloads, or windows update)
DO change your passwords frequently
DO talk to your spouse/kids about keeping your computer safe (don't click links, don't open all email, don't download etc.)
DO watch your bank and credit card statements closely (every couple of days)
DO change your passwords if you think you may have given your password away to a fake site (go to the real site, by typing it in by hand)

Also.. I have noticed.. that when I get legitmate email from Paypal -- They use my full name.. First and Last.. someone who sends out a mass mailing (spam) looking to trick people into giving up their paypal info, doesn't have the info or take the time to put your first and last name in there (and they usually wouldn't have it anyway)

..and yes, paypal usernames and passwords as well as ebay ones, are commonly traded on the underground. In some cases they are more valuable than credit card numbers...

We have a *safe* computer at our house.. it is locked down very tight and it is the only pc we use for online banking/bill pay/paypal etc. We don't do online banking from work, friends or anywhere else.. if something bad ever happened I would be able to go to the bank and say "Look, I have always done my banking from this address. And someone messed with my account from this other address, see it wasn't me." That may be a little extreme.. but we're more paranoid than most because we've seen what's out there.

Heather