eBay - PayPal - Identity Theft - Thieves - E-Mail
Hello ,
There is an on-going discussion , off-list , about these subjects .
Since most of us use on-line auction sites , on-line methods of payment , etc. , I thought I'd mention :
1.) All of the companies with which I have passwords , ALL say the same thing - NEVER send out your password ( or passwords ) in an e-mail message . ANY e-mail message which claims to be from the on-line company , and is asking for personal information , is a FRAUD .
2.) Turn the fraud over to the on-line company ! They WILL take action , to the best of their ability . It is their business at risk . If their customers are victimized , their business will fail . So , send a copy of the fake-message to the company .
3.) There is no connection between a person's eBay account , and that same person's PayPal account . If I am a buyer , or a seller , on eBay , and I somehow give out all of my personal information , about my eBay account , including my password ( or passwords ) . . . give all of that to a gang of thieves . . . They still can NOT access my PayPal account . Unless of course I've been EXTREMELY foolish , and I use the same password !!
4.) Personally , I have a PayPal account , accessing both a credit card of mine , and also a checking account of mine . I made VERY sure that my password for my PayPal account was very different from any other password I use . I also made sure that it was a little longer , and a little more complex , than other passwords I use . I do not think it is likely that anyone might discover my password for some on-line business . But if they did , it would not help them to access my PayPal account .
5.) Some people are nervous about giving PayPal access to their checking account . Some people are nervous about giving PayPal access to their credit card . Personally , I do NOT worry about the checking account . I know it's safe , and besides , there's not much there to steal anyway . I do have the tiniest concern about the credit card . But since PC Magazine ( World's largest circulating computer magazine ) tells me that there has not been one single verified example of passwords stolen while being transmitted , and since I would never give out my passwords to anyone , I have some sense of security .
6.) Identity theft is a serious concern . Do be careful . And remember , using your credit card inside the local convenience store , or down at the mall , or at the grocery store , is MUCH more dangerous than using it on-line !! So , keep your wits about you .
Raoul Delmare
Marysville Kansas