How Secure is Paypal?

Space05us · June 21, 2005, 02:46

I do not know wether or not I should trust paypal. What say ye?

Koyaanisqatsi · June 21, 2005, 02:58

Generally good, as long as you're not numb and get caught by one of the phishers...

Skanky Burns · June 21, 2005, 03:01

As secure as any other online banking service.

Jon Miller · June 21, 2005, 03:12

there is a lot of phishers

I have been caught (they look exactly like a paypal email)

so whjat I would suggest in not click on any paypal emails.. if one shows up, go to paypal by bookmark, and then check things out..

don't click ont he email

JM

Urban Ranger · June 21, 2005, 04:40

Phishers are easy to spot

They will always ask you to go to some linked site to supply your account and password because of maintenance/testing/etc

Real banks never do that, at least not through e-mail. If they lose your account information they will call you up and ask you to go down to a local branch. Something like that.

Atahualpa · June 21, 2005, 06:35

come'on do you honestly believe that paypal will send you an email to log yourself on in order to make some maintenance?
I have yet to see a company that required their customers to perform maintenance actions in their user accounts... And other claims are even more stupid.. I mean they have access to the database, they can do anything they want anyway, there is no logical reason you have to do a login!

Mr. Harley · June 21, 2005, 07:05

Paypal has one other major problem - or at least it did as of a couple of years ago. To establish an account I had to supply the number of a functioning bank account, which they credited with a couple of tiny deposits. One problem. If they are hacked, you have no protections against that account being cleaned out via wire transfer. Unlike a regular charge card, where in the US the limit is $50. I ended up using an old Credit Union Account we had less than $10 in. I WOULD NOT use my primary checking or savings account.

reds4ever · June 21, 2005, 07:12

Originally posted by Jon Miller
there is a lot of phishers

I have been caught (they look exactly like a paypal email)

so whjat I would suggest in not click on any paypal emails.. if one shows up, go to paypal by bookmark, and then check things out..

don't click ont he email

JM

Thats good advice.

Paypal is secure as long as you use the same common sense with money as you would in the 'real world'

DeathByTheSword · June 21, 2005, 07:29

paypal doesnt work for poly merc does it?

duke o' york · June 21, 2005, 07:35

Paypal took money out of my account, and all I got was this Apolyton PLUS.

Tattila the Hun · June 21, 2005, 08:33

Not lousy T-shirt?

"paypal doesnt work for poly merc does it?"

I can hire mercenaries from 'Poly? Sounds fishy. I doubt they are very efficient...

DeathByTheSword · June 21, 2005, 08:34

mercendice (sp?) i ment :P

ajbera · June 21, 2005, 10:17

I started a tiny checking account so I could link it with Paypal for eBay crap. That way, if it does get hacked it's a minor loss.

reds4ever · June 21, 2005, 10:25

Thats all I use mine for, who wants to buy a $10 item, have to write a cheque, post it, wait for it to clear before you can have your stuff.

ajbera · June 21, 2005, 10:33

Well, I want to sell a bunch of stuff, and I'd like to receive Paypal payments to my checking account, which is why I set this up. You don't need to link Paypal to a bank account if you're paying vendors/sellers.

reds4ever · June 21, 2005, 10:36

Originally posted by ajbera
Well, I want to sell a bunch of stuff, and I'd like to receive Paypal payments to my checking account, which is why I set this up. You don't need to link Paypal to a bank account if you're paying vendors/sellers.

You don't need to, I've have done it with mine in case I buy something for $100 but theres only $50 in my Paypal account, it just takes the difference straight out of my bank account.

Urban Ranger · June 21, 2005, 11:27

You can link it to a credit card account AFAIK.

Brundlefly · June 21, 2005, 11:55

Originally posted by ajbera
Well, I want to sell a bunch of stuff, and I'd like to receive Paypal payments to my checking account, which is why I set this up. You don't need to link Paypal to a bank account if you're paying vendors/sellers.

There is a threshhold of total currency sent and received, which, when exceeded, will cause them to place some restrictions on your account unless you give them bank account information. I think the amount is $300, I dont remember for sure, though...

I use my regular bank account. I know I am taking a risk, but I figure that a company like Paypal needs to make security a top priority because they must be aware just one security breach resulting in loss of customer money will ruin them..