My PayPal got Hacked!!!

[scrapperjade]

I am SO mad! I was out for the night, and when I got back, I checked my email. Imagine my surprise to find 4 new emails from Paypal waiting for me. 2 were order confirmations, and 2 were from PayPal security (one was to verify my account, the other was to tell me they thought my account had been accessed by a 3rd party).

I went into my Paypal acct, and sure enough, there are 2 unauthorized payments... both within minutes of each other, both the same amount. I looked up the company, and guess what it is? A gaming site!!

I'm sitting here thinking that some total hacker loser with a gaming addiction is running rampant with my PayPal account (which is connected to my credit card) instead of getting a real job!

Now I have to wait 10 days to know if I can get my money back, and there is a chance that I won't. I don't even know what to do about it. I sent in a report, but I really want to just shut it down or something. It makes me nervous to keep it open now.

[Kjersti]

I'm so sorry that happened to you.

[jaylensmom]

Oh no...so sorry to hear that...I hope you are able to get your money back.

[jessica31876]

If it is with your credit card I would call them and put a freeze on any more charges on the credit card and I belive they can issue you a new card with a different number, then I would change my password on paypal and file a report with paypal, the gaming site that is charging your account and your credit card company. I know it is scary and infuriating but you will most likely get your money back. also if you use the same password on multiple sites you should change them too. It is a good idea to change the passwords periodically anyhow. Im really sorry someone did that. It really does suck.

[nikkiARNGwife]

I have been right where you are. My paypal was hacked several years ago and I had it connected to my bank account. Total nightmare..I don't use paypal anymore.

[MamaBee]

Oh no!!! I use Paypal a lot with digi purchases.... It really is sickening that people do this stuff. I just had it last week when my cc company called about fraudulently charges. I get these calls at least once a month and it's because one cc I use... well, here almost 100% (LOL)... and once a month or so I get hybrid item at brick and mortar store... so they just check to make sure that was okay... this time it was someone "testing" my card... two charges... one for 7 cents the other a $1 from out of France... the CC company closed down the card and sent me a new one...

[Darcy Baldwin]

This is why we don't have our paypal accounts tied into our bank accounts or credit cards.

Sorry, J...totally sucks, but I would definitely shut it down and get a new account or have your credit card disabled from the account to protect yourself from more fraudulent charges.

[breakingbrie]

That totally sucks!! I hope you can get the money back!!
A couple weeks ago, somone used our business debit card at an adult website. When we saw the charge on our bank statement, we called that company and explained that it wasn't our charge, and someone else used our card #, they immediately refunded the money for us, then we let the bank know, so we could cancel that card and get a new one. It's scary when that happens!!!

I hope you get your money back!

[emmasmommy]

gosh! that sucks!

[rach3975]

That stinks! I hope you get your money back.

[Gabbina]

Awww... that's horrible. So scary.
Here in Italy we have rechargeable credit card... It means I just put in my credit card like 50-100 euro per month, and that credit card is the one I use with paypal... this means even if someone hacked my paypal, I wouldn't lose much. Not sure if you have those in the States?? I love mine.

[mummytothree]

I'm so sorry Jae, that sucks!!! I really really hate losers like that the pray on innocent people!!! The last time someone here posted that they got hacked (it was back in May and I think it was Sara) I immediately went into my account and took both my bank accounts off and all my credit/bank cards. It scares me so bad to know how unsafe my $$ was, it wasn't worth it to me to keep them connected to paypal. I only shop once a month and only here so I figured it would just be easier to use my bank card here at the shoppe!!! I really really hope you get your $$ back!!!!!

[ColleenSwerb]

I read a post somewhere a little while ago about how super shady paypal is with businesses too. I closed my account that was linked to them earlier this week (we went to a joint account and never used mine anymore so it was a waste of the monthly fee), but I forgot about having my CC linked. I'm gonna go close my account right now.

I hope it works out ok for you hon!

[aggiefamily]

Get this: https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/?&...ityKey-outside

You can't use PayPal online unless you have the card that gives the code. If you don't have the card (or can't find it because your desk is a mess like mine) you have to answer a series of questions that only you would know the answers to.

I would also scan your computer really good to make sure you don't have a keylogger, trojan or malware.

Sorry this happened to you!

eta: This is why I went out and got my own bank account for PayPal. I am paid via PayPal so I transfer the money from PayPal (or go take it out at an ATM) to my bank account and then transfer again to our regular bank account or savings. I rarely leave anything over $200 in the bank account. It is an extra step but what else am I going to do? I have a love/hate relationship with PayPal.

[ayaandjudah]

On no, that is absolutely horrible. I plan to go disconnect my bank account from it.

I think I'll just pay by credit card now.

HUGS

[Jenn Barrette]

I had someone hack my PayPal last year, and use $300 of my money. PayPay got the money back for me the same day and I haven't had any issues since. Good luck!

[ColleenSwerb]

Grrrrr. I'm trying to close my account (or disconnect my credit card) and it's telling me I can't do anything while there is still an authorization pending. Except there are no authorizations pending. So wtf?! ::sigh::

[Sarah8914]

Is it easy to disconnect your bank acct? and can you just reconnect it any time?

[4noisyboys]

mine is connected to my checking/bank card account right now. I just went in and tried to remove it, but I have a few things pending so I have to wait a few days. How do you put money in your paypal account then if you're not connected to an account?

[ayaandjudah]

Originally Posted by ColleenSwerb

Grrrrr. I'm trying to close my account (or disconnect my credit card) and it's telling me I can't do anything while there is still an authorization pending. Except there are no authorizations pending. So wtf?! ::sigh::

Colleen, I got the same thing and I KNOW there is nothing pending. Luckily that account has under $100.00 in it.

[kscwgirl]

yes, get that key that amanda linked you. That's what I got after mine was hacked back in May and it's worked great ever since.

So sorry Jae, I know how you feel!!!

[ColleenSwerb]

Originally Posted by ayaandjudah

Colleen, I got the same thing and I KNOW there is nothing pending. Luckily that account has under $100.00 in it.

Well it's not that big a deal for me, it's just obnoxious. The checking account it's linked to has been closed, and the credit card it has on file expired like 2 years ago. Goes to show how long it's been since I used paypal, lol.

I would just prefer to no longer have an account. I tried using their "contact us" link and picking an email subject, and that's a joke. So I'll have to call them. And right now I don't care enough to do that.

[scrapperjade]

How does the key work (if you get the actual, real key)... do you have to buy a new key every time it needs to give you a new number or does it do it automatically?

And I've called my CC company and had my card cancelled and switched to a new number...

Does anyone know if/how I can make my PP account have say $50 in it, and not overflow extra charges onto my CC or bank account? KWIM? I can't figure that out.

[profiler_mar]

Oh NO! So sorry Jayden! I am definitely going to look into a seperate bank account now for my PayPal!

[HeatherKS]

Oh no! That stinks! Hope you can get it all worked out!

[Melissa Bennett]

I signed up for the security key to be sent to my cell phone. There is no charge that way and with unlimited texting on my account it is totally free.

[Lyd]

I signed up for the security key too. I do the free one. Everytime I make a paypal purchase, they send me a text with the code and I have to enter it on the paypal site. Makes it so no one else could make a purchase unless they've also stolen my phone.

[junebug]

mines connected to our bank account/debit card. i don't use it a lot. but this worries me. i had my WoW account hacked last month by a keylogger. maybe i should close out mine too and just use our debit card. but some places only accept paypal. and i don't have a cell phone right now (net10 phone; just ran out of days and no $$ to get another card right now) so i can't get the keylogger yet.

[melmos75]

Originally Posted by ColleenSwerb

Grrrrr. I'm trying to close my account (or disconnect my credit card) and it's telling me I can't do anything while there is still an authorization pending. Except there are no authorizations pending. So wtf?! ::sigh::

Col - This is just a guess, but do you have a subscriptions that are paid via paypal that would automatically come out when the subscription runs out (such as Clickin Moms)? I wonder if they consider this a pending authorization?

[Milmomma]

That really sucks, sorry. I hope they will help you with everything quickly. I tried looking into the keylogger, but we are stationed overseas so cell phone idea is out, and most of our purchases are under 5$ from paypal, I hate to pay an additional 5$ each time. Maybe it would cut down our spending, lol!

[scrapperjade]

Okay I tried setting up the cell activation thing, but it's not working... it says it should only take a few seconds for the activation number to be texted to me, and it's been like 5 minutes, and nothing. Not even after I asked it to resend it. Blah!

[ColleenSwerb]

Originally Posted by melmos75

Col - This is just a guess, but do you have a subscriptions that are paid via paypal that would automatically come out when the subscription runs out (such as Clickin Moms)? I wonder if they consider this a pending authorization?

Yes, that was my thought as well. I tried looking around on CM to see if I could change it from the automatic renewal, but I couldn't find it. I may have just missed it somewhere. That's the only one it would be, is CM.

[AlliJ2008]

So sorry your account got hacked. What a great warning...I just deleted my checking account. I hope you get your $$ refunded soon!

[nikkiARNGwife]

Maybe paypal is better now about refunds and stuff, but back when mine was hacked (by a keystroke hacker) in 2006 they were HORRIBLE. Basically their attitude was like "oh well, sorry but that's just a risk you take". The guy who hacked mine bought an 1800 dollar computer from Newegg.com. I got the receipt literally the minute he did it b/c I was online. I called them within 5 minutes of the purchase and paypal refused to stop it b/c it had already been approved. I was nice to them the first few times I had to call but after 3 weeks I was livid...the ONLY reason we got our money back at all was b/c DH called Newegg FROM AFGHANISTAN b/c he was deplyed at the time and explained what had happened...they were wonderful and since the order had not been delivered yet, they cancelled it and so the money was refunded to paypal..but that is the only reason we got our hands back on our money and it took 3 months even with the refund.

So...long story short..I don't use paypal. You can totally check out at sites that only accept paypal by clicking through and just entering in your CC info per order..I won't ever link my bank acct to anything like that again. I hope they have gotten better at customer service, but once something like that happens you become very hesitant about things like that kwim? I mean 1800 dollars was a LOT of money to come right out of our bank acct.

[kscwgirl]

Originally Posted by scrapperjade

How does the key work (if you get the actual, real key)... do you have to buy a new key every time it needs to give you a new number or does it do it automatically?

And I've called my CC company and had my card cancelled and switched to a new number...

Does anyone know if/how I can make my PP account have say $50 in it, and not overflow extra charges onto my CC or bank account? KWIM? I can't figure that out.

You just press a button on it and it gives you a new number

[kscwgirl]

Also they told me 10 days too but we had our money back in like 3 days.

[scrapperjade]

Originally Posted by kscwgirl

You just press a button on it and it gives you a new number

Maybe I should order that... it's been well over an hour since I signed up for the "instant" cell phone thing, and I still haven't got a text.

[MichaelsMomJo]

The other thing people should remember when going online is password security. Many, many, many people use very simple passwords or have only a few usernames and passwords that they use for all sites. So let's say someone manages to find out one of your usernames and passwords (even to a site that has nothing to do with finances). They then go to PayPal, bank sites, etc. and start trying and are likely to get a hit somewhere. For safety reasons, it's always best to use different usernames and passwords. Make them difficult to "guess" with numbers and letters mixed together and use special symbols if the site allows. Make a habit of changing passwords at least every three months. I keep an Excel spreadsheet on my computer of my usernames and passwords for each site (the file is password protected of course ). I also print out a hard copy to keep at home. Then when I change passwords, I change the file and reprint.

I do this because my sister had the misfortune of having her online banking hacked. Her account was wiped out. Although it was covered by the bank, it did take several months for the bank to restore all the money to her account.

[Sharon Kay]

Originally Posted by aggiefamily

Get this: https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/?&...ityKey-outside

You can't use PayPal online unless you have the card that gives the code. If you don't have the card (or can't find it because your desk is a mess like mine) you have to answer a series of questions that only you would know the answers to.

I would also scan your computer really good to make sure you don't have a keylogger, trojan or malware.

Sorry this happened to you!

eta: This is why I went out and got my own bank account for PayPal. I am paid via PayPal so I transfer the money from PayPal (or go take it out at an ATM) to my bank account and then transfer again to our regular bank account or savings. I rarely leave anything over $200 in the bank account. It is an extra step but what else am I going to do? I have a love/hate relationship with PayPal.

I didn't even know this was available!!! ...so do you activate it for ebay too???

Order or activate a security key
Get security key: Order a security key or activate a PayPal or VIP (Verisign Identity Protection) token as a security key.
Activate on eBay: Use your security key on eBay.

I just changed my paypal pw ... and am ready to get a security key ... thank you so much for telling us about it!!