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eBay

If you buy or sell items on eBay, you will find tips and advice on this forum.

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Original poster

£600 stolen from paypal account

21 replies

cascade · 19/09/2008 13:27

today ive found out that someone has used my paypal account to pay for £600 worth of items off ebay. How could this have happened?
I havent used my account for over a year, how did they get my details. Luckly paypal have suspended my account due to the irregularity, and I should get the money back. I must wait for an email in the next 48hours. I have not opened any dodgy emails, so how did these people get my details/password.

OP posts:

Megglevache · 19/09/2008 13:28

That is shitty. I'm sorry to hear about that and have no knowledge but bumping for you.

Original poster

cascade · 19/09/2008 13:30

thankyou, have been crying for last hour, its made me overdrawn, been given bank charges and now no money until they hopefully, fingers crossed they put it back into my account.

OP posts:

Idobelieveinfairies · 19/09/2008 13:34

blimey that is so bad, have no idea how that can happen..i have a paypal account too that i haven't used in ages. Did you see this had happened on your statement?

I am sure someone will be along soon to give you more advice, i will keep everything crossed for you.

Original poster

cascade · 19/09/2008 13:37

my bank sent a letter in post, saying im overdrawn, thats when i found out. 5 days after the transaction. paypal did send me an email but hadnt checked it in the last couple of days. I just cant understand how they got my password to do this.

OP posts:

piratecat · 19/09/2008 13:39

god, that's awful cacade. is there anyone who might have use of your pc?

Idobelieveinfairies · 19/09/2008 13:40

HAve you informed your bank about what has happened, would they be kind enough to give back the bank charges?-its not your fault after all. It will be worth a try when you know more about what happened.

Original poster

cascade · 19/09/2008 13:43

no, only me uses the pc. bank said when the money goes back into the account they will take charges off. The bank have been really nice about it and paypal man was good and talked me through what I should do. I thought paypal was safe though thats what I dont understand.

OP posts:

Idobelieveinfairies · 19/09/2008 13:48

At least that will be sorted for you. it is very worrying how it was able to happen in the first place though.

hope it gets sorted soon.

Original poster

cascade · 19/09/2008 13:50

thanks, going now to mum and dad bank to tide me over till i get it back.

OP posts:

CarGirl · 19/09/2008 13:53

I had my ebay account hijacked on Sunday evening, fortunately ebay noticed and suspended it and it is all sorted. First thing they made me do was change my email password to a completely new and strong one before we sorted out anything else.

beanieb · 19/09/2008 13:53

Can you see what they bought? Surely you would have had the email to tell you a payment was made? Would there be any indication of who the seller was on that email?

Original poster

cascade · 19/09/2008 13:55

it was sunday evening too.

OP posts:

Original poster

cascade · 19/09/2008 13:56

no no email, and yes they made me change my password to.

OP posts:

Original poster

cascade · 19/09/2008 13:58

how did they do it though, thats what i dont get.

OP posts:

CarGirl · 19/09/2008 13:59

leak in your AVG virusware? They could have a hacking programme that runs through million of passwords in hours and guesses the right one? My password was easy, it's not anymore!

piratecat · 19/09/2008 13:59

maybe your password was like another you use, and soemhow, they found that from a less secure site?

I might go and change mine.

i do hope paypal sort this for you, it's really bad.

Original poster

cascade · 19/09/2008 14:05

thats what my dad was saying, that some fraudsters use programmes to guess peoples passwords.

OP posts:

ksld · 19/09/2008 14:07

Cascade - I had this happen to me too. Paypal spotted it themselves and emailed me to let me know. They told me I must have replied to a phishing email as their system is safe, but I am sure I did not.

So Paypal told me they were investigating the fraud and I did not need to do anything, but I told my bank as well because of overdraft charges (like you). To cut a long story short Paypal simply took the money from my account 5 days after saying the transaction was fraudulent, and 'resolved' the claim in the system with no contact with me at all. I had to speak to the bank again to get them to investigate (and did get the money back eventually). But to add insult to injury Paypal let the same transaction happen twice more and tried to get the funds from my bank again. I know this because the 3 transactions were listed on the fraud statement I had to send back to my bank. By that time I had closed my Paypal account out of fear this could happen again, and frankly I will never use them again!

Hope your story is not the same, but do keep an eye on it - maybe close that Paypal account and open another?

Original poster

cascade · 19/09/2008 14:14

as soon as this is resoved im gonna get my paypal closed. I have definitely not opened any dodgy emails, like you. How long did it take to get your money back, if you dont mind me asking. thanks

OP posts:

Original poster

cascade · 19/09/2008 14:16

They say my money is in a holding account, not sure what this is though and yes they noticed the fraud before me and emailed me.

OP posts:

ksld · 19/09/2008 14:36

Sounds same as me then - money is in a holding account means that they have taken it from your account but not given it to the fraudulent 'seller' of whatever you 'bought' on ebay. I have no idea why Paypal in my case decided not to refund the money to me. It took weeks for it all to be resolved and for me to get the first amount of money back, but that was partly because I was waiting politely for Paypal to sort it out, and didn't realise they weren't going to bother!
I changed my bank card that Paypal used as well just to be sure. Since closing my account with them I have had 3 emails saying a transaction has gone through on my account, but nothing has actually left my bank account so I have ignored these.
My advice would be to get on to your bank now or Monday at the latest. Good luck.

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