Got hacked on PayPal somehow...

**Eric Perry** · #1 11-18-2008, 05:46 PM

So I'm out for a walk today during lunch in some GORGEOUS weather, when I get an e-mail on my BB saying I changed my e-mail address on PayPal (which I did not) and to sign in and contact them (via link provided) if I did not. I assume it's a scam and continue on my stroll, with the intent of double checking once I get back to work.

Well, I did check, and sure enough, an e-mail address was added, and several transactions were made from my account that equal about 50 bucks or so. I immediately dispute these, delete the new e-mail, change my password and security questions, and call PayPal and have them freeze my account All of the transactions were out of country. It showed conversions from dollars to euros.

I'm *assuming* PayPal will reimburse me the money, as it's clearly not of my doing. How the hell did this happen though?

Tony G · #2 11-18-2008, 05:54 PM

I'm sorry to hear this. I hate reading stories like yours. It makes me nervous about my account. I have no idea how they get into your account like that, but I'd like to know so I can keep them out of mine.

**MAJOR METAL** · #3 11-18-2008, 06:02 PM

This is very scary, I am sorry this is happening to you Eric. The most disturbing thing is how the paypal can be hooked up to your account.

**Eric Perry** · #4 11-18-2008, 06:12 PM

Thanks guys. Now I guess it's a waiting game, to see if/when PayPal addresses the issue.

After that, I'll most likely just close the account. I rarely use it anymore, and can do without the hassle.

Chunk-O-Funk · #5 11-18-2008, 06:40 PM

The same thing happen to me.

My account was inactive for a couple of months. Someone got into my paypal account, setup a checking account and made a $3000.00 transaction to that account.

I notified paypal about this. They recognized it as fraud and you would think that would be that. A couple of months pass and I get a notice of a credit card charge back for $3000.00. My account was -$3000.00 dollars. I called paypal and told them what happened. They had to "check it out" and I was told I had to wait a few days for the dispute to go through.

After the few days had passed I got a notice that the dispute was in favor of the credit card holder.

There was also some B.S. in my paypal account on how to pay off the balance. Got them back on the phone, explained the whole thing again and was passed along to someone who could actually do something about it. They were able to trace the whole thing and then zero out my balance.

Now, here is the unbelievable part. About a month or so after that whole mess I get a notice from paypal stating that I won a credit card dispute and they put $3000.00 in my account!

[slaps face] Hello,.....paypal.

From my experience all I can say is don't even bother with their online dispute section. Give them a call and ask for someone that can actually help, IIRC it was their "resolution center". Everyone else at paypal seems to be very good as sweeping problems under the rug in hopes it will just go away and someone will pay up.

BTW. When my mess was finally worked out paypal admitted to losing out on the $3000.00. It was fraud and because nobody had a clue to what was going on it was rewarded to the so called victim. (the credit card holder) If I wasn't an honest person they would have been out $6000.00.

**Eric Perry** · #6 11-18-2008, 06:46 PM

^^^ Wow! I did speak to someone from PP earlier today, but that was just to freeze my account. I was hoping the dispute would be sufficient. Maybe not? I guess I'll have to follow-through again tomorrow.

Chunk-O-Funk · #7 11-18-2008, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric618

^^^ Wow! I did speak to someone from PP earlier today, but that was just to freeze my account. I was hoping the dispute would be sufficient. Maybe not? I guess I'll have to follow-through again tomorrow.

I would definitely double check with them. More than likely those several transactions are several people who are waiting for some kind of a product to show up at their doorstep pretty soon. If they can trace those emails to your account paypal will probably be charging your account.

Relic · #8 11-18-2008, 07:02 PM

I had a friend who this very thing happened to.
I don't remember all of the details but I do recall that he was actually able to straighten it out fairly easily.
He wasn't sure how it happened either but his assumption was that it was via some sort of phishing scam, who knows.

MJ5150 · #9 11-18-2008, 07:14 PM

Got me too. They got to me through eBay. Never once did I click on a fake e-mail, follow a fake link or anything. I guess they used some kind of brute force cracker. My passwords are all pretty easy to guess.

I got an e-mail about a DVD I was supposedly selling in eBay one day, so I went online to check it out. Someone listed like 50 things for sale in my name and hacked my PayPal. I must have got to PP in time since there were no transactions. But there were some TO'ed people when I ended all the auctions early and cancelled their bids.

-Mike

MJ5150 · #10 11-18-2008, 07:18 PM

Oh hey......I wonder if those hackers stole the $1200 I sent you for your Conklin today? I sure hope not.

-Mike

**Eric Perry** · #11 11-18-2008, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ5150

Oh hey......I wonder if those hackers stole the $1200 I sent you for your Conklin today? I sure hope not.

-Mike

LOL!!! Guess the right thing to do would be send the bass out anyway, as you did pay for it. Right, Mike?

MJ5150 · #12 11-18-2008, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric618

LOL!!! Guess the right thing to do would be send the bass out anyway, as you did pay for it. Right, Mike?

Yeah, you really should. We....err....YOU can iron this out with PayPal later. Could you do next day air please? I sent a little extra to cover that expense.

-Mike

MakiSupaStar · #13 11-19-2008, 01:23 AM

ok east coaster. Never capitalize gorgeous to describe the weather.

machine gewehr · #14 11-19-2008, 03:46 AM

Always make sure no to log in from an un-protected computer.

Also make sure you got a real time protection (ESET Nod32 is awesome),perhaps a firewall too.
I was hacked 6 months ago,Nothing big though.I had no protection back then.

Good luck man.

BassChuck · #15 11-19-2008, 04:50 AM

Twice someone has gotten my credit card number from PayPal. I won't have it. And eBay is only accepting PayPal now, no money orders.... so I guess I'm done with eBay.

**Eric Perry** · #16 11-19-2008, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MakiSupaStar

ok east coaster. Never capitalize gorgeous to describe the weather.

Listen sand-dweller, back home it was in the high 20's/low 30's. Here it was 78 and sunny. For me in mid-November, that's GORGEOUS!

MakiSupaStar · #17 11-19-2008, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric618

Listen sand-dweller, back home it was in the high 20's/low 30's. Here it was 78 and sunny. For me in mid-November, that's GORGEOUS!

You're gonna have to get used to that. I realize that you might have had an epiphany that the weather her out west is better than where you came from, but if you capitalize gorgeous, I expect to see a hot chick attached to it. Don't be the noob that goes to the beach and gets a chub from the first bikini he sees. Learn to contain yourself. I can't have you coming out here to California if you're going to capitalize GORGEOUS whenever you see the sun.