The post Fraud: “Buying without a PayPal account” – hardly any protection against new scams by Maria Gramsch appeared first on BASIC thinking. You can always stay up to date with our newsletter.
The consumer advice center warns of a new scam on PayPal. In the so-called “guest account scam”, criminals misuse someone else’s IBAN for online purchases.
Criminals on the Internet are primarily after one thing: the data of their potential victims. The background is usually that they want to use this data in one way or another to steal money from their potential victims.
Payment service providers are therefore particularly popular targets for phishing attacks and scams. This also applies to the online payment service PayPal, through which criminals are currently using the so-called “guest account scam”. which the consumer advice center expressly warns against.
Guest account scam: PayPal fraud
The consumer advice center reports on a case from North Rhine-Westphalia. A consumer received a payment request from PayPal, but for an old IBAN that he has not used since 2018.
It later turns out that his old IBAN was used when shopping online using the “Pay without a PayPal account” function. This is a guest payment through which PayPal offers payment by direct debit.
Users do not have to create a PayPal account for this. “PayPal plays the role of a payment processor, which is responsible for ensuring that the buyer’s payment made by direct debit or credit card is credited to the merchant’s PayPal account,” explains a PayPal spokeswoman to the consumer advice center.
PayPal leaves it relatively open with a general answer as to whether PayPal also checks that the specified IBAN also belongs to the respective person: “PayPal carries out security checks when processing payments as part of its risk management and fraud prevention measures.”
What security is there for guest payments?
But PayPal apparently only carries out identity checks when users open an account. There is nothing in the terms and conditions of the payment service for payments without a PayPal account.
The consumer advice center has therefore asked PayPal why, for example, it is not possible to block your own IBAN for guest payments if it is already stored in a PayPal account. However, the company left this question unanswered.
The consumer advice center also received no answer to the question of why PayPal does not transfer a cent amount to the specified IBAN for guest payments. This is a common means of verification when opening, as the intended purpose contains a code that is used to verify identity with PayPal.
This is how you can protect yourself from PayPal fraud
According to the consumer advice center, the “guest account scam” does not only affect PayPal. Germany tickets can also be purchased from various transport associations using any IBAN. Criminals then offer these online at reduced prices.
The scam is particularly bold because, according to the consumer advice center, there is hardly any protection for those affected. It is therefore important to enter your own IBAN as rarely as possible. Consumers should also “not leave them somewhere publicly readable”.
It is also important to check your own account transactions regularly. If you discover an unauthorized debit here, the consumer advice center advises you to take the following steps.
First of all, it is important that you object to the company’s demand in such a case. Because then no entries can be made in credit agencies such as Schufa.
You can also have the amount refunded by your bank. With a direct debit you usually have eight weeks to do this. For unauthorized debits it is even 13 months.
It is also important to file a report. If there are debt collection demands, you will have proof with the report to reject them.
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The post Fraud: “Buying without a PayPal account” – hardly any protection against new scams by Maria Gramsch appeared first on BASIC thinking. Follow us too Google News and Flipboard.
As a Tech Industry expert, I am highly concerned about the lack of protection for individuals who choose to make purchases without a PayPal account. While PayPal offers a layer of security and protection for buyers, opting to make a purchase without an account leaves individuals vulnerable to new and evolving scams.
Fraudsters are constantly finding new ways to exploit unsuspecting individuals, and without the added security measures provided by PayPal, buyers are at a higher risk of falling victim to these scams. It is crucial for consumers to be vigilant and cautious when making online purchases, especially when choosing not to use a trusted payment platform like PayPal.
I highly recommend that individuals take the necessary steps to protect themselves when making online purchases, such as using secure payment methods, avoiding unfamiliar websites, and conducting thorough research before providing any personal information or financial details. It is always better to err on the side of caution and prioritize safety and security when shopping online.
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