| Q: I use PayPal to accept credit cards for my online | | | | sophisticated attempts to steal personal information |
| collectibles business. I recently received an email that | | | | through online means, Amazon, eBay, Dell Computer, |
| my PayPal account was going to expire in five days | | | | and many others have been the brunt of many such |
| if I didn't click a link in the email and give them my | | | | scams in recent years. |
| PayPal account information. Being naturally paranoid I | | | | Identity theft is what's known as a knowledge crime, |
| decided not to give this information and I'm happy to | | | | which means that the criminal doesn't have to break |
| say that my PayPal account did not expire. Was this | | | | into your house to rob you blind. If you have a bank |
| a scam? -- Brenda A. | | | | account and a social security number, you are |
| A: Be thankful that your paranoia kicked in, Brenda, | | | | susceptible to identity theft. |
| because you were about to fall victim to the scam | | | | While most people are familiar with identity theft, |
| of the week, this one aimed at the 35 million | | | | most business men and women never think about it |
| merchants and individuals who use as their online | | | | happening to them, at least on a professional level. |
| payment processor. | | | | Consider this: if a criminal can learn your business |
| The email you received was not from PayPal, but | | | | checking account number or the number of your |
| from an Internet bad guy behind a forged email | | | | company credit card, they can steal far more from |
| address using the domain. You should understand that | | | | your business than if they had simply knocked down |
| no reputable online company will ever ask you to | | | | the door and carted off your desk. |
| provide your account information. Think about it. | | | | The Internet aside, most business and personal |
| They already have this information. Why would they | | | | identity theft is still the result of stolen wallets and |
| ask you to provide it. | | | | dumpster diving. You should guard your business |
| Since I use PayPal for several of my online ventures, | | | | records closely and be very careful what you throw |
| I, too, received the email in question. The email first | | | | away. Stop and think for a moment what a criminal |
| seeks to instill fear in you by saying that your PayPal | | | | might find in the dumpster behind your office. |
| account will be closed if you do not provide personal | | | | There's a good chance that dumpster has, at various |
| information. You are then directed to open an | | | | times, contained scraps of paper with your social |
| attached executable file and enter your PayPal | | | | security number, driver's license number, credit card |
| account information and other personal information | | | | number, old ATM cards, telephone calling cards, and |
| that PayPal doesn't even require, including your social | | | | other pieces of vital business information like bank |
| security number, checking and savings account | | | | statements, invoices, and purchase orders. A |
| information, driver's license number, and other | | | | dumpster-diving thief could literally rob your business |
| personal information that can be used to clean out | | | | blind in a matter of hours. |
| your PayPal account and perhaps even steal your | | | | Here are a few ways to protect yourself from |
| identity. | | | | business and personal identity theft. |
| If you're not familiar with PayPal, it is a hugely | | | | * Never give out your first name, last name, business |
| successful, web-based company (purchased by eBay | | | | name, email address, account passwords, credit card |
| in 2002) that many online retailers and eBay sellers | | | | numbers, bank account information, PIN number, |
| use to accept electronic payments for everything | | | | social security number, or driver's license number. |
| from newsletter subscriptions to consulting services | | | | * Change your online account passwords every 30 |
| to just about any product for sale on eBay. | | | | days. Believe it or not, a hacker who steals your |
| The allure of PayPal is that it does not require the | | | | personal information can guess your online account |
| seller to have a bank merchant account through | | | | passwords in about two minutes. If your Charles |
| which to process credit cards. Anyone with a | | | | Schwab online account password is your birthday or |
| verifiable email address and bank account can use | | | | the name of your first born or family pet, count on a |
| PayPal and the service can be implemented almost | | | | hacker cracking that code faster than you can say |
| immediately after registering. | | | | 'Bill Gates.' |
| When someone places an order on a website that | | | | * Never provide personal information in response to |
| uses PayPal for online payments, that customer is | | | | an email or telephone call. Just because someone calls |
| directed to to complete the payment process using a | | | | and says they are from Dunn & Bradstreet and need |
| credit card or electronic check. The merchant can | | | | to confirm your business information does not mean |
| transfer the money collected in his PayPal account to | | | | they are really from Dunn & Bradstreet. |
| his checking account any time he likes. Since many | | | | * Never give your business credit card number over |
| larger merchants make this transfer just once a | | | | the phone to place an order with someone who has |
| week or so, their PayPal accounts are ripe for the | | | | called you unsolicited. If you are interested in what |
| picking from those who have the cunning and lack of | | | | they are selling get their number, check out their |
| ethics required to gain access. | | | | company, then call them back to place the order. |
| The shear number of PayPal customers is one reason | | | | If you think that you have become the victim of |
| it has become a popular target of scam artists trying | | | | identity theft or think someone is trying to steal your |
| to steal personal information from individuals and | | | | identity or personal information you should report |
| businesses alike. | | | | them immediately to the Federal Trade Commission. |
| Identify theft is on the rise. Thanks to the Internet | | | | You will find more information on their website at For |
| stealing someone's identity has never been easier. At | | | | more information on what to do if identity theft |
| any given moment, there are any number of Internet | | | | happens to you visit |
| thieves using all manner of high tech wizardry to steal | | | | So, if you ever receive an email from PayPal, |
| personal and business information from unsuspecting | | | | Amazon, eBay, or any other ecommerce website |
| souls, and many times they can gain access to this | | | | asking you to update your account information by |
| information simply by asking the person to provide it | | | | email you can pretty much bet the farm that it is a |
| through fraudulent means. | | | | scam. |
| The PayPal scam is just the latest in a long line of | | | | In business, as in life, a little paranoia is a good thing. |