How do I protect myself?
 

How do I protect myself?

I want to buy non-Porsche ‘things’ online, some on a notorious auction site.
I want to protect myself and my ID.

So … my plan is to:
Start another email address, unique to this process.
I have an unused Master Card account I can use solely for this PayPal.
I will use a ‘screen name’ not related to my real name and so common to not be able to be successfully searched (Googled).
I can get a ‘Magicjack’ phone number.
My regular phone is outgoing ‘Call ID Blocked’.
I can use a P.O. Box.
I can use a company ‘drop’ for receiving shipping.
I’ll keep screen images of every on-line transaction.

What else can I do?
I want to have a ‘system’ that avoids problems.
If there is a problem, I want it easily resolved.


I’m used to on-line transactions.
I use Amazon Prime ‘One-Click’ and a very few others regularly.
Last year my card service bank called and someone had hacked my number and several million others. They charged several million $27 transactions. The bank sent me a new card overnight.
My CPA (who has POA) can see every transaction of mine as soon as it is posted – I occasionally get calls: “Did you charge…?”
I think I am reasonably well protected. Not?


I use my name here and on other Porsche forums because most everyone in this group knows my name from 40+ years of Porsche activity.
I suppose that is one of the hazards of being in business, racing and other.
If you Google my name, you get me (#4), my dad (the author, journalist, etc. #1&2+) and Mohamed Ali’s mom (Odessa Grady Clay #3).
(Cassius Marcellus Clay was my great- - - grandfather, US Senator from KY and a pre-Civil War slave owner. Senator Clay freed his slaves. My friend changed his name to gain distance from his slave-name.)
If I had known the extent of ID search today, I would have spent my life as “John Winter” or the like. :D


One thing I have just considered is to ask the card-bank to issue me a card in my ‘screen name’.
I wonder if they can do that considering ‘Homeland Security’ and all?


I think my goal here is to have a process if (when?) someone gains access to my ‘screen name’ identity, I can close-out that one and simply start a new one.
In this world of ‘everyone is identified’ (except the crooks), this may be difficult.


Please offer your suggestions and comments.

Best,
Grady

I think you have it covered. The name on the credit card may be the tough part.

Wear a condom

I think you can have temporary credit cards created. Another option is to purchase an AMEX or VISA gift card. This will not have a user name on it and the amount that can be charged is limited to the value that is placed on the card. Anyway, with the gift card option, there should not be a name attached to it.

...on your credit card.

Ask good questions of the Seller if you're buying.

Use Paypal if you're selling.

I will not put up with fraud.
It seems that this may be the norm in person-to-person commerce on the internet.
I’m just enough of a SOB that I’ll go after someone who cheats me out of $50.
It is the ‘sport’ of putting the crooks in jail.

All I want to do is to buy some used toys.
There won’t be a transaction that I can’t (financially) walk away from.
In reality, I won’t walk – I’ll fight.
I want to be armed.

I supposed I have a jaundiced view of this kind of internet commerce.
That said, I am not going to get screwed.
Those trying are going to feel real pain.



Yes, part of any transaction is to find out who the seller is.
I’m not going to buy from ‘anonymous sellers’ (crooks?).
I’ll simply explain my position and demand real information.

What are legitimate sellers afraid of?
I can see the opportunity for a seller to be scammed.
How can I address those concerns and still protect myself?
What questions should I ask?

I like the idea of gift cards but am I correct – you can’t ‘stop payment’.

I don’t have any first-hand experience (yet).
It seems the only recourse with PayPal is reversing the cc charge to them.
Only then do they take seriously an improper seller transaction.
Tell me how to deal with this.



Generally I can spot those ‘phishing’ and not engage.
I suppose some are so convincing that they can get some info from me.
(I went online about ‘home-care training’ for my housekeeper and have been besieged - in my junk-box).
The goal is the only info is ‘screen name’ related and not me.


Please keep up the (legitimate) suggestions.
Come on ‘red-beard’ and ‘techweenie’, I know you smart guys have something to offer (other than humor ).

I’m not in a hurry to do this so I have time to ‘do things right’.

Best,
Grady

I don't know why so many people seem terrified with EBay transactions.

Since I retired nine years ago, as a hobby, I go to auctions/estate sales and occasionally sell items on Ebay - as well as Craigslist. I also purchase items on both. Have NEVER had a problem.

Originally on Ebay, I only accepted money orders or personal checks. Nothing shipped till the funds cleared. Later on they made it so you HAD to use Pay-pal. So, I got a new (master card) issued by ...Pay-Pal.

Craigslist is always cash, and a meeting in a public parking lot with many people about.

If you are married, set up the on-line account (and put the new CC) in her name?

Me thinks you are over-thinking this. ;) * ..but that is just my personal experience.

Grady,

I got ripped off a few years ago on some Zeiss binoculars. There is nothing you can do after the fact, and Ebay is absolutely useless. The FBI got involved eventually and got the guy, but my $$ was gone.

The best thing IMO is to ask questions. I mean it, feel the seller out and if they're not willing to answer, or if you get a funny feeling, then walk. The seller had several thousand positive reviews. It turns out the bogus seller had hacked a legitimate Ebay account somehow.

never allow anyone to 'pull' $$ out of your bank account

use a credit card where they guarantee you for any online ID theft

Sorry, I do not have an educated response regarding "stop payment" for a gift card.

+1

I always send a message to the seller before buying anything. If they don't reply then I won't buy the item.

Grady,

You have done a very thorough job protecting yourself. Every move you've laid out is going to keep you safe. We've been buying/selling on ebay for years, more than 400 transactions. Only been burned one time and that was when I did a bank to bank transfer into a guy's account. ***don't ever do that**** it's a one way ticket. I lost $3,500 on that transaction for a 911 engine. I spoke to the fellow on the phone several times, got an address from him etc. All of it was false as I found after the fact. The phone was a throw-away. Police will do nothing for you, absolutely ZERO. Your bank can do nothing, the bank at the other end will do nothing. Your money is gone forever.

I did ruin every sale the guy had going on ebay at the time plus got his account suspended, but $3,500 disappeared for me forever.

Obviously, I'll never do that again. But I continue to buy/sell on ebay with some hard won wisdom. Besides, Grady, if someone burns you, we the Pelican Mighty will go BIBLICAL on them!!! :)

angela

The only problem I have had on E-Bay is that the condition of the part is always worse than pictured or described. But not to the level of out and out fraud.

You have covered it pretty well. As was mentioned you can get a "one time useage" AmEx card and that helps. Putting your PP account on a credit card is a must.

Just keep your eyes open and if it does not feel right, it probably isnt.

I have bigger things in life to savor, and appreciate, than if someone takes $50 from me in a bad business transaction.........you seem like a person who holds grudges, and will spend 10-50-100 hours to chase down someone who wronged you. All for what? $50

now if it is $2500-5000 that's a whole 'nother story.

I feel sorry for you, $50? That's a couple of margaritas and mexican food out for me.

Someday my friend you might figure out something called principals. I could care less if its 10c or $10,000, its best not to steal from me!

No offense, but if you guys had gotten with the program years ago, you'd realize how ridiculous these precautions sound. Ebay, paypal, your bank, and your credit card company all have means to protect you from this fraud you're so worried about.

All HAIL SCOTLAND!