PayPal
Verification Email Says Not Verified, Then Asked for Card PIN
- 10-21-2005
- 4
Several months ago, I was notified by a game I had played a time or two that I needed to set up a PayPal account "just in case I won big money." I had already won $1.00 and would be receiving more. I had actually used PayPal for some purchases 3 or 4 years ago with no hitch, and I tried to log in. I was informed that all old accounts had been deleted and some changes made, and that I needed to set up a new account. No problem.
I set up the new account and they sent an email saying I needed to get "verified," which consisted of them depositing a few cents in my checking account and deducting a few cents, to be sure all was working correctly. The instructions were that as soon as I saw the transaction had occurred, I needed to go to PayPal.com and enter the amounts as shown on my bank statement.
I did so, followed the rest of the instructions, and was sent a message, "I was verified."
I got busy with one thing or another and never thought much more about it. I thought I would let it build up to at least five or ten dollars, then collect. Earlier this month, I got a nasty email from PayPal telling me I did not verify my account and that if I did not do so immediately, my account would be suspended and I would not be allowed to rejoin PayPal.
Well, I thought that maybe I had done something wrong, so I started to re-verify my account, and in the course of entering my information they asked me for my bank card PIN number. The red flags really started waving. I instantly stopped supplying information and went to the "report fraud" section. I sent them an email telling them I did not feel comfortable giving out my bank card PIN number and really knew no reason they would need it. I went on to let them know I had decided to discontinue my account with PayPal for the time being. (They could keep the 1.00.)
I have not heard from them again to date. Has anyone else had this happen? I have never heard of any company asking for your bank card PIN number.
Company: PayPal
Country: USA