PayPal is one of the most popular tools for online transactions in the world. It serves millions of users to facilitating online payments and shopping. However, many people still have complained about the scams on the platform that puts doubt on its security.
However, those scams are often the result of the careless online activities of the victims. The internet is full of hackers and thugs ready to take advantage of the silly mistakes from the users. Thus, you cannot put the guard down while using PayPal to avoid scams online.
Is PayPal Safe to Buy or Sell Products?
If you are smart enough, the internet is a safe place to shop, communicate, and get the required information. The same is true for the online transactions at PayPal. It is a safe platform as long as the users follow the basic safety practices.
Tips to Avoid Scams on PayPal for Safe Transactions
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Avoid Linking Debit Card to PayPal Account
Some hacker with access to your PayPal account can clean your bank account. You will be left with no money with serious online fraud. Therefore, it is recommended to avoid using a debit card or a bank account with PayPal.
You may get a refund for fraudulent transactions after the hack. But the risk is too big to take as it may result in substantial loss. There are plenty of other ways to transfer fund on the PayPal that includes credit card and even pay after delivery for selected customers.
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Use Credit Card for Transaction
You can use credit cards to make transactions online as the merchants often have a high-risk account. The service providers will manage the dispute between the sellers and buyers. They will initiate the refund from the buyers account based on the outcome of a dispute.
Therefore, the money is safe even after the transaction. The credit card provider will accept complaints up to 60 days after the transaction. Nevertheless, you can contact PayPal for up to 180 days to register your complaint with the transaction.
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Do Not Click Links in Mails
From time to time, you will receive emails from PayPal with offers and updates. It is a common marketing practice of the company to stay in touch with the customers. However, you will find the imposters and scammers to use the same name to fool the users.
They may provide some great offers or a notification for the deactivation of the account. A link will be included that will take them to their website to steal your credentials. Therefore, you should not click on the links in emails to prevent hackers from gaining access to your data from your device.
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Check the Balance Regularly
A smart thief will not make a major transaction to avoid the attention of the user. They will make small payments from the PayPal account that may not come into notice. Over time, it will result in significant loss after numerous small transactions.
Therefore, it is important to check the account balance regularly. Call the customer executive for the smallest of transactions to avoid a major loss. They will help with a polite response to your queries irrespective of the number of times you make calls.
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Deal with Verified Merchants
Merchants get verified once they provide additional information to PayPal. You can use e the social security number, bank account or credit card number to get verified on PayPal. Therefore, the account will look more genuine to the users to trust with their money.
You should avoid the non-verified account even if they offer a better price. The risk of fraud is more in the case of these profiles. For major transactions like a used car, you should take out car finance to pay a little extra to the verified users.
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Put Detailed Information of Product
Your buyers may get confused with the vague description of the product. They are willing to trust some product from sellers they met online. Therefore, it is important to provide detailed information about the product to avoid that confusion.
Some merchants like used-car dealers can also suggest a soft search on car finance in the description section to help the buyers with heavy payments. The description will support your case against the unreasonable disputes from the buyers. You should hire the services of professional writers to upload the perfect description to attract more audience.
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Deliver to Confirmed Addresses Only
PayPal verifies some addresses based on the user’s purchase history. Similarly, you will find the address verification option in many online marketplaces to protect their sellers from online frauds. You can choose to deliver only to the confirmed address.
The addresses can also get verified through the billing address on the credit card. You should deliver the product through major postal services in the country. They will provide tracking number, signature confirmation, and delivery proof to the sender and receiver.
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Read the Red Flags
Sometimes, it is easy to notice the suspicious behaviour of fraudsters on the internet. They may provide an offer on products that will look too good to be true. Or, those people might ask for rushed delivery or payments from multiple accounts.
You should avoid the transaction if the other parties show any trait of suspicious behaviour. It is better to be safe while selling or buying online than to lose thousands of pounds. The sellers need to remain extra vigilant with their high-value products as they are targeted the most.
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Keep Records of Sales
PayPal and other online marketplaces provide a seller protection policy where the buyers can claim the product is delivered in case of a dispute. You can sign up for the service to avoid fraudulent payments and disputes. The sellers need to ship the products to the address from the transaction detail page with an instant response to the documentation request.
Conclusion
In the end, the internet is not a safe place to trust people. You need to remain attentive with your eyes on the small details to avoid scams. The financial loss can range from a few bucks to an empty bank account.
