How to Protect Against PayPal Fraud

1. Type the PayPal web address (https://www.paypal.com/) in a new browser window whenever you need to access the PayPal homepage.Be sure to type the address exactly as provided. According to PayPal, typing this address manually ensures that you 'safely and securely access the PayPal website or your PayPal account.'
2. Keep your PayPal password safe. To keep your password safe, according to PayPal, 'never share your PayPal password, create a secure password, and keep your PayPal password unique.' Be sure that your PayPal password contains a blend of symbols, numbers and characters.
3. Maintain email security to avoid PayPal fraud emails. To maintain email security, according to PayPal, 'look for a PayPal Greeting, don't share personal information via email, and don't download attachments.'PayPal adds that they 'will never send an email with the greeting 'Dear PayPal User' or 'Dear PayPal Member'' and that 'real PayPal emails will address you by your first and last name or the business name associated with your PayPal account.'
4. Manage your PayPal account wisely. To do so, according to PayPal, 'don't share your account, increase your security ... become a Verified PayPal member, and look for legitimate sites.'PayPal suggests that you 'examine all privacy and security seals before doing business with a particular website and make sure they are legitimate.' Some security seals include but are not limited to VeriSign and Truste.

What Type of Bank Account Do You Need for PayPal?

Account Types
You can add either a checking or savings account based in the United States. Your bank must support ACH electronic funds transfers, the method of transfer used by PayPal; most banks do, but banks that don't cannot be linked to your PayPal account.
Reasons to Add Your Bank Account
With your bank account linked to your PayPal account, you are considered a verified user, which means you've confirmed your identity. Verified users do not have the same limits on the amount of money they can send and withdraw unverified users do. Adding a bank account gives you a backup method of payment should your PayPal balance be too low to cover a transaction or your credit card declined.
Limitations
There are limitations to the kind of bank account you can link to your PayPal account. The bank account must be in the same name as your PayPal account. It cannot be a foreign bank account, and it cannot be already linked to another PayPal account.
Adding a Bank Account
Log into your PayPal account. On the top navigation bar of the main page, go to 'Profile,' then 'Add or Edit Bank Account.' Click the yellow 'Add Bank' button and fill in the details of your bank account, including the bank routing number and account number. You can link up to eight bank accounts to your PayPal account.

How to Verify Your SSN on PayPal

1. Scan your Social Security card. Lift the scanner lid up and place your Social Security Card face-down on the scanning glass. Close the scanning lid and press the 'Scan' button on your scanner. The scanned image should appear on your computer.
2. Rotate the image of the Social Security Card if it is not horizontal or if reads backward. Most scanners come equipped with photo editing software that automatically opens your scanned documents. You can either use the 'Rotate' tool that comes with the software, or open your favorite picture editor. Save the image as 'SSN' or something that you will remember.
3. Visit PayPal.com and sign into your PayPal account. Click the 'Resolution Center' button.
4. Scroll down until you see 'Step 3: Confirm your Social Security Card.' Click 'Continue.' A new page will open.
5. Click 'Browse.' Select the location on your computer that your Social Security card is located in from the 'Look in' drop-down box. Select the scanned Social Security Card image and click 'Open.'
6. Click 'Submit.' Call PayPal's customer service number (see Resources). Tell the customer service representative that your account is limited, but you just completed the necessary steps to restore the account to good standing. The customer service representative will look at the information you entered, including the copy of your Social Security card. If all the information matches the information on your PayPal account, the customer service representative will restore your account.

How to Use PayPal Logos

1. Log in to your PayPal account.
2. Click on the 'Merchant Services' tab on the top menu.
3. Click on the 'Logo Center' link located under the 'Resources' section.
4. Click on the logo of your choice.
5. Read the 'Usage Agreement.' You are agreeing to these terms upon using the logos.
6. Choose your preferred graphic size.
7. Select all of the HTML code in the corresponding box with the cursor, then press 'CTRL' and 'C' to copy.
8. Open your website to edit the HTML, navigate to the location in the file where you want the logo to appear and press 'CTRL' and 'V' to paste the new logo code.
9. Save the changes and view the website.

How to Withdrawal Money From PayPal

1. Access your online PayPal account. Use the link supplied in Resources (below) to sign in to your account. Type in the email address you have associated with your account and the password. Click the “Log In” button to open your main accounts page – My Account Overview. Click on the “Withdraw” link located in the title bar.
2. Decide on a withdrawal method. There are three ways you can take money out of your PayPal account. Each one differs in the amount of time you need and the fee charged for using it. You will see these options along with other ways you can use your PayPal card to shop on the page you opened. If you would like to actually “get cash in your hands,” you will need to use one of the three methods. Each way is detailed in the following steps. You may want to go over all three prior to deciding, which would work best for you.
3. Move your PayPal money to your bank account. This is the only free method (of the three) to get your cash out. This one will take from three to four business days to complete. If you want to use it, simply click on the link “Withdraw funds to your bank account” that is located under “Options.”On the page that opens type in the amount of money you want, select the bank account you would like it to go to and then click on the “Continue” button. Review the information shown on the next page. If you need to make changes, select “Edit” to do so. If you want to cancel, select the button for it. Otherwise click on the “Submit” one to complete the transfer.
4. Request a check for your money. You can obtain a check for your PayPal funds for a fee of $1.50. It will take from one to two weeks to acquire this check. Click on the link provided for it that is located under “Options.”Type in the amount of cash you would like, pick the address you want it mailed to and click on the “Continue” button. Review the details on the next page. If you want to alter it, select “Edit”. If you would like to cancel, choose that button. When you are satisfied, click on “Submit” to finish.
5. Use your PayPal Debit card to get cash fast. You can instantly receive money from your account by using your debit card associated with it. There is a $1 fee from PayPal to employ this method and most often you will also be charged by the ATM you use. To apply this method, simply use your card in any acceptable ATM.

Explanation of PayPal

History
PayPal was formed in March 2000 when Confinity and X.com merged. Confinity was originally an Internet-based Palm Pilot account payment option, and X.com was a financial services company. In 2002, eBay acquired PayPal for $1.5 billion.
Function
A PayPal account can make transfers or payments from a bank account or a credit card; a recipient of a money transfer can sign up for a PayPal debit card, request a check from PayPal or transfer the funds to a bank account.
Significance
PayPal facilitates worldwide e-commerce while managing over 70 million accounts in 19 different currencies.
Warning
The impersonal nature of e-commerce creates an enhanced risk of fraud, especially because the only requirement to make a money transfer is knowledge of a user's account ID and password.
Security Options
As a protection against fraud, PayPal users now have the option to buy a $5 security key. After entering their user IDs and passwords, members are prompted to enter a six-digit security code that is recreated on the display screen of the actual key during every login attempt.

How to Send Money via PayPal

Send Money via PayPal
1. Confirm the email address of the party to whom you wish to send money via PayPal.
2. Log in to your PayPal account and make sure you have the necessary funds.
3. Click the 'Send Money' tab on your Account Overview page and choose the appropriate sub-tab, either 'Pay Anyone' or 'Pay for eBay Items.' If you choose 'Pay for eBay Items,' you will be brought to a screen that lists all your recent eBay purchases from which you can choose the one you wish to pay.
4. Enter the email address where you wish to send money, or select a previously used address from the drop-down menu.
5. Input the amount of money you want to send and select the appropriate currency in which to send it. PayPal is internationally friendly, allowing for money to be sent to over 150 countries in 16 different currencies.
6. Choose the type of payment you are making. You can send money via PayPal for eBay items, purchases from other auction sites, non-auction purchases, services received or as a cash advance not related to a purchase or service.
7. Click the 'Continue' button and review the payment details on the next page.
8. Choose a payment method other than your available PayPal funds by clicking on the 'Funding Options' link. If you don't have enough money in your PayPal account and have a bank account associated with it, you have the option of sending money from your bank account in the form of an e-check, credit card or debit card.
9. Click the 'Continue' button and add an optional message to your recipient.
10. Complete your payment by clicking on the 'Send Payment' button.
11. Check your email for a message confirming that your payment has been sent.