My PayPal account was hacked…

If you’re planning on donating… hold your fire.

I just found out some rather startling news. My Paypal account was hacked on October 29.

Here’s the evidence:

11/2/2008
PP-574-956-773
Unauthorized
Elijah Newton
$450.00 USD
11/2/2008

Elijah Newton
-$10.00 USD
11/2/2008
Awaiting other party’s response

Trust me, this stuff ain’t even remotely funny. It’s more than just a PITA for me. Its a crime. I will be contacting my bank tomorrow and letting them know what happened.

It was, in fact my own damned fault. I thought I would be slick and sign up for some pay per click services, where you get paid to surf websites. I guess one of them was a scam operation.

Needless to say, I’m not a happy camper right now. 😡

Update: Contacted Paypal and according to them, it’s already been flagged at fraudulent transaction and I’ll get my money back in a few days. I’m still contacting my bank tomorrow. I have to get the overcharge fees taken off. What kind of person steals from an unemployed man? It just does not make sense man…

Update #2: (Monday November 3, 2008) Went to the bank today and opened an investigation. Once it is completed it, which can take up to 30 days, I will get the money, which wasn’t not mine to begin with, returned to the bank and get my measely $30 and some change returned.

Basically, what this guy did, was rob a bank, via the internet. The money taken, wasn’t even in my account. I went way over into overdrawn status. But he won’t get caught, because it costs more to catch the guy, than it does to just write it off.

So, the lesson here is, do NOT, no matter hard it is to remember, do not use the same password everywhere.

If Barack Obama wants to do something to impress me, he could push for more aggressive laws that catch and prosecute people that do stuff like this. However, I believe that this would be wishful thinking, considering that the Government does not even have the money to properly staff the Federal Communications Commission. (I’m a Amateur Radio Operator, this is how I know…)

Update #3: Bank called today, my account is fixed. But Paypal is still reviewing. So, Hold your fire on donations.