Now everything has sort of been flipped. I see many still being wary but this new phishing scam will certainly net a lot more people than usual. You receive an email claiming to be from Paypal. They don’t want you to go to a link and give up info. They want you to be extra secure. Instead go to this phone number and then update your info.

While many would roll their eyes and say definite scam, be aware that this can trick newbies to pros who let their guard down. A real beginner to Ebay and Paypal are definitely more likely to fall for it, especially if they are unaware that these companies don’t practice that sort of service.

Paypal quickly had the number disconnected but it is sadly very easy to get your hands on a local phone number that isn’t connected to any address.

Before they banned them, they slowly but surely removed auctions by sellers who even mentioned Google, and then claimed that it was html or script problems. Convenient excuse when a few have been using the same auction type for more than a year.

I’m sure there are ways around this, but it’s a pain in the neck.

Google Base allows people all over the world who speak English to post all sorts of information, from recipes to documents you want to share to ads for things you want to sell, jobs, housing, news and more.

PayPal [has] launched PayPal Website Payments Pro, a new product suite for small- and medium-sized businesses.

Website Payments Pro features three new functions: Express Checkout, Direct Payment API and Virtual Terminal. With these functions, merchants can offer shoppers more choice in how they pay for items – with their PayPal accounts, their credit cards, or by phone, fax or mail – all through PayPal, a single provider.

Express Checkout helps buyers with PayPal accounts pay for items in just three clicks on a merchant’s website. The buyer initiates and approves PayPal payment earlier in the checkout process, and shipping and billing information is sent immediately from PayPal to the merchant website.

For buyers who don’t have PayPal accounts, Direct Payment API lets merchants accept credit card transactions just as they would with traditional merchant accounts. The buyers simply enter their credit card details directly on the merchant website. Payments are processed through the PayPal system on the back end, and PayPal remains invisible to the buyers.

Website Payments Pro also includes Virtual Terminal, a new feature that supports phone, fax and mail orders by providing merchants with an online interface to manually enter credit card transactions through the PayPal system.

Link to the entire PayPal press release here.

Google just might be launching an electronic payment service that would directly compete with PayPal, which is now owned by eBay.

Observers claim that Google is developing the new service in order to boost its revenue from the online shopping market. The company is currently only able to make money from its search tool and the Froogle shopping service by selling advertisements that appear next to the results.

Link to the complete CBR Online article here.

A link to an article about Google’s payment service from SmartMoney.com is here.

And a link to an article on The Motley Fool is here.

June 22, 2005: Another article here from ITWeb.

When should you consider using an escrow service? If you’re the Buyer, you might want to employ one if the Seller can’t accept a credit card or if the value of the purchase is more than you are willing to risk losing. If you are the Seller, you might deal with a service if you want some legal recourse in case the deal goes sour after you’ve shipped the goods.

This is an absolutely great article by PC World contributing author Andrew Brandt.

The California legislature amended the state’s escrow laws. The new law makes it illegal to operate as an unlicensed escrow agent.

If any party in an escrow transaction – the Buyer, the Seller, or the escrow service – is based in California, the service needs a license. The benefit to consumers is clear: If a licensed business commits fraud, the California agency that oversees escrow companies can seize control of the business before more money is stolen. But they can do little about an unlicensed operation.

Currently there are two escrow companies fully licensed in the state of California. These are IEscrow and Escrow.com.

Let’s hope soon other states get on board with licensing escrow companies.

To read Andrew Brandt’s complete PC World article, click here.

ProPay offers a simple, safe and affordable service that gives you the ability to accept your customer’s credit and debit cards.

No special equipment is required to use ProPay and there are no complicated contracts or fees.

When you sign up for a ProPay Account you become a true merchant with a real merchant account. ProPay allows you to accept Visa, MasterCard and Discover from your customers. With ProPay you can also send and receive funds, in real-time, to/from other ProPay Accounts.

There is no application fee, monthly fee, minimum fee or cancellation fee with ProPay. There is simply an annual fee each year to be a member of ProPay. The amount of the annual fee depends on which account you select.

With ProPay you can process credit card transactions online or over the phone. You can also send your Buyers an invoice via email. This way the Buyer can pay using ProPay’s secure payment web page.

Testimonial:
ProPay is perfect for my small business. It’s so easy to use and costs way less to get started than traditional merchant accounts.

Emily from New York

CheckFree Auction Payments enables auction Sellers to accept guaranteed payments from the service that’s already used by millions of potential Buyers…CheckFree! It’s fast, easy and secure.

1. Payments received through CheckFree Auction Payments are highly secure and guaranteed.

2. There are millions of potential buyers already enrolled through CheckFree.com and ready to pay.

3. There is no need to open or pre-fund separate accounts to participate – CheckFree deposits your payment directly into your bank account.

4. Cutting edge auction tools help with your online auction business.

5. Once enrolled, you can instantly begin receiving money.

6. Brought to you by CheckFree, a brand you can trust with more than 20 years experience in the electronic payment industry.

Western Union Money Zap service is an online payment service that allows you to pay for goods and services at Western Union MoneyZap merchant partner sites using your existing checking account.

To use Western Union MoneyZap service, individuals or businesses complete a one-time registration. Registration requires you to provide your name, U.S. address, checking account information, Social Security Number, email address and home phone number.

Once you have successfully registered, you can authorize payments using your user name and password. An electronic funds transfer is initiated to debit money from your account and transfer money to the merchant.

Western Union MoneyZap service does not charge any transaction fees to individuals or businesses making payments to merchants. However, while most banks provide electronic funds transfer services free of charge, a few banks may charge a small fee for “ACH transfers.”

Western Union MoneyZap service works for most standard U.S. bank and credit union checking accounts—also known as “Demand Deposit Accounts” — with banks, savings and loans, and credit unions chartered by the U.S. or state governments. If your bank allows you to receive a direct payroll deposit, you can most likely use the Western Union MoneyZap service.

Western Union MoneyZap service is currently available only to those with a valid U.S. checking account and a U.S. address.

Do you use PayPal? If so, do you have a back up?

Here are some alternatives . . .