Interesting book 'Ekco Sounds'

[Yorkie]

I pay via paypal direct from my bank account.

I've had two scares - one an (unsuccessful) attempt by fraudsters to make thousands of pounds from purchases on my debit card, which the bank fraud detection facilities picked up. On that occasion, the bank identification procedures were so strict that I failed the fist attempt to prove that I was the genuine account holder, and I was very impressed that the system was so sophisticated that it was able to detect that three transactions didn't follow my normal pattern of spending - which from my perspective is haphazard and ranges from buying fuel for my car, meals in restaurants, B&B and hotels, paying toll road fees in France, car hire, amazon, and all sorts of sundry transactions.

The second scare was when I received a message from paypal that there had been some 'unusual activity' on my account, and for the time being, I could receive money, but not make any payments and that I should contact paypal immediately. The 'unusual activity' turned out to be me buying a sheet of Tufnol worth about five pounds on internet when on holiday in Normandy. Ordinarily, I only use paypal from home, or other UK locations, and paypal's fraud detection system didn't like that a transaction had been made from France.

I've never given a second thought to notifying my bank when I go abroad - I've used my credit card in France, Holland, Germany, Italy, Turkey, Belgium, Poland, but never for any large purchases - only such things as accommodation, meals, car hire, toll road fees, car fuel etc. Never crossed my mind that it could be a bit tricky to try to pay at an unmanned toll booth in France, with a queue of traffic tailgating me, only to have the machine spit out the card!

The two threads about my little dramas are here:

http://golbornevintageradio.co.uk/forum/...p?tid=2117&highlight=Paypal

http://golbornevintageradio.co.uk/forum/...p?tid=3665&highlight=My+Debit+Card+has+been+eaten%21

The credit card transactions I most worry about are those over the telephone. You give them your name, address, expiry date on the card, the card number, the three digit security number on the back. Seems to me that they've got all the details they need to scam your card. (Your PIN number is only used for transactions when you are present at the pint of sale). When you do transactions via paypal or trusted website with the lock symbol, at least the data is encrypted.

It doesn't keep me awake at night - the benefits have to be weighed against the risks, as in all things in life. A life lived in fear is no life at all.

In the end, time cures every problem!

Looking forward to receiving the book, and finding time to read it (whenever).