Our billing dept just received a complaint by one of our clients that we charged them $500+

The problem is the client stated it showed up on their statement as "Avid" when all of our charges go on the statements as "AvidNewMedia"

We checked the history records for this client's PayPal record with us, and not one charge has shown up that matches their complaint.

Has anyone else experienced such an issue? If so, what was the answer to the mystery, if in fact you were able to solve the issue?

Eww, that is despicable. So how did PayPal manage your issue?

I just received a very weird e-mail and I don't know whether I can believe it or not. It says I now have a limited access to my account and I have to update some information which they don't tell you which exactly before January 7 or my account gets suspended. God only knows what for.

PayPal... the saga continues.

PayPal hasn't managed the issue just yet. We're waiting for a transaction number from the client.

In regards to YOUR email.....I would check the URL that they want you to click on.

Many times they display one URL, but if you check the status bar when mousing over it, you'll find that it is infact NOT PayPal at all. This is known as "phishing."

Following the instructions of those emails, will generally lead to leaking your private PayPal details to the "phisher" thus compromising your PayPal account and funds within it.

We had a "phisher" signup with us many times (he was the one I was telling you about I believe), we always caught him, and suspended him before he could even upload a single file.

Yes, I remember your story. It was a very complicated one, but your company managed quite well to intercept him every time. Good job on that.

I already checked on the issue - it was a fraudulent e-mail. I hope your case would not compromise your business.

Best,

We took a few extra measures after learning of this charge to our client, to make sure no one had our information, and thus far, we cannot see any evidence that our acct. has been compromised.

It is still a mystery however, how the charge appeared on the client's card, when we in fact did not charge it.

I have to wonder if there may be another PayPal user, using "Avid" as their business account name.

They obviously cannot come from any of our addresses, as these need to be verified, but it would be very interesting to see how it turns out.

The more information we receive from the client, the better we will be able to handle it, and take further action (possibly legal action).

Jim and I are simply hoping that it doesn't scare the client off, and they never provide us with any info.

The email you received is a scam. Remember, all emails from PayPal are addressed to you ie 'Dear Artashes'. I'm sure that if you take a closer look, it isn't so. I receive at least 10 of these a day. I used to forward them to paypal but now am so ticked off, that I contact their host and have their account suspended.

How could the client claim that you charged them $500+ when they do not have a transaction #, and with PayPal I don't think you can just take out any amount of money from someone's paypal account without their authorization first.

Actually we don't know if they have a transaction ID or not. We're still waiting for that information. However, we don't have a showing transaction that matches the date or the amount, for that client.

Mark (or Art), if you have a link to your article about phishing, I would be very interested in reading that. I haven't been able to find it though. Must not be looking for the right thing

There actually wasn't an article. I was discussing it with Art in private, via IM.

I'm very interested in writing one however, if the right avenue for it finds me. The goal would be to reach as many people as possible.

Oh. Maybe you could write one for the HD audience. I'm sure that many besides myself would be very interested in reading what you have to say about this topic and we could all chime in with some personal experiences.

What can I say....I give to my public.

The article is in the industry forum.

I have been getting some fraudulent emails as well I got this one more then once

now the Paypal link you see there actually links to http://www.security-accounts.ws/ which if you go there you can easiyl see it's a fake. It looks a lot like PayPals OLD site.

securityaccounts.ws is one of the domains that signed up with us about 15 times. It is not a real domain.

They of course were thwarted everytime, except the first (which is when we caught them)

Guys, as far as I know payment systems NEVER email you asking to alter/confirm/whatever your details. Usually if such procedure is needed, you see a message in your member home page (after logging in). Actually, I do not remember any case that they really needed updating user´s info.

So, be careful. I receive several such emails every day from PayPal, 2Checkout, some banks. I am not ever their customer. All this is to fish out your account info, I guess you all know what for

Cheers