PayPal Permanently Blocks My Purchase of Any eBay Gift Cards

LUnderWaterLlama on 25/09/2018 - 20:55
Last edited 26/09/2018 - 08:41 by 1 other user

When the 10% gift cards deal came about a few days ago, I tried buying a few of them, but I can never get to PayPal's checkout page, and eBay's "something is wrong, please try to checkout again" message keeps appearing.

When I called them then, they told me that somehow their system flags all transactions for my account regarding the gift cards, hence the rejections. When I tried to press why they flag them, they mention a variety of factors that the system does not specify, and they have no way of overriding. They recommended a 24 hr wait, which I did and when it still failed to transact, called them again today. They came up with the same answer as stated above.

I recalled many people also encountering similar problems of rejecting gift card transactions, but has anyone had PayPal customer support telling them the same reasons? This is really frustrating, being unable to take advantage of the gift card sales.

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  trustnoone on 25/09/2018 - 20:59

  Have you been hacked at any point? Or had your password compromised? I know its a bit far fetched but I think typically when hackers gain access to a paypal account they use it to buy gift cards so that when paypal gets the account back the scammers/hackers have access to a prepaid available cash, last I heard its typically sony gift cards, but could be others? Maybe wrong but just a thought that they might do it based on that for some reason.

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    UnderWaterLlama on 25/09/2018 - 21:05

    I created the account about 2 months back, and before trying to buy the gift cards I have only bought 1 other item via PayPal which only cost like $1. Other than that, I have never had any unauthorised transactions from my bank account, nor any evidence of hacking. I highly doubt that, but not a far fetched suggestion

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      Diji1 on 25/09/2018 - 21:24

      +1

      If the account is that new it's probably automated anti-fraud systems blocking you.

      Doesn't mean every new account gets blocked (presumably) but other factors add up to a risk score. Other factors can be hundreds of things from shared IPs to browser signatures. These and account age add up to a "too risky" score in your case.

      You can try doing everything to make your account look legitimate such as fill in addresses, add phone number, add bank account if you haven't already, don't use VPN.

      • 

        kahn on 25/09/2018 - 22:07

        It also helps if you tick the box that says you are not affiliated with WikiLeaks.

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  HighAndDry on 25/09/2018 - 21:48

  +1

  Second Diji1 (again, a strange feeling): New account, very few low value transactions, and then suddenly trying to buy gift cards (high value, easy to convert, etc)? Everything about that screams scammer. You fit the profile to a 'T' OP.

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    UnderWaterLlama on 25/09/2018 - 22:09

    Hmm I guess your point makes sense. But in my case, when I purchase things online I just do direct debit/credit rather than through PayPal. It is only because these gift cards require PayPal only, then I am forced to use it. I can't be the only one that does this? Then for those in similar situations, their accounts would have been permanently rejected too?

    If that is the case, then their anti fraud system has problems, which can ban even non-scammers. And there seems to be no way to reverse this ban.

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      HighAndDry on 25/09/2018 - 23:21

      No system is perfect. There will always be false positives and false negatives - it depends on where they draw the line at possibly inconveniencing real buyers, or possibly letting scammers through the net.

      Again - new account, no transactions, then suddenly a lot of high value very liquid transactions? That's way too much like a scammer. You're just the unlucky 1-in-100 who fits that pattern but isn't a scammer.

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  tumsum on 25/09/2018 - 22:28

  what payment is your paypal linked to? I can't use credit cards and get this error (i think). But the my (verified) paypal account that is linked to bank account/debit card works

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    UnderWaterLlama on 25/09/2018 - 22:39

    Linked to my debit card, but not bank account

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  penguincat on 26/09/2018 - 01:13

  Yeah same boat. I deleted my old ebay account all the errors in checkout after trying to buy one have bugged the account.
  Then I deleted my Paypal account as well. Having it suspended 2x in 3 days likely ripped all the good rating out of it.
  In the end I'd rather a something went wrong message then here have a limited function account message though.

  Some of the above posts do seem to shine a light on why I was flagged. Now it's understandable because it's so new ans shiny.

  My account is linked to 2 different bank accounts and 1 debit card. I did ask my bank about it and apparently they have teamed up with Paypal to also block risky payments. Not sure if this is actually a thing or just a 'yeah I dunno here is something now go away'. :)

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  Turd on 26/09/2018 - 09:55

  -1

  PayPal is scum. Their t&c's allow them to block you without much tangible reason