Websites skimming your Details? (Paypal) Not So Private Anymore?

harshbdmmaster718 on 26/03/2023 - 18:59
Last edited 26/03/2023 - 19:57

I remember when Paypal was recommended to me because it keeps your payment details private, and so I thought most of your details were private as well.

At least in the past I would pay with Paypal, but before doing so enter my second email address/create an account with my second address before doing so and ordering.

This would usually mean all the spam etc would only go to the secondary email address (it has worked in the past for many places such as JB HiFi, Aliexpress, Fantastic Furniture, Etsy, Sanity, other Shopify type stores just to name a few), and the only thing I got in my main Paypal email address was the invoice from Paypal.

But recently at least now for some websites it seems that isn't the case. I will do as I have always done, but end up getting identical spam in both email inbox's.

So what's going on here? Paypal changed their T&C's? Or are some stores making an extra effort to get a bot or something to skim your Paypal email address and sign you up/target you to email subscriptions?

General Discussion

Comments

  • pharkurnell on 26/03/2023 - 20:49
    +1

    I am surprised, shocked even….
    /s

    • harshbdmmaster718 on 26/03/2023 - 22:19

      Where the camel and the bear meet under the moon….

  • Tony-Abbott on 26/03/2023 - 22:04
    -2

    Ohhh nooo, spam email……………………………………………………

  • harshbdmmaster718 on 26/03/2023 - 22:18
    +2

    Why do I always get the five head half brain responses? lol 😂

    The spam email isn't the problem. I can easily unsubscribe or mark as spam and they will all go to the spam folder.
    The problem is they got access to my personal info without me typing it in. In this example it is the email address, but it could be your phone number or address etc.
    I just want some insight about how it works, maybe there are some sellers here on ozbargain that can explain it.

    There was a similar post before about Crust Pizza not deleting their email after deleting their account, and the user had a big problem with them storing their personal info after they deleted their account. A lot of users responded and many agreed with them so I thought users here would know about this kind of stuff.

    Instead of information and answers I get the two comments above that don't make any sense lol.

    • scrimshaw on 26/03/2023 - 23:49
      +1

      Websites have been able to capture user input data even without the user clicking the Submit button for years now.

      I just want some insight about how it works, maybe there are some sellers here on ozbargain that can explain it.

      Its called "Leaky forms"

      https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2022/05/some-…

      Aussie Broadband does this, I entered my personal details just to check pricing and then exited the website without submitting any information (i.e I did not click any submit buttons).

      Later that day Aussie Broadband cold calls my mobile phone and asks if I was still interested in signing to a 100megabit broadband plan.

      There are plenty of other eCommerce platforms (e.g Shopify) that are recording keystrokes, then store your personal data so they can send you cart abandonment emails.

      If you have no intention of buying anything on Shopify stores but just want to check things out, I recommend creating a Chrome autofill profile that has fake information so that you can 1-click fill in junk information to avoid leaking your personal info.

      • harshbdmmaster718 on 27/03/2023 - 19:43

        Thanks mate.

        That is concerning, because I have had a moment once or twice where the cursor was in the wrong box and I started typing my password.

        Later that day Aussie Broadband cold calls my mobile phone and asks if I was still interested in signing to a 100megabit broadband plan.

        Friggin hell. That's like stalking lol. Like "hey we were watching you from a distance and noticed you almost filled out our form, thought you were so special so here is a call from us wondering if you want to join us??"

        Yeah I know Shopify sends those "still in your cart" emails. Also noticed that once I created one Shopify store account, next time I sign up with the same email all the details I entered just once are already filled in e.g. name, address, phone number etc with every new Shopify store.

        I recommend creating a Chrome autofill profile that has fake information

        Yeah I usually enter mostly fake info, obviously the email needs to be one of yours otherwise you can't check for updates and receive invoice etc. Didn't think to do it with autofill though. Good tip.

  • [Deactivated] on 26/03/2023 - 22:19
    +5

    Pretty sure sites have always received your paypal email address when paying. Since day one.

    • harshbdmmaster718 on 26/03/2023 - 22:21

      Ok thanks. So I guess all those other websites I bought from up until now also got my email from Paypal, they just decided to only sign me up for spam/order updates on my account address and left my paypal email alone?

      I thought it was a change on Paypal's end because it only happened for the first time for me a month or two ago.

      • [Deactivated] on 26/03/2023 - 22:24
        +2

        You'd have to ask them that.

        I used to sell stuff via paypal a decade ago and you could see the email addresses in the transaction details.

        • harshbdmmaster718 on 26/03/2023 - 22:25

          I used to sell stuff via paypal a decade ago and you could see the email addresses in the transaction details.

          Alright thanks for that info. I thought they would hide it and appear kind of like this gk*****[email protected].
          I know Paypal can require the linked email for a refund etc, in which case I thought there would be a "reveal" option on the sellers end when they start the refund process.

          • deme on 26/03/2023 - 23:48
            +2

            @harshbdmmaster718: I've used Paypal since 2000 the merchant always got your email, name, and your address (unless it wasn't shown to you when paying)

            You can have multiple emails on a paypal account though at least if you have a business one.

          • dcep on 27/03/2023 - 01:37

            @harshbdmmaster718: all my click & collect orders that were paid with paypal always had my paypal email on their sales order or invoice or whatever paper they gave to me when picking up my order.

            supercheapauto .. chemist … mitre .. etc etc.

            • harshbdmmaster718 on 27/03/2023 - 19:46

              @dcep: Alright. I don't do much C&C. Usually wait until I have enough stuff to meet minimum spend for delivery.
              Hitting a lot of no free shipping options lately though (this year) regardless of spend. Chemistwarehouse wants me to pay $10 for the cheapest shipping method no matter what the spend. So looks like I will just walk in store now it's definitely going to cost me less than $10 to get there.

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