To give somebody your bank account details to pay you by bank transfer? To somebody random who's bought something from you on ebay?
I say not, as it's only the same amount of info as you give somebody if you pay them by cheque. Mrs aracer points out that you don't give somebody random on the internet a cheque (a point I'm struggling to refute), and isn't happy.
Is it realistically possible for somebody to do something with the details you give them to make a bank transfer?
I give out my bank details to people on here if I sell something, it's never bothered me and I've had no direct debits set up I wasn't wanting.
I recall Jeremy Clarkeson made the same point in a newspaper column and posted hid details online to prove a point
I think someone signed him up for a recurring DD payment to a charity
I wouldnt give them my main account personally , i have a savings account with nowt in it and no overdraft etc that i use for this kind of thing
Not dodgy at all - I give them out all the time, it's often better fro international payments, and I insist for customers from some countries.
It's like a letterbox - tell someone your address and they can post you a latter, they can't get into your house and steal your telly...
Mrs aracer points out that you don't give somebody random on the internet a cheque (a point I'm struggling to refute), and isn't happy.
I give people the sort code, account number and my name. Never had an issue.
Mrs aracer did mention Jezza!
The strange thing is, they have a 2071 feedback rating - 1953 feedbacks received from selling, the last 3.5 years ago, and since then they've bought some stuff, but only 2 feedbacks in the last year. They claim not to have a paypal account. Just doesn't feel quite right.
did you say paypal only on the auction?
it's far more likely you'll find the money in your account one day and then whipped away again once the scam that they did to get it there is found out by the bank and they want their cash back. They won't steal from your bank a/c but you'll end up with no money.
I had this discussion with a bloke at work who wasn't happy giving his bank details over the phone to a BMW parts place, but was quite happy to send them a cheque???
I pointed out that a cheque had exactly the same info printed on it + he had also now sent this firm a copy of his signiture.
It took him about an hour to grasp the facts!!
Preclearing doesn't happen with bank transfers - but if your worried just leave it a few days before shipping.
The way the preclearing scam works is:
- You sell something for, say, £500
- Buyer says his mate owes him £1000, so his mate will send you a cheque for £1000, and you will send the buyer the goods and a cheque for £500.
- cheque from mate arrives, you put it in the bank, bank preclears it and it shows up in your account, so you send the goods and £500
- a few days later, the paper trail catches up, the £1000 cheque bounces, and you're out the goods and £500.
It's a fairly trivial amount, so not expecting to get ripped off by them reversing the payment as it's just not worth it, just concerned about identity theft etc.
Just doesn't feel quite right.
A sudden change in behaviour could indicate a hacked account?
Our organisation's bank details are on our website in case someone wants to send us money. I don't think the risk is the details, rather just waiting in case it bounces.
Its possible to set up some direct debits online without signining anything, and of course even when you do sign something the bank probably don't check the signatures. However it seems to be a relatively rare problem, perhaps because anything of note which required a D/Debit would also involve sending something somewhere, registration, relatively slow transactions etc. Any fraudulent transactions would be refunded by your bank. But would you spot small amounts trickling out your account?
Personally i've given out mine and company's account details freely for years with no problems, and I will have the details of about 200 suppliers on our system (and all their other customers will have them too) so its doesn't seem to be a big risk. As others have said anyone you pay be cheque will get the same details.
Can I have your bank details please?
I have one squillion dollars I need to move but can't because.....
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