UPDATE: I thought I’d just update this article rather than start a new post… After my complaint to DST management, DST advised that the post at the DCR was quickly removed and asked me to update my blog to say that it was quickly actioned. Ummm… so it was there? I don’t have access to that forum so I was just speculating on what I was told but that confirms it. I also found out that the person posting at the DCR forum is the same seller that was so umm… upset with me. That seller has since apologised to me but I have decided not to accept the apology. She should be apologising where she made the accusations.
Meet Betsy. She protects people from sellers that accuse others of piracy, theft and go on witch hunts. Betsy is a voodoo doll.
This email alerted me to a problem that not all is right with my paypal account and that my private details are being discussed in a forum. Some of my transactions were frozen pending an investigations by Paypal. I purchased some scrapping supplies from this person and the payment was being held by Paypal until I could give proper authority.
Hello,
I just receieved a dispute transaction email from Paypal and I’m wondering what is going on with this….I have previously read in a digital scrappers forum of this occuring with the same names and everything- and I’ve read a statement in the forums that your “daughter” is using your account to purchase items- well, CHANGE YOUR PASSWORD!!!!
I refuse to issue a refund since the items have been downloaded- and if you daughter is using your account, then it is your responsibility to repremand her and make HER pay you back. All I know is some of my items were purchased and downloaded, therefore this money is MINE- it is not my fault “someone else is using your account”- PROTECT YOUR OWN ACCOUNT AND STOP MAKING DESIGNERS PAY FOR IT!!!!
And I want to add that since these items are commercial use items- if I cannot get my $$$ back- I’d better not see you trying to use them commercially!!!!
WTF? This is an email from someone that should be on MND (mind numbing drugs).
My reply:
I’m not sure what is going on as I don’t have a daughter. My paypal account has been frozen for the moment.
It’s the middle of the night here and I can’t do anything about it.
Can you please tell me what details are being given out in what group?
It’s 1.30 am and I don’t really want to deal with this, but seeing that it involves my Paypal account and my integrity, I really should look into it if I want to sleep at all. I found that my Paypal account was frozen pending an investigation of unauthorised transactions. But how is it that my details are being told to a “digital scrappers forum”? Subsequent to a few more accusations such as:
I’m just wondering what this is all about? I know that you are the one who purchased these items and you’re saying that you didn’t make the order or ok the funds.
You downloaded the items, so in demanding you get your money back- therefore taking the items without paying- is stealing- and therefore you are a digital pirate!
Really? I’m a digital pirate? What a leap! But Betsy protects me from such accusations didn’t you know?
By then, it was getting quite late and I seriously needed sleep. My reply to the above:
As far as I can tell, Paypal has initiated a review of my transactions because they suspect unauthorised transactions and they have frozen all transactions on my paypal account, about 5 of them that I did over the weekend. The dispute is not coming from me but from paypal.
Your transaction is an authorised one and as soon as the account is unfrozen it will go through. It is 3 am here and I’m not likely to get anywhere because I am tired and because no one will answer telephones in Sydney at 3 am.
I’ll phone them in the morning to sort it out.
I don’t think that there’s any need for accusations of piracy or stealing or indeed to panic as you seem to be doing on all counts.
But I am concerned that my private details are being distributed in forums. Please advise what forums these private details are being distributed?
And then I get this admission:
There was a thread on DigiShopTalk but I cannot find it now. I was searching for it (in the store owners section) but I think they erased it because it had personal info in it.
Charming! So some store owners are giving out private customer details? I must be naive. I thought that confidential, private information remained just that - confidential, private information. So am I to understand that I am thought of as a pirate and my private information is being swapped?
Am I to understand that my private details are being made available on a forum? The type that people read?
There are two things that concern me here. Firstly, why is my private information being discussed at Digishoptalk and in what context and secondly, how did my security become so breeched that someone could access my Paypal account when there was no indication of viruses, trojans, key loggers and anything of that nature on ANY of my computers? I haven’t had any phishing emails since I stopped using ebay so that’s not it either. Believe me when I say that my income is dependent on my data and computers being secure and there is no way that I would compromise that.
Anyway… In speaking to Paypal this morning to sort out this problem (and it was sorted out, remember that Betsy protects me) it came to light that the online store can become compromised and the security is breached from the store end, not my end at all. Why do I not feel relieved at knowing this?
The people at Paypal were wonderfully helpful dealing with my problem and it was all sorted withing 15 minutes. The representative was approving transactions on line as I was talking to her.
Make what you will of it.
I can’t believe that the designer-in-question acted this way. You are owed a huge apology from this person. Perhaps a public one, if she has been mouthing off about this to anyone else. Completely unprofessional, she won’t be getting any of my business…ever.
I’m so sorry that you had to go through this, Rita): How unprofessional of the designer to send you such a mail! unbelievable!!!I hope that she quickly apologizes to you.
Well, gee, if that designer was following it at all at DST she’d have known that thread was pulled what, 2 weeks ago? She sounds just a titch wacked out, lol! Sorry she’s harassing you like this, especially when it’s based solely on a clearly faulty memory! I’m sorry, but pirating accusations should be made on just a bit more proof than that!!
I remember reading Shannon’s apology on someone who was a pirate being “outed” by a designer in the DCR. The mistake of the designer however, was that she published the pirate’s store information, which was a definite NO-NO. I think this panicked designer of yours was only referencing it and has not shared your info. If she has then she’s stupider than I thought–because after that fiasco with the pirate’s info being shared I know Shannon is keeping a closer eye on the thread in the DCR that discusses piracy.
In any case, that designer should take a HUGE dose of morphine or whatnot to calm down and apologize to you. Her response just underlines the fact of how many drama queens we have in the scrapping world.
Oh WOW! Sorry darlink, I have never had any issues with you, and only ever had 100% goodness from you. I will also tell you that I never even saw this post in the DCR either. So no idea on that one. Jeez I hope it all gets sorted. Sorry you have to deal with this crap. Un freaking believeable!