PayPal charge I didn't do & don't know what is -where do I go & how do I dispute this

[uniquers3]

PayPal emailed me that $150 was charged on my account for 5m chiips to Zynga Game Network.  I don't know who this is or what 5m ships is and would like to dispute it, but can't find a place on PayPal help website to dispute a charge I didn't make only to dispute a ebay charge that I made that didn't turn out right.  Where do I go and what do I do about it.

[Rach72]

Well, when i first got the Paypal notification email - i removed my backup source which was my credit card, notified the credit card company.

My Paypal stays empty for online safety until i actually buy something.

I also moved the $$$$ out of the bank account that was linked to the Paypal account - i couldn't actually cancel and remove the bank accout at the time because it stated there was a pending transaction.

So when this Zynga Game Network transaction tried to go thru my debit card account - the bank dis-honored it - it put the account  into negative status then reversed and was credited back to me and the bank waived the dis-honor fee because i had notified them that was an unauthorised payment and it was a fraud. 

So all is ok again.  Zynga got no actual money. The bank and Zynga replying to me has happened much faster than Paypal.  I still haven't heard from Paypal regarding the Unauthorised Transaction Dispute.  To others - i wouldn't just be sitting around waiting for Paypal to help you.  I know they say it takes time - but for fraud transactions - they sure don't seem to treat it urgently.

Keep in touch with your banks and credit card companies and call Zynga direct - they will void the transaction.  Keep the pressure on Zynga - let them know how many people are being affected.

[Rach72]

All this has happened over 4 days.

January 3rd to January 7th  2010,   it happened, I made a few calls, its been voided by Zynga and reversed by the bank. 

Paypal has done NOTHING  !!!!!    Says it all hey.

[momof5inri]

Glad I found this thread.  I too was robbed this weekend through Paypal.  They stole for credits on Zynga and for software downloads at Digital River.  Anyone else had the Digital River too?  I have challenged the charges with Paypal, but feel so violated.  In one day, I have found three other people in a small group forum that I belong to that were also robbed the same way.  With the amount of people that have been stolen from in the same manner and from the same companies, you would think that they would be able to trace IP addresses or something.  Shouldn't the FBI be involved at this point? 

Following your advice above, I will call Zynga as well, but was hoping to hear about Digital River too.

Thanks and good luck to you all.  I will post my progress.

[Rach72]

No one i've seen or read about so far has mentioned Digital River. So i searched the web - here's a link to another forum that talks about Digital River ( its dated in 2007 )  though.

http://www.webhostingtalk.com/showthread.php?t=629429

here's another from 2008

http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/scam-c98606.html#c326581

does this sound like them ?  I'd deal with it the same way as Zynga - call them, the bank, contact Paypal.

All that's been written in other posts.  

No idea why or if these companies have been tracked or charged.  I have not had Paypal reply back and explain why and how my account can / was  accessed so easily - they pretty much blame you and say did you give your login details to anyone, did you change passwords and s on.  

They must realise thats not the only way accounts can be used without you knowing.

[oopsydaisy]

I just received an email from PayPal yesterday (1/16) confirming an "authorized payment to Zynga Game Network" for $150.  OMG! Are you kidding me? Authorized? I didn't authorized anything! I immediately called my credit card company. Amazingly, the charge was already there, but it is still in pending status. The rep told me to call back in 2 days when the charge is confirmed.  I closed the account right away. This is the second time my credit card has been compromised in 3 weeks.  First time was a security breach at my credit card company. Now, it's paypal.  What is happening to the security of our financial information?????

I have never played any games on the Internet or even setup a Facebook account. The backup source is a new credit card which I received only 2 weeks ago.  The only purchase I made thru Internet was from EBAY for something less than $5 on 1/7.  I'm not sure who is the culprit here, the merchant, EBAY, PayPal, Zynga or some hacker? But, trust me, I'll never buy anything from EBAY or pay thru PayPal from now on.  If big companies like EBAY and PayPal can't protect me, how can I trust them ever again!!!!

[momof5inri]

After we were robbed last week, I spend three full days doing research.  Of the two companies that charged my account, Zynga games was one.  Through my research, I found hundreds of people from all over the USA, UK and Australia who were charged by them and the other company I was charged by- Digital River, going back three years.  However, it seemed they were charged through not only Paypal, but credit cards, debit cards- just about anywhere.  I filed a complaint with the FTC online.  I suggest everyone do the same, since there really is no central location to report internet crime.  Secondly, we should be posting the merchant names we dealt with through Paypal to help us find a common denominator to our thefts.  My most recent purchase through Ebay was McAfee 2010 Total Protection through Buy- how ironic.   I do not intend to let this rest until the perpetrator are caught.

[oopsydaisy]

Follow-up on my story.  I just called Zynga.  I told the rep I like to report a fraudulent charge of $150  thru PayPal. I didn't setup an account with them.  I gave them only my first name and my email address. No need to give them anything else.  They can track the charge using just your email address. 

The guy gave me a case number which I can use as reference when I call in the future.  He told me that this charge has been updated as "escalated" and will be investigated.  I also asked for his name.  I guess I did everything I can.  So, I'll call them again in 2 days and check on the status of my dispute.

[indizona]

I enjoy being part of the club...... but not this club!!  I was victimized this weekend.  Over $530 depleted from my checking account over the weekend by Zynga.  This is a HUGE scam going on and I think it is just beginning to really pick up steam.  All transactions are in a "pending status" from Saturday and I contacted Zynga today.  I also contacted my bank, Bank of America.  I have read some stories of success (mostly from people who bank with the smaller banks and credit unions) and some horror stories of not being helped at all.  One uniform theme is that Zynga doesn't appear too concerned about things and will drag their feet to resolve.  My case was not a case of my PayPal account being fleeced but I wanted to share my story here as well since this is a popular thread under the google search for Zynga and fraud or scam. 

[momof5inri]

I am sorry to hear that you too were victimized.  Have you made any online purchases lately?  Do you use any certain anti-virus software?  I had just recently purchased & Installed McAfee Total Protection. 

I am trying to find some common denominators.  Please be sure to make a report with the FTC online.  Also, file a police report with your local police department.  This helps you with your claim against the Bank and the internet company, and forces more investigation.

Good luck with your claim.

[Fojo]

It's now over 29 days since the 'pending' transaction was noted on my paypal account and so it has been cancelled and my balance has been restored so a happy ending for me!  GOod luck to everyone else with their battles