Bitcoin Forum

Im able to post now in the rwgistered section. Im in desperate need of these coins and need them asap. Thx. Ill even pay 70.

I'll do a $70 moneypak for 20 BTC.

you don't keep up with the news, there a moneypak scam that is being used on all trading sites, from poker to e-currencxy sites it's happening.

Ah, thanks for the heads up.  How does it work?  I thought that as soon as a moneypak was applied to your paypal account, you were golden!

I to would like to understand the moneypak scam. Please explain.

Do not give someone your bitcoins until you have the moneypak balance withdrawn to either a pre-paid card (greendot has these as well) or a paypal account.

Just be aware that if you add funds to your paypal account, it should be to either spend them, or to send them to someone else over paypal, paypal will take actions against you if you withdraw them.

I am not aware of any balance funded with a moneypak being pulled.

Apparently, astana is the only one who keeps up on the news.  Maybe he'll enlighten the rest of us?

I got scammed with the moneypaks into paypal.  If the transactions get flagged, they can and will remove the moneypak funds from the paypal account. They will then lock the funds up until someone with a receipt contacts them.  If you are going to accept moneypak, you should demand a copy of the receipt.  Anyone buying the moneypaks legitimately will have the receipt and it should be trivial to post a private picture/scan of it somewhere.

Thanks for this imsaguy! This is good info to use in otc trading.

What if you put the balance onto a prepaid card? Sounds like the picture wouldn't be much to ask for, that should still keep it viable for buying/selling.

What transaction was flagged? Did you try and withdraw it? If so, that is why you were flagged.

Great info to know, thanks!

That might work, but I bet your Paypal accounts maintains a negative balance or is just frozen altogether until you add funding to it again.  Not worth the risk IMO.

What are you talking about? When you add balance to a prepaid card, you don't go through paypal. If you put money on paypal with a moneypak, paypal expects you to spend it, not withdraw it. Never put money on your PP account if you're just going to withdraw it!

Wait, did you mean the OP putting the balance on a prepaid card instead of a moneypak?

No.

Rule 1) NEVER USE MONEYPAKS TO FUND PAYPAL
Rule 2) NEVER USE MONEYPAKS TO FUND PAYPAL
Rule 3) Use Moneypack you receive from buyer to fund a prepaid debit card.  If at this point you are thinking about using the Money pack to fund your Paypal account see rules #1 & #2.  
Rule 4) Verify the funds are available on prepaid debit card.
Rule 5) Only after you have transfered the moneypak to your prepaid debit card and verified the balance is good do you release/transfer the time you are selling (in this case Bitcoins).


Alternate version of Rule 3 for more paranoid seller:
Rule 3) Use Moneypack you receive from buyer to fund a prepaid debit card and then immediately withdraw the entire balance as cash at an ATM before transfering goods.

Gotcha.  I didn't realize you could use a moneypak to fund a prepaid card directly.  I thought moneypaks were a paypal-only thing.  Shows how much I know.  :P

Ah I see the confusion then. 

Yeah you just need to buy a "green dot" debit card.  7-11, Walmart, most grocery stores, etc all have them.  Costs like $4 and comes with $0.00 balance.  You can fund them w/ a moneypak code. 

Little tip: If you need a really big Moneypak go to Walmart.  They can issue $1100 Moneypaks most other places only go for $250 or $500 max.

Also on a related note, the same anti-money laundering laws (US federal) that cover money orders, now cover "stored value cards" like these. I will link my post on the subject when I get home.