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Is it unsafe to send a stranger money?

  • 25-11-2022 5:28pm
    #1
    slither12
    Registered Users Posts: 119 ✭✭


    Excuse the title if it seems stupid but I was wondering. My friend and I were discussing this. A while back when I turned 18, I was desperate for cash around Christmas and joined a Cyberbegging page on Facebook. To my surprise, a few people donated around €40 through PayPal for some extra food and presents.

    My friend said those people were stupid to send me money as they didn't know me but I told him that even if I had malicious intentions, I couldn't have done anything. I was always under the impression that having a persons bank details (Name, IBAN, BIC) is not enough to take money from their account. Same thing with a paypal address.

    Someone did say that a direct debit could be set up but that's easily reversed. Are people too paranoid when it comes to this?



Comments

  • #2
    coylemj
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,480 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    I was always under the impression that having a persons bank details (Name, IBAN, BIC) is not enough to take money from their account.

    That is correct. In fact, if you give someone a personal cheque, all your account details are printed at the bottom and the IBAN can be generated from that data.

    Someone did say that a direct debit could be set up but that's easily reversed.

    Also correct. Jeremy Clarkson once published his IBAN number in a national newspaper and a prankster signed him up to a DD in favour of a national charity. When it was discovered, his money was refunded.

    Are people too paranoid when it comes to this?

    Yes



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