Need advise on accepting INTERAC EMAIL MONEY TRANSFERS

[trinkets-on-site]

Hello,

Does anyone accept INTERAC EMAIL MONEY TRANSFERS and are they safe? A customer with 0 feedbacks has just sent me a payment through this service but I've never accepted them before. I clicked the link on the email and it asks for personal information such as SIN or Credit Card Number which I never entered...I'm very leary. I called my small town bank but they never encountered them. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Nora

[youreinthebook]

Interac transfers are very safe and there is no mechanism for a buyer to initiate a chargeback against you.

Having said that, I can't tell whether the e-mail you received is safe or not. You said "it asks for personal information such as SIN or Credit Card Number". This does NOT sound like any transfer transaction I've conducted over the years. Whenever I've received a payment notification, I'm asked which major bank I want to transfer the funds to, and then I am taken to that bank's own website to complete the transaction. Also, the funds sender would have to have given you a security codeword to authenticate the transaction:

http://www.certapay.com/en/personalPayments/receive.html

Although you haven't given many details, it sounds like you might have received a phisher e-mail. I'm not saying that you have for certain or not, I'm saying based on what little information you've given that it sounds suspicious.

You should contact Interac about this and see what they say. Their phone number is available on this page:

http://www.certapay.com/en/contactUs/index.html

[trinkets-on-site]

Hello, wonderlandartifacts,

Thanks for the information. I'll call the number on the link and verify the transfer is on the up and up. I did receive a security codeword from the sender. I clicked the link and since I don't bank at any of the 5 listed it directs me to register as a new user...asks for name, address SIN or credit card information.

Thanks again, Nora

[futuretech_liquidations]

Firt of all check to see of the LINK in the email that you received is actually the link to CERTAPAYS website. Also you can call CERTAPAY to verify and see if the email and transaction number is legit.

Since they paid you via this method without you agreeing to accept this method of payment I would be very very suspicious of the email.

Secondly and most importantly, any CERTAPAY (EMT) would never ASK YOU for your SIN number and never for your CREDIT CARD number.

We accept Email Money Transfers all the time and I can tell you the process is as follows:

1. You get email notice of payment with link to click on to collect your payment.

2. when you click on the link it takes you to the CERTAPAY site and then you must pick/choose the bank you deal with from the list available.

3. Once you pick your bank, you are then automatically taken TO YOUR BANK's online website.

4. You then login using your pre-existing online banking password and user name.

5. You then enter the secret password and also choice which account you want to deposit the funds into.

6. IF all goes well and you entered the secret password your money is then deposited into your account.

THATS IT....

The email you received sounds like a FAKE/BOGUS one and you should contact CERTAPAY immediately.

Cheers,

TIM @ FTL

[trinkets-on-site]

Hello Tim, futuretech_liquidations,

Thanks for all the information. I was directed to a list of 5 banks, BMO, Royal Bank, Canada Trust, CIBC and Scotiabank. I deal with the National Bank of Canada...not on the list. There is a button "I deal with another financial institution" which asks me to register as a new user (asking for name, address SIN or credit card). I will call CERTAPAY to verify this transaction before I do anything further. I have had my credit card "Hacked" in the past and don't ever want that nightmare again.

Thanks again for all your help.
Sincerely,
Nora

[futuretech_liquidations]

Nora:

Given what you said the CERTAPAY website DOES NOT have any button called "I DEAL WITH ANOTHER INSTITUTION"

Therefore, I would assume with confidence that the email is a BOGUS / FAKE one trying to steal your account information.

You should call CERTAPAY immediately since the scammer is using there name to facilitate is crime.

Here is there contact number: Tel: 1.888.238.6433

TIM @ FTL

[recped]

According to this page on the Certapay website there IS a "I bank with another financial institution" choice.

http://www.certapay.com/en/personalPayments/receive.html
"What else could I do? I had no trade so I became a peddler" - Lazarus Greenberg 1915

[futuretech_liquidations]

OK i stand corrected but it must be a newer feature since I had not seen this option in the past.

Good to know tho!

Thanks

TIM @ FTL

[trinkets-on-site]

Hello everyone!

Thanks for all your help in this matter. I contacted my customer and let her know I was not comfortable giving my personal information in a link from an email. She immediately paid with a confirmed Pay Pal account and cancelled the INTERAC payment.

Your help was much appreciated!

Sincerely,
Nora

[funkywatch_com]

You should look into int a little more. It is easier than Paypal, the money gets deposited in the account of your choice at no cost, the fees are paid by the buyer, not you, no need to pay Paypal's insane FX rates, no chargebacks and so on. I know I would go Certapay only if it was possible...

[trinkets-on-site]

Hello funkywatch_com,

According to the email from CERTAPAY there was a $2.50 charge since my bank was not on the list. I'm still considering accepting this type of payment but will have to open a bank account with one on there list to avoid the fees.

I agree, it seems like a great way of accepting payments.

Have a great day!
Nora

[lockotronic]

word of caution, I have used EMT many many times, it's quick and fast. But there is still the risk of a stolen account. It happened to me a few times. once that happens, your bank might freeze your bank account, that means you have no access to your account. Also your email will get blacklisted by certapay, meaning you may not use the same email address to do email transfer again. CIBC spent over one year still couldn't get my account to do EMT again. Scotia bank takes a few days. So just remember: EMT is not 100% safe but is great for legit transactions.

owen

[trinkets-on-site]

Hello Owen,

Thanks for the info. Scary stuff! I think I'll just accept the same methods of payments I have in the past (PAY PAL, Money Order and Personal Cheques). The bank I deal with isn't on the CERTAPAY top 5 list and will charge $2.50 per each transaction.

Thanks again!
Nora

[javax.swing]

So open an RBC account for $4/month. Really, the EMT is the *BEST* form of payment available.