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PayPal and zero-dollar invoice spam

troyhunt.com

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Re: PayPal and zero-dollar invoice spam

#11

Post by magicmu »

wheaties wrote: post #5

On one hand I hate spammers and their ilk. On the other hand, I have to congratulate them on finding a neat hack around spam filters which is technically not breaking false claimant laws . The simple fix is to disable $0.00 invoices as any actual invoice for services not rendered is fraud.

It can, however, be useful to get invoices for purchases that were discounted down to $0.00. At the startup I'm with we often give new customers a $0.00 trial rate, but they still want invoices so their billing department can keep track. Of course, this billing system isn't using PayPal, but just a thought.

Re: PayPal and zero-dollar invoice spam

#13

Post by minikites »

wheaties wrote: post #5

On one hand I hate spammers and their ilk. On the other hand, I have to congratulate them on finding a neat hack around spam filters which is technically not breaking false claimant laws . The simple fix is to disable $0.00 invoices as any actual invoice for services not rendered is fraud.

What about sending out a replacement product to a customer? A given business process may be simpler if you generate a $0 invoice for replacements.

Re: PayPal and zero-dollar invoice spam

#14

Post by hluska »

minikites wrote: post #13
wheaties wrote: post #5

On one hand I hate spammers and their ilk. On the other hand, I have to congratulate them on finding a neat hack around spam filters which is technically not breaking false claimant laws . The simple fix is to disable $0.00 invoices as any actual invoice for services not rendered is fraud.

What about sending out a replacement product to a customer? A given business process may be simpler if you generate a $0 invoice for replacements.

Especially if your inventory system requires an invoice number in order to -x from inventory.

Re: PayPal and zero-dollar invoice spam

#16

Post by bhartzer »

wheaties wrote: post #5

On one hand I hate spammers and their ilk. On the other hand, I have to congratulate them on finding a neat hack around spam filters which is technically not breaking false claimant laws . The simple fix is to disable $0.00 invoices as any actual invoice for services not rendered is fraud.

I agree, but what if the invoice was $1.00 or even $25.00. It would have the same effect, which would be to get the receiver to visit their website?

Re: PayPal and zero-dollar invoice spam

#17

Post by bhartzer »

tyingq wrote: post #8

Not mentioned in the article, but paypal allows you to send a single invoice to up to 100 different email addresses with a single click. It also allows a 1-click way to email anyone that "hasn't paid" with an update.

I haven't checked, but are you able to send invoices via API?

Re: PayPal and zero-dollar invoice spam

#18

Post by tyingq »

bhartzer wrote: post #17
tyingq wrote: post #8

Not mentioned in the article, but paypal allows you to send a single invoice to up to 100 different email addresses with a single click. It also allows a 1-click way to email anyone that "hasn't paid" with an update.

I haven't checked, but are you able to send invoices via API?

https://developer.paypal.com/docs/classic/invoicing/IntroInv...

Re: PayPal and zero-dollar invoice spam

#19

Post by xentronium »

> @AskPayPal: I recommend deleting that tweet, it has your personal info

> @troyhunt: It has my email address – I get email by sharing it with people who might want to send me email!

This is golden. Hilariously incompetent tech support trying to make someone delete the tweet complaining about their spam.

Re: PayPal and zero-dollar invoice spam

#20

Post by jonknee »

overcast wrote: post #6
bluedino wrote: post #3

I wonder what the reasoning is that PayPal allows you to 'send' someone $0.00? I'm not really surprised at how terrible the support via Twitter is. I almost never use chat/email support these days with any large company-because of how useless it has become.

I've received invoices for $0.00 when receiving promotional items for projects I was a part of. Comes right in the shipping box, and I'm assuming it's an accounting requirement.

Which makes total sense when you need to consolidate inventory at the end of the month/quarter/year.
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