What I have come to learn about online transactions is to protect the circle that will grant access to your money. 

1. Use Paypal at all times if possible. Which means:
a. The email address linked to your Paypal must be secure, use a strong password, enable two factor authentication etc.
b. Your Paypal password must be secure, use a strong auto generated password, save it in password vault like lastpass. Which means:
 i. The email linked to your password vault lastpass must be secure and uses two factor authentication
ii. Use Google authenticator (on android or iOS) to authenticate your lastpass logins.
2. If you must use your credit card.
a. Look up the website before buying, web of trust etc.
b. Research before you buy for instance Google "getfreegreencard.com +scam" etc before buying
c. Turn on all notifications for your credit card, sms, email etc.
d. Only use it if the connection is secure.

3. Never ever do financial transactions on a PC/Device you don't trust. Struggle typing passwords in your phone if you have to, don't use some weird cybercafe computer unless you have no choice. And if you must, use the on screen keyboard.


Try and keep your transactions among the big boys, amazon, ebay, google etc. Better pay more for a product on amazon etc, rather than find out your credit card number is out there on 4chan.

My 2c.

On 18 October 2014 06:20, James Kagwe via skunkworks <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:

Peter,
I specifically do not see any risk in pre-loaded cards. I virtually leave it to run on empty until I identify something I want to buy online. Then I load money through mpesa just enough for the transaction transact and wait until such a time when I need it next. The risk is when you have a card which is perpetually loaded.

I challenge you to go for this type of card and you'll enjoy transacting online.

James

Sent from a mobile device.

On Oct 17, 2014 9:05 PM, "Peter Karunyu via skunkworks" <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:

@okech, not paranoia about death (someone once said, those who fear death are the ones who don't know where they are going after they die), but about loosing my hard earned money, money which is becoming harder to find everyday, unless I am looking for it at the wrong places.

And its ironical really, as a web application developer, I know a few of the ways credit card details can be stolen, and how I can protect myself. I certainly dont nakumatt due to the interesting flaw someone pointed out when they launched their card. I trust banks 50%, simply because they tend not to publicize security breaches on their card systems, so you really can't say who is secure or not.

Someone should do a show on 1000 ways to die in Nairobi.

On Oct 17, 2014 3:28 PM, "Okechukwu via skunkworks" <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:
If you are paranoid you shouldn't even walk out on the streets! Cars kill too many people!

./Ok3ch

On Fri, Oct 17, 2014 at 10:42 AM, Keneth Kingori via skunkworks <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:
All my paypal reload problems ended when I found freelancer.com paypal deposit service. Plus he has unbelievably good rates. Just yesterday got a paypal reload at 86ksh per dollar but I&M mpesa card got me a 93sh rate for a different purchase.

On 17 October 2014 12:07, James Kagwe via skunkworks <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:

Peter,
Have been using Nakumatt Global and its very good. I pre-load via Mpesa, exchange rate not to high and transactions go through instantly.

Have bought very many books from Amazon through this card.

rgds,
James
Sent from a mobile device.

On Oct 17, 2014 11:23 AM, "Peter Karunyu via skunkworks" <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:
I dont tie my credit card to paypal or amazon or ebay because of paranoia. Heck, I dont even use it for shopping at any local outlets.

And the other locally available pre-loaded debit cards are too much hassle, way more hassle that asking here on Skunkworks.

On Fri, Oct 17, 2014 at 11:04 AM, Okechukwu via skunkworks <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:
I always wonder, why don't you guys tie your credit cards to your paypal? Saves you a lot of typing for requesting exchanges, but then maybe, that is none of my business...

./Ok3ch

On Fri, Oct 17, 2014 at 8:47 AM, Michael Bullut via skunkworks <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:
Greetings Team,

Anybody with $20 in their PayPal account they would like to exchange for some MPesa? I need to renew my domain...

Warm regards, 

Michael Bullut.

---

Cell: +254 723 393 114.
Skype Name: Michael Bullut.

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