Odd question

[Emmeline]

Hi, shy writer and mostly lurker here.

I received a comment via email complimenting my Lit story and asking if they could show me their appreciation by sending me a donation via PayPal. Has anyone ever had experience with this? Does it seem as scammy as I think it does? Just wondering since I'm both naive and suspicious.

Thanks for any thoughts or advice!
Emmeline

 

[CyranoJ]

Hi, shy writer and mostly lurker here.

I received a comment via email complimenting my Lit story and asking if they could show me their appreciation by sending me a donation via PayPal. Has anyone ever had experience with this? Does it seem as scammy as I think it does? Just wondering since I'm both naive and suspicious.

Thanks for any thoughts or advice!
Emmeline

I don't really see how they could scam you just by sending you a donation via PayPal. AFAIK you give them an e-mail, they send the funds transfer and you take it from there, assuming you have a PayPal account connected to the e-mail you gave them.

I would worry more about scamming if they were trying to squeeze personal or account information out of you in some way.

 

[jsmiam]

Hi, shy writer and mostly lurker here.

I received a comment via email complimenting my Lit story and asking if they could show me their appreciation by sending me a donation via PayPal. Has anyone ever had experience with this? Does it seem as scammy as I think it does? Just wondering since I'm both naive and suspicious.

Thanks for any thoughts or advice!
Emmeline

Accept an amazon gift card. No email, nothing. They can PM you the code, doesn't have to be emailed, you don't need to give it out.

When women the world over fawn over my stories, that's wha... Wait.. Sorry, That's someone else.. ;-)

 

[KindofHere]

,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[Emmeline]

Thanks for the replies

The thought of getting money is enticing, but I think I may be too scared to take a chance.

To kindofhere why would an officer ask that lol? I'm sure there's a dirty joke in there but it's going over my head.

 

[HandsInTheDark]

naive and suspicious is a great combination. Wise as serpents and innocent as doves comes to mind.

In 3 years here I've gotten lots of complimentary mail but no one's offered money. But then I don't have a gorgeous blonde on my profile page. I probably should try that?

I think the Amazon suggestion is a good one. I wonder if Lit would be interested in hosting some sort of fully anonymous money transfer system for small (<$100) donations to authors. Then I wonder if I'd trust it...

 

[Kimikimidoll]

I got a comment saying they would pay to keep me writing (got it while I was on a hiatus), but it was more directed at Lit in general saying that the site should have an option where readers can give a little donation, like 10c in order to motivate readers or such (man, she was more concise than this lol)

I sent her a little email back thanking her and saying that it was the thought that counted, and quickly wrote the next chapter *hides face*

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Personally, I would be a little suspicious too. The only downside I see is they now have a confirmed email address tied to a PayPal account. I have no idea what they could do with that.

But as I keep absolutely no money in my PayPal account I wouldn't have any qualms about giving them the email address.

 

[Bramblethorn]

I think the Amazon suggestion is a good one. I wonder if Lit would be interested in hosting some sort of fully anonymous money transfer system for small (<$100) donations to authors. Then I wonder if I'd trust it...

It'd be nice to have an easy way for readers to tip authors, but I shudder at the thought of the work involved. As soon as you get into that territory you have to start worrying about tax reporting, money-laundering prevention, and increased risk of attacks on the site/incentive for account theft.

All those things can be managed but it's a lot of work that might be better invested elsewhere. PayPal or Patreon might be good options for individual authors.

(Me, I publish on Another Site linked from my author profile; people who want to tip me can go buy an e-book, which they occasionally do.)

 

[KindofHere]

,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[KindofHere]

,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[Emmeline]

It's an odd question, like the title of your thread.

Lol well that was a lot more simple than I was making it!

 

[t1969]

Lot of personal information can be acquired thru a confirmed email address(paypal rcvr address). So better would be the Amazon kind of option as earlier mentioned.
There are many scripted tools on web that can get information by simple email address.

 

[Emmeline]

Thanks everyone. I think I will err on the side of caution and just let it go. I'm too scared at this point to even reply lol.

 

[KindofHere]

,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[OliviaM]

Thanks everyone. I think I will err on the side of caution and just let it go. I'm too scared at this point to even reply lol.

I say take the Amazon gift card! I hope the offer of money has at least inspired you. Your story is certainly one I would have purchased as an ebook. I've had it bookmarked for a while now. Hoping to read the conclusion soon. Darn cliffhangers!

 

[Emmeline]

I say take the Amazon gift card! I hope the offer of money has at least inspired you. Your story is certainly one I would have purchased as an ebook. I've had it bookmarked for a while now. Hoping to read the conclusion soon. Darn cliffhangers!

That's awesome of you to say. Thanks, Olivia.

Sorry about those evil cliffhangers! I hope to at least get the next part posted by the end of the year. I appreciate the encouragement!

 

[Bramblethorn]

No such thing as a wise serpent, only hungry ones.

HandsInTheDark was referencing Matthew 10:16 there: "Be ye as wise as the serpent and as innocent as the dove".

No, real-life snakes aren't very intelligent*. Nor indeed are "wise old owls". But the ancients loved assigning traits to animals for the sake of poetic speech. Penguins are self-sacrificing (due to a misunderstanding of biology), fish symbolise Christianity, etc. etc.

Thanks everyone. I think I will err on the side of caution and just let it go. I'm too scared at this point to even reply lol.

If you're not comfortable giving him your own payment details, you could pick a charity and suggest he donates to that? There are plenty that sorely need it.

*Maybe for a few specialised things like sniffing out small tasty animals, but that's probably not what Matthew was getting at.