MasterCard MasterPass "Security Feature"
I signed up for MasterPass recently because Newegg is running a promotion (10% off your purchase with the MASTERPASS promo code if you use MasterPass for that purchase).
Today I attempted to log into my account, entered my email address, and the MasterPass website told me, "Welcome back, Candyce!"
Obviously I'm not Candyce. I was mildly alarmed, suspecting someone else had hijacked my MasterPass account, until I realized that the email address I signed up with is not the one that I was using to try to log in, although both e-mail addresses are mine.
I looked at the MasterPass FAQ, and there was nothing listed in regard to other users associating their accounts with your e-mail address. I Googled several variations of "my email address is associated with someone else's MasterPass account" to see if the interwebs were aware of any kind of widespread fraud.
Finding nothing on either avenue, I called MasterPass customer support. After going back and forth with the representative telling me I was using the wrong e-mail address to log in, while I reiterated that I know that and am wondering how someone else was able to associate their MasterPass account with my other e-mail address, the representative finally told me: this is designed as a protective measure.
Say what?
Apparently the MasterPass designers included a "feature" whereby the entry of any e-mail address that isn't associated with an existing account will result in a fictitious name being returned by the system. This is supposedly designed to deter fraudulent activity, although I can't imagine an identity thief being deterred by anything.
What did happen is this: thinking that my e-mail address was being used by someone else for nefarious purposes alarmed me, and prompted me to investigate further. According to the CS rep, this isn't the first time they've received a call similar to mine, and they're apparently investigating ways to cause less customer alarm in cases like this. However, nowhere on the MasterPass FAQ or elsewhere is MasterCard letting their customers know about this issue.
So, if you should experience something similar to this, don't be alarmed, it's just an unannounced "security feature" helping protect you from fraudulent activity. That is, unless someone else really did associate another MasterPass account with your e-mail address.
Today I attempted to log into my account, entered my email address, and the MasterPass website told me, "Welcome back, Candyce!"
Obviously I'm not Candyce. I was mildly alarmed, suspecting someone else had hijacked my MasterPass account, until I realized that the email address I signed up with is not the one that I was using to try to log in, although both e-mail addresses are mine.
I looked at the MasterPass FAQ, and there was nothing listed in regard to other users associating their accounts with your e-mail address. I Googled several variations of "my email address is associated with someone else's MasterPass account" to see if the interwebs were aware of any kind of widespread fraud.
Finding nothing on either avenue, I called MasterPass customer support. After going back and forth with the representative telling me I was using the wrong e-mail address to log in, while I reiterated that I know that and am wondering how someone else was able to associate their MasterPass account with my other e-mail address, the representative finally told me: this is designed as a protective measure.
Say what?
Apparently the MasterPass designers included a "feature" whereby the entry of any e-mail address that isn't associated with an existing account will result in a fictitious name being returned by the system. This is supposedly designed to deter fraudulent activity, although I can't imagine an identity thief being deterred by anything.
What did happen is this: thinking that my e-mail address was being used by someone else for nefarious purposes alarmed me, and prompted me to investigate further. According to the CS rep, this isn't the first time they've received a call similar to mine, and they're apparently investigating ways to cause less customer alarm in cases like this. However, nowhere on the MasterPass FAQ or elsewhere is MasterCard letting their customers know about this issue.
So, if you should experience something similar to this, don't be alarmed, it's just an unannounced "security feature" helping protect you from fraudulent activity. That is, unless someone else really did associate another MasterPass account with your e-mail address.
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