Hi, I just got this mail, wanted to confirm it real before I double pay via PayPal.
Code:
I'm very sorry, we can't process your recent order because our credit
card processing service was abruptly closed yesterday.
We've just spent about half an hour on the phone trying to figure out
what went wrong and why out account was closed without notice.
From web server logs and uncompleted transactions, it looks like
someone used our website yesterday to attempt a purchase with many
different stolen card numbers, maybe using a script to automate the
process. All were rejected. We think our credit card processing company
took notice of so many declined transactions and closed our account.
Amazingly, even though we've used this service since 2011, they are
absolutely unwilling to reopen the account, or even cancel all the
outstanding transactions with funds reserved but not yet charged. We
were specifically told the only solution is to wait until banks
automatically void all the transactions.
There is no sign any hacker broke into our server. All signs are that
someone simply used the website to try submitting the same order over
and over again with many different card numbers. Your personal
information has not been compromised.
When you clicked the button to place the order, the site looks like it
would send everything to PJRC, but in fact your browser sends your card
number and some of the order detail directly to the credit card
processing company so we never see your credit card number. An
authorization hold is then placed on your credit card. This means that
the funds are deducted from your available balance, but you do not have
an obligation to pay your credit card company for the transaction and
PJRC does not receive the funds. When we process the order we capture
the funds. This is when the authorization turns into an actual charge on
your credit card statement and PJRC receive the funds.
Because our merchant account has been closed we are unable to capture
the charge to process your order nor can we void the authorization hold.
If we don't find a solution, and so far everything we've been told is
there is no other solution, your bank will automatically cancel the
transaction in about 1 to 2 weeks. Your available credit limit will
return to normal and the end result will be as if no transaction was
made. We are incredibly frustrated by this situation.
The best option we can offer you right now is to buy from any of our
authorized distributors, or we can accept payment via PayPal.
The list of distributors can be found here:
https://www.pjrc.com/store/
To pay via PayPal
Just send payment to XXXXXX@pjrc.com - the total of your order is $XX.XX
Please be sure to include your order ID number in the Paypal comment, so
your payment can be matched to your order.
Again, I'm really sorry your order got caught up in this mess. We're
still in a state of disbelief they would close our account without any
notice and without any way to at least process or cancel the outstanding
transactions. But that's where we're at today.
Thank you for your understanding.
-XXXXX