If a website displays a PayPal Verified Seal, you can click on that link, then you login into your PayPal and the vendor's or seller's information will be displayed. The information displayed is the vendor's email address, their status (verified) and the date the vendor's account was created. Problem is, not all website's display the PayPal Verified Seal as this is optional, it's not a requirement to display this seal.
There is a trick you can use to look up a US PayPal member to see if they have verified their account. Copy the example code below to a blank web page, replace the email address in the example code with the email address of the member you want to check out. Next, save the file, then open the file with your web browser and click on "Lookup". You can also copy the code using Notepad, edit and save the file as text file. Next, rename the text file by changing the extension from .txt to .html and save. Then open the file with you web browser and click on "Lookup".
<a href="https://www.paypal.com/us/verified/pal=emailaddress @ email.com">Lookup></a>
Note, PayPal also has a disclaimer concerning the verification process, see the text below:
To become Verified, a PayPal member in the United States must provide us with proof that he or she has opened an account at a bank or other financial institution. Because these institutions are required by law to screen account holders, PayPal's verification process increases security when you pay parties you do not know. Please note that PayPal's verification system does not constitute an endorsement of a member, nor a guarantee of a member's business practices. You should always consider other indicators when evaluating members, including length of PayPal membership and reputation scores (on eBay or other auction sites, if applicable).
As you can see, there are no 100% guarantees. If you have doubts about a seller, do your homework. Note, it's very simple and does not take much time.
* First, check out the website by looking at the Contact information.
Does the seller provide a physical address and contact phone number? If the only way you can contact the seller is via an email form, find another seller as there's a reason they don't want you to know who they are.
* Next, look for the seller's website Policies and/or FAQs.
Does the seller have a customer satisfaction policy?
Does the seller accept returns?
What shipping methods/services does the seller use?
* Last, simply Google the vendor or seller and see what comes up.
Regards,
skier
