Receiving money, without the buyers knowing my real name?

September 19, 2008 7:16 AM

I would like to receive money from people, but I don't want them to have my real name or contact information. Can I do this through Paypal, or what are my other options?

I'm selling some old clothes online. This isn't a business or anything ongoing, I just have a few things to get rid of. I said so on my blog, and people from a few states away are interested in buying some things. I think they're normal people, but since it's the internet, I'd rather be safe than sorry.

I plan on mailing my packages from a big city post office, so I'm not worried about being traced that way. But I don't know how people can pay me without knowing my real contact information. Since this is a one-time thing, I don't want to pay for a P.O. Box (they're quite expensive here). Can they even send a money order without knowing my real name or bank account number?

I was looking at Paypal, but I can't seem to figure it out. If I get the kind of free account that only lets you do e-mail (I don't need a button or anything), when they click on the invoice to pay, will they see my real name or address? Or will Paypal give that information up if the buyer asks? Also, how would Paypal give me my money?

Are there other similar services that would work better? I don't know very much about banking, so I'm not sure about the possibilities. I just don't want to have to pay to set up an account, or have to have certain minimums, or anything like that . . . since this is a one-time thing, it wouldn't be worthwhile. If it matters, individual items are all under $50 and it will probably only add up to maybe a few hundred, at most. Is this the kind of thing you need to pay taxes on? Is there anything else I'm not thinking of?

Anyway, the bottom line is that I don't care if buyers see my username or e-mail address. I just don't want anyone to have my real name or street address connected to my blog by anyone who buys something. Thanks!

posted by anonymous to computers & internet (4 comments total)

Maybe you could ask a less paranoid friend to receive checks for you?
posted by Perplexity at 7:24 AM on September 19, 2008

just set up a paypal account. all they'll know is your email address and your name.
posted by misanthropicsarah at 7:54 AM on September 19, 2008

If it matters, individual items are all under $50 and it will probably only add up to maybe a few hundred, at most. Is this the kind of thing you need to pay taxes on?

Yes, technically you're required to report all income, including profits from selling your own property in garage sales, online, etc.

Have you considered just donating the clothing to Goodwill, the Salvation Army, or another charity? Not only will your clothes go to someone who needs them, but you can write off their value on your taxes, which may end up saving you more money than you would have gained selling them.
posted by burnmp3s at 7:55 AM on September 19, 2008

Can they even send a money order without knowing my real name or bank account number?

When someone ¨sends¨ a money order, it´s in the mail (in the US at least) and needs to go to an address. They would need to know that, but not your real name or bank account information. If you don´t want them to have an address, use paypal.

I guess you are planning on sending these things with no return address, so make sure that they are packaged well, have enough postage, are going to the correct address, etc.

technically you're required to report all income, including profits from selling your own property in garage sales, online, etc.

However, if you are selling things for less than what you paid for them, there is no profit/income for you to pay tax on, assuming you are in the US.
posted by yohko at 11:24 AM on September 19, 2008