How does Paypal work?

How does paypal work, exactly?

• I'm thinking about getting a paypal account but I really don't understand it. I know you can link a credit card or bank account to it and transfer funds, but how do I send money to people? Do I have a paypal number that I enter online? If someone has my paypal number, is it possible for them to steal my money, in the same manner if they had my credit card number? If they can withdraw money, does it only come from the paypal account? Or, if someone gets my paypal number am I just financially screwed everywhere? When I link stuff to my paypal is it permanent, or can I just keep making one-time transactions to put my money in? Thanks a lot for answering my questions

• Answer:

  OK, the BEST place to learn about Paypal is AT Paypal. They have a GREAT HELP section you can read there and learn all about it. The HELP link is at the TOP CENTER of the paypal page. In the meantime, though, let's address some of your issues: ♦ but how do I send money to people? Do I have a paypal number that I enter online? You sign up for a paypal account, just like any other on-line site. You use your email address and a password. Those protect you. People send you money using your email address, but only YOU know your password. ♦ If someone has my paypal number, is it possible for them to steal my money, in the same manner if they had my credit card number? See above. You don't have a 'paypal number'. Your paypal account is generally quite safe. ♦ If they can withdraw money, does it only come from the paypal account? Or, if someone gets my paypal number am I just financially screwed everywhere? Again, see above. Paypal can withdraw money from your paypal account WHEN YOU ALLOW IT, nobody else can (unless, for example, you LINK it to your ebay account and give ebay permission to deduct ebay fees directly). ♦ When I link stuff to my paypal is it permanent, or can I just keep making one-time transactions to put my money in? Linking 'stuff' is permanent. If you link your credit card, any payment you make on-line using paypal will charge to your credit card. If you link your bank account, money will be debited from the bank account for payments, if you don't have enough money in your paypal account. Now, go to paypal, click that HELP link - and start reading! All the rest of what you need to know is there.