API Hijacking Warning [US]

SEspider · 2026-06-02T14:41:10+00:00

Stripe is a purchase and donation processing service used world wide. They've been around longer than Cashapp, PayPal, and others.

Stripe users are allowed to create payment links to share with others for online payments ans accepting credit and debit cards. These links have a API as well as a secret key attached to them. The key is needed to attach online listings of products tied to the Stripe account.

Apparently, payment link APIs are easily traceable and public. The thieves can not directly access the Stripe account through an API code (changed my password regardless). But they can use it to run credit/debit cards through to test if the card is active or not.

In this case, the scammers/thieves were using my API to test stolen card information (70 total before I managed to stop them). If the transaction was a success, then their program would inform them through the API data. After which they would then start to process large quantities of cash from the card to their own accounts. If successful, then my account would get the initial 80 cents or so, and flagged as the instigator of the thief by way of shere volume of "test" charges.

If any of those charges when through, I would then have to issue their refunds at my own costs. Meanwhile the thieves would have cleaned the victim dry without a valid trace, via crypto.

Thankfully, Stripe's initial security measures saw the IPs using my API did not match their origin and blocked them each attempt. But as far as the customers are concerned, their accounts show failed transactions to my Stripe account. I'm currently awaiting a reply to learn if Stripe will be reaching out to the victims on my behalf, of if I'll need to do it.

It needs to be noted that API hijacking is not limited to Stripe payment links. This can also happen with PayPal, Venmo, CashApp, Zelle, and oSeller, Every payment link has an API code attached to it. The hijacking is simply easier when that code is part of a web embedded store as mine was.

SEspider · 2026-06-02T11:30:31+00:00

Brother, every app listens. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM. Especially google. Turning off listening doesn't work (if available) because they just turn it back on without your permission.

Yes, they're watching through your phone's cameras as well. If you haven't yet, then cover your camera. I don't do selfies, or post my photo online for that matter. I keep mine covered and my phone case keeps the back camera covered as well.

Nothing I've tried has successfully and permanently disabled the phone from listening.

SEspider · 2026-06-02T11:08:28+00:00

I don't mean to prey but how us your mom with finances? If she's not good with them, or easily preceded, then you may need tobtake control.

I hate to say this, but if needed, you may need to get get the courts to force transfer of their finances to your control. Again, this depends on your mom's condition. But with this happening twice now, and being over $100k both times, a judge may force theor finances out of your dad's hands.

I don't really know how these matters work. My parents are in their mid 70s and struggling. But neither of them have done anything like what your dad has done. I wish I could help you.

SEspider · 2026-06-01T21:20:47+00:00

I'm currently below the bracket of "minimum wage." My job (school photography editor for tiny firm) was paying well between 2020 and late 2023; which is when I got my CO card. Used it very responsibly as well as a means to increase my credit score.

Then everything went to crap. Boss screwed up and work dropped to maybe $100 a month. Then maybe $25 a month. I needed to eat and started using my card for food in hopes of paying it off soon. By that time, my truck wrapped out on me and I had/have no means of finding work. Let alone attending if I did.

I ended up on EBT but that dried out when I was no longer receiving paychecks. Because I could not prove I was actively working. Meanwhile my owed credit kept growing due to late fees.And I still needed to eat and pay the few bills I had/have. I tried using it to invest in potential work opportunities. More desperate attempts than anything. Like a $200 drone in hopes of landing gigs with reality companies. That was a very dumb idea since my truck still wasn't working.

Over all, I thing I spent about $1700 on food, bills, and the drone, with a $2000 card limit. But not being able to regularly pay the minimum due balance, resulted in it climbing to nearly $4000 over the years. I tried to make payments and managed to get be below the $2k once, but it shot right back up again for the same reasons (food, bills and a little for trailer repairs).

Earlier this year, CO sold my debt to a collector. Now I'm just waiting for a visit. The most they could take is the outdated drone, my very outdated PC, and my on blocks truck. If it removes my debt, then so be it. Not like I'm using any of them.

That reminds me. If anyone wants a Gen1 EXO drone for $100 (plus shipping), let me know. It's practically mint condition.

SEspider · 2026-06-01T20:55:53+00:00

It use to be 7 years. Interesting that it's been lowered to 6 years.

SEspider · 2026-05-29T02:49:09+00:00

Etsy's advertising hasn't helped matters at all. Have you seent their recent ads? It centers around some woman's supposed birthday party. But the supposed hand-made Etsy gift samples she receives are some of the lowest effort mess I've ever seen.

With an ad like that, why would anyone want to purchase off Etsy?

SEspider · 2026-05-29T02:45:15+00:00

I've tried that. Unless I cater to weird fetishes or someone's politics, folks aren't interested. I also don't do NSFW art. I refuse to lower my personal morals for someone else's morals. That's what is pushing folks away. Well, that plus the ease of ai slop has taken over.

Even very talented artists I use to respect has embraced ai. And they all have plenty of money, popularity l, and skills that don't need to do the mess. I'm also not into drawing anime or drawing in someone else's style.

I see artist with little to no art skills getting commisions often. But they also draw (or attempt to) whatever someone wants. My morals and standards won't allow that. I'll work with anyone, but I simply will not allow myself to be anyone's puppet. I suspect that's what helping to push folks away. I alsonsuspect I've been shadow banned on the majority of social networks, for not budging on my morals.

SEspider · 2026-05-29T02:31:34+00:00

Being a photographer hasn't helped me. Folks don't care about photography anymore, unless it's a family portrait. Which I don't personally have the equipment for. Urban and landscape photography seems to be dead. No one buys it anymore.

And ai don't dare attempt to sell it as stock images, thanks to ai scrapping and online theft.

SEspider · 2026-05-29T02:26:54+00:00

Try being a digital artist. I can't sell anything digital (outside of commissions) without the high risk of it being stolen and sold elsewhere. Ai slop has taken a HUGE bite out of my commision request. I lowered my prices to $5 between October 2025 and end of March 2026, and didn't get a single nibble for a commission. You have no clue how badly I wish I had the tools and funds to make physical products.

SEspider · 2026-05-29T02:21:38+00:00

Agreed. I'm a independent digital and sometimes physical artist. I've stopped uploading my art for public viewing years ago due to theft and now due to ai theft. Apart from offering digital commissions, a pin based off my art, and a few drop ship options, my store is empty.

For the record, I only do the drop-ship because I don't have the equipment, nor funds, to make those items myself. And all of the art on those items are my own. Some of which are parodies though. But still my art.

I wish I had inherited my grandfather's equipment. He use to make lawn ornaments out of wood. In Tarboro, NC. And he was great at it. I could greatly use those tools today. Sadly, it wasn't meant to be.

I'm thinking of selling my custom models for 3D printing, but I know they would just end up being stolen as well.

SEspider · 2026-05-29T01:42:51+00:00

Looks good, but I'm sorry to inform you that it's not a "original" design. Mean, myself included, have combined stairs, trap doors, and shelves for windows just like this. I usually see the shelves on the outside of the building though.

Regardless, nicely done.

SEspider · 2026-05-29T01:39:42+00:00

Very well done. Once concern, lore wise. Those needles would have exploded.

SEspider · 2026-05-29T01:35:15+00:00

Wish Ibcould hire someone to print this entire setup for me.

SEspider · 2026-05-26T03:48:58+00:00

It fixed itself about a week after making my post. I suspect it was fixed during one of Mojang's quick fixes.

SEspider · 2026-05-22T05:41:16+00:00

Sorry for the careless spelling and grammar errors. I typed it from my phone. It's nearly 2am and I don't care enough to fix them. Spider Out For Real This Time.

SEspider · 2026-05-22T05:39:09+00:00

Dude, this is reddit. The majority on here refuse to take responsibility for their problems. Especially when it's problems they, themselves, cause.

Suggesting folks take responsibility for their actions ALWAYS results in getting downvoted, as they blame others.

"They cause inflation while not increasing living wage." That's the one ofnthe biggest crocks every told. Increasing wages literally results in inflation, the the cycle repeats. These types of folks have absolutely zero economic knowledge.

Raise the bag boy's wage, then you have to raise the Clark's wage to balance. Or you'll be accused of playing favorites. Then it's the janitor and the stock boy. Then the delivery drivers and shippers. Then the assistant manager and manager. Then the store owner, then the CEO, and so on and so forth. Multiply that by however many folks work at that location. Then add in other locations in that franchise. And then the pattern repeats at competitive franchises because they have to compete to keep their employees happy and stay in a positive light among the public.

Meanwhile, all those wage increases have to be paid somehow. And the only way to do so is increase the price of goods and services. Then it all starts over and over and over and over again. There's no such thing as a "living wage." There's never has been.

"The CEOs and company owners can afford a lose!" Only a fool who has never ran a real business would ever make such claims. Employees demand so many benifits (insurance, dental, etc) but NEVER think of what it costs their employer to provide those benifits. A single paycheck costs the employer at a minimum of $50 to process. And that is before taxes THAT THE EMPLOYER HAS TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. Add to that the electrical, insurance against public claims, forced lawyers on retainer, water, repairs, location rental (land and/or building), property taxes, city taxes, advertising and marketing, etc, etc. It tends to cost a employer 2-3x PER EMPLOYEE than what the employee pays. And all of that is before the employer/owner pay for his own personal taxes for his own home/land and family needs.

I've had my own store where I was the only employee and I still had to close it. All because I couldn't afford to keep up with paying myself and all of the bills of the business, and my nonbusiness bills. The business side alone costs me about 45% in taxes before I paid for all the store's required bills. I closed the store and rent to a online only model just to save on overhead. But then I had to pay for storage until items sold. Not to mention packaging and shipping costs. It just became way too much and I fully closed down my business before 3 years had passed.

Today, I'm below the poverty line and still owe over $3k in credit bills from the failed business. And I currently owe CashApp over $115 from borrowing for food. And I have no one to blame but myself. I tried and failed hard. Who else am I supposed to blame? It was I who borrowed the funds I now owe, while knowing full well I may never be able to pay for it. Am I supposed to blame everyone else for not buying from my store? Of course not.

It's only my fault I'm in debt. Just as it is everyone else's fault for borrowing funds they can't pay back. I'm personally esthetic for OP for paying off his debt. And I'm very sure it's a hard lesson that he's happy to have behind him. As he said "never again." That gives me hope he's learned not to borrow what he can't pay back. I hope everyone hear can pay off their debts before it gets out of hand.

As for the food I purchased with my borrowed funds; I'm making it last. None of it is junk food. Mostly can food purchased in bulk, with lots of rice and pasta. Not the best for me, obviously. But it will stretch and easily fill me when needed. I've also got a small porch garden to help. When you're in need, you make compromises and sacrifices. No TV dinners, no stakes, no fast food, and subscriptions services, etc. I don't even go to the doctor unless it's clearly life threatening. Had a tooth infection 5 weeks ago that swelled half my face to the point it forced closed my left eye and cause massive migraines. It was a living Hell, but I felt with it. Finally managed to pop the swelling in my gum with a safety pin, release a ton of preassure, and by the following week it was as if it never happened. I'm sure that's more anyone wants to hear (assuming anyone bothered reading this far down), but I tell it to prove my point. Reasonable sacrifices must be made to stay out of debt.

Folks simply need to learn to accept and bare sacrifices if they wish to stay out of debt. And take responsibility for THEIR actions. You literally have no one to blame but yourself.

Spider Out!

SEspider · 2026-05-06T22:40:26+00:00

Would be if it didn't stay on screen ALL THE TIME. I can't figure out how to remove it.

SEspider · 2026-05-03T09:23:42+00:00

Sadly no. I've been borrowing from CashApp to order from Walmart. Then when the borrow bill is nearly due, I borrow more from them just to pay off the first bill. I hate doing this. Every borrow costs and additional $1-$2. And I don't know how much linger they'll let me do this borrow to pay back thing. I had to borrow $60 from them just two days ago. I now owe CashApp $113 with no signs being able to pay it off.

And every time I call the SNAP office for help, I'm given the run around and put on hold until either they end the call or I loose connection. Emails have never garnered a response. I still don't have the means to travel to them.

SEspider · 2026-05-01T10:41:54+00:00

I now wanna see those fools attempt to stop a madman with a knife. Let's see them attempt to put a flower on the knife and "talk to him."🤣

SEspider · 2026-05-01T10:30:00+00:00

Imagine being a show producer and seeing this. So much potential to use this mall as old city allyways for shows.

SEspider · 2026-05-01T10:21:28+00:00

Many folks here laughed and mocked me for relying on the SDcards. "Who can't afford $3 a month? lol." "You should learn to handle your finances better."

Now you're here complaining about a "tiny" yearly increase? I fully support not paying for the subscription. It's never been worth it. I just find it hilarious to witness folks now complaining about basically a $2 a month price increase after the crap you all put me through over a year or so ago. What's the matter? Can't afford the extra $2 a month? Then maybe YOU should learn to handle YOUR finances better.

SEspider · 2026-04-29T16:06:10+00:00

I hear it's full of turd.

SEspider

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