How to Receive Money Anonymously PayPal [Step by Step]

Last Updated on September 25, 2023

Looking for answers to the age-old question “How to receive money anonymously PayPal? Come right in. Understandably, you seek to set up or use PayPal completely anonymously due to concerns about privacy and a desire to maintain a certain level of discretion when conducting online transactions.

However, here’s the cold hard truth- Complete anonymity may not be achievable on PayPal, but there are steps you can take to enhance your privacy on PayPal so you can enjoy a more discreet online financial experience.

How to receive money anonymously PayPal

As previously said, complete anonymity on PayPal is not possible due to certain requirements. When you create a PayPal account, your actual name, address, and Social Security Number (SSN) are needed.

While your SSN and address are kept confidential, your name will be visible publicly. This is to ensure transparency and discourage fraudulent activities on the platform, as complete anonymity could be misused.

However, there are methods to work around these limitations if you prioritize some level of privacy. One option is to create a corporation and register it on PayPal as a business. This provides a layer of insulation between your real identity and the transactions you make.

Another workaround is to open a PayPal account using a fake email address and fund it with a virtual credit card. This allows you to make anonymous payments that are difficult to trace.

Although this process may take some time and effort, a major plus is that PayPal is very widely accepted, and it also provides a certain level of anonymity depending on your location, while allowing you to send and receive payments up to a certain limit, such as $7,000.

There are two methods to receive money anonymously PayPal. One’s the fake account method, and the other’s the freelance platform method.

Method 1: receive money anonymously PayPal fake account

With that being said, here’s a detailed step-by-step guide on how to use PayPal to send and receive payments semi-anonymously using both methods. 

• The fake account method:

1. Setting up your account: Personal or Business?

When getting started with PayPal, you’ll need to make a choice—personal or business account. If you’re using it for personal transactions, a personal account is the way to go. But if you’re running a business and want higher transaction limits, opt for a business account. Just keep in mind that a business account requires some extra info like your business name, email, website, and phone number. You need to create a stealth PayPal account.

2. Linking payment methods

Okay, now let’s tackle the question of how the sender sends money on PayPal. To do this, you’ll need to add a payment method.

It could be a credit or debit card from a personal or business bank account. Or, depending on where you are, PayPal might ask to use a Prepaid Internet MasterCard.

The sending PayPal account doesn’t have to be linked to a bank account, and the holder doesn’t have to withdraw money from their MasterCard either.

Once the card is linked, PayPal will do a tiny $1 transaction to give you a special PP CODE. Keep an eye on your bank statement to find that code, and then add it to your PayPal anonymous payment setup section. This step ensures you’re approved for anonymous transactions, and you’ll be ready to send money with PayPal with anonymity.

3. Receive money anonymously PayPal

So, how can you receive money anonymously via PayPal? Once your account is approved then it’s time to start reaping the rewards.

You can generate payment links and share them with your clients, making it super easy for them to pay you. You can also use PayPal to create proactive invoices. Or, if you prefer a more direct approach, just share your PayPal email address with people you trust.

But hold on, there are a few things to remember when it comes to making PayPal payments:

• Start small and gradually increase the amounts over time: By starting with smaller amounts, you can reduce the risk of potential issues or limitations on your account due to being flagged by the PayPal systems in place. Thus, allowing you to grow your payment activity steadily.
• Encourage customers to use a single card for transactions: When customers use a single card for transactions, it reduces the likelihood of the PayPal bots flagging your account as a receiver of stolen card funds since the money only comes from one card as opposed to many different ones.
• Maintain a 2 to 3-day gap between payments: Allowing a gap of 2 to 3 days between payments helps avoid any suspicion of fraudulent or suspicious activity on your PayPal account. It also provides a buffer period for the processing and verification of transactions.

And if by chance your PayPal account gets limited you don’t have to worry. You can still receive payments from another account or issue refunds to keep things running smoothly.

4. Withdrawing your funds anonymously

You need to transfer your funds to another verified PayPal account that is not anonymous. This will allow you to withdraw your funds easily without revealing your identity.

To conduct anonymous transactions, you can link your PayPal account to a non-prepaid VISA card. However, keep in mind that if you add a non-prepaid VISA card, PayPal may withdraw funds from it to process refunds.

Now that we’ve spoken about the”parody” account method, let’s move on to the next one.

Method 2: receive money anonymously through PayPal freelance service

This requires creating two Upwork accounts or using any other freelance platform that allows one to withdraw funds with PayPal such as Fiverr. One account will be the freelance account while the other will be the client account.

The sender can create the client account using their friend or family member’s information if they choose to be anonymous.

Then, back to Upwork, the client account creates a gig, then sends what Upwork calls an invite to the freelance account of the person who will be to receive money anonymously on PayPal.

They then start a conversation between the accounts, keeping things as natural as possible because Upwork has a policy that authorizes them to access chats. Wait for some time before marking the gig as completed.

Now, the sender (the person with the client account) can proceed with the payment. They can pay their freelance account using their client account with whatever payment option they like.

The caveats:

• The sender must be willing to use a freelance service like Upwork. They can fake their account subtly to keep them anonymous.
• The receiver must be willing to open a freelance account like Upwork. They can fake the account details to stay anonymous.
• Upwork will charge fees on both ends, so they have to decide whether the fees are worth it or not.
• Both parties must undergo account verifications, which can be a hectic process but not if they use the ID of another person.

The aspect that makes this method anonymous is that the whole freelance process will seem the money received to your PayPal is a freelance service.

Is it illegal to set up an anonymous PayPal account?

Generally, setting up an anonymous PayPal account is both legal and ethical, and it provides you with a generous payment limit of up to $7k, depending on your location. And if you happen to exceed this limit, you always have the option of opening a new account.

I wouldn’t say that it is illegal at all if you only care about staying anonymous online. It will only be questionable if PayPal is suspicious of the source of the funds. If the money originated from an untrusted source or if the activity has been reported, then there could be difficulties.

How much anonymity is required when making payments?

The level of anonymity required when making payments online depends on individual preferences and specific circumstances. Some people may prioritize partial anonymity, where their identity is concealed from the other party involved in the transaction. Others may aim for complete anonymity, where no one knows their identity at all. The choice ultimately depends on personal needs and comfort levels with sharing personal information.

With that being said, there are two types of anonymity: semi or partial and complete:

1. Semi or partial anonymity

When it comes to partial anonymity, certain payment methods and services allow you to conceal your identity from the individuals involved in your transactions. Achieving partial anonymity is relatively simple compared to full anonymity (case in point- PayPal) and other online payment services.

However, due to the nature of financial systems and the need to move money between fiat currencies, complete anonymity becomes more challenging. Fiat money, which includes physical cash and bank accounts, requires the disclosure of personal information for transactions to take place.

2. Complete anonymity

With complete anonymity, nobody knows your identity. Cash transactions have traditionally been a way to achieve this level of anonymity. But, in today’s digital age, alternative methods exist.

Although the fact is achieving complete anonymity is way more difficult than partial anonymity, there are still options available, even for online purchases that typically require non-cash payment methods. A good example of this type of payment option are cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and the like.

FAQs

Does PayPal show my name when I send money?

PayPal shows your name when you send money.

How can I receive money on PayPal without showing my name?

You can receive money on PayPal without showing your name using the business PayPal to hide your name from the public.

Conclusion—receive money anonymously PayPal

While achieving full anonymity on PayPal may not be possible, these methods are steps you can take to enhance your privacy and enjoy a certain level of anonymity. Just remember to strike a balance between privacy and abiding by PayPal’s policies so you don’t get your account limited.

Source

• Payment methods. Fiverr
• PayPal Fees and Timing. Upwork