Via SecurityFix -
The Wikimedia Foundation, the parent organization of the free online encyclopedia Wikipedia and other open-source projects, recently increased the minimum amount it will accept in donations after scammers apparently began testing the validity of stolen credit cards by sending a series of 1-cent "donations" to the group.
On Nov. 8, Wikimedia saw hundreds of penny donations come in over a very short period of time. In many cases, Wikimedia donors leave messages of support or praise for the organization along with their gift, but all of the fake donations were anonymous and contained no greeting, suggesting their submission may have somehow been automated.
Wikimedia spokesperson Sandra Ordonez said the group wants to keep a low minimum contribution amount so as not to discourage donations from people in countries where a dollar may be a substantial sum and a very generous gift. "But for those one-penny donations, it was costing us more to process them," she said. "We were actually getting negative money back."
Wikimedia has now increased the minimum contribution it will accept to one dollar.
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Sadly, this might do little to stop this activity. Bringing it out in the public eye might make the bad guys pause, but increasing the limit will do little.
Remember, it isn't their money that they are dealing with....one cent, one dollar - no difference.
One valid card could bring hundreds or perhaps even thousands in cold hard cash.
Wikimedia might have to close anonymous contributions to fight this issue.
Thanks to my friend, Fergie for the heads up.
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