Ask HN:Payment Platforms for Validating Users

[mark_ellul]

Hi,

I am starting a new project, and I want all users to be valid users and preferably unique.

I was thinking of using Paypal, and depositing a cent or so into their accounts to validate them, and then as such I know they are most likely unique and valid users.

Does anyone else have any suggestions of different payment platforms to do the same? or another way to validate a user and have a mechanism to pay them at the same time?

[russell]

You should remember the transaction charges. I think most payment systems charge 20-30 cents per transaction. I dont know about PP. I don't have a PP account and would probably object to giving you my CC number unless I found your service compelling. I certainly would not give it just to look around. This would probably turn off lots of potential users. Even an email validation is a turnoff, but not so bad as a CC number.

[bayareaguy]

I'm not sure where payment fits in but I read a while back that craigslist uses http://www.reducefraud.com to validate users via a telephone call. Google App Engine signup does something similar with SMS messaging.

Would a telephone number work for what you are doing?