Online Payment Provider Refuses VPN Users Citing Fraud
Australian company pin.net.au now refuses to process payments for VPN users. The software used by the pin.net.au rejects payments originating from a known VPN IP address as it is "high risk" and may be an attempt to conduct fraud. A pin.net.au representative has stated that users need to disable VPN software to make online purchases. The Australian government recently started logging internet and phone activity. Australian politicians have recommended using a VPN and other secure technology to ensure privacy online.
I recently tried to register with a forum which discusses recreational drugs, and was prevented, (even taunted!), by the site because of my use of a VPN. I wrote the administrators, asking why they would force their users to expose themselves, particularly those users living in censored or totalitarian-governed countries who can only obtain good information via VPN. They came back with "because:spammers". Seems like a lazy approach to me.