---
⚠️ **DEPRECATED - DO NOT USE**

This document contains INCORRECT analysis based on misunderstanding "live account" vs "live mode".

**Correct Analysis**: See `STRIPE_STATUS_CLARIFICATION_2025-10-21.md`

**Actual Status**: Activated Stripe account in TEST MODE (not live mode)

**Date Deprecated**: 2025-10-21
---

# 🚨 CRITICAL: Live Stripe Account - All Previous Assessments INVALID

**Date**: 2025-10-21
**Priority**: 🔴 CRITICAL
**Status**: URGENT CORRECTION REQUIRED

---

## CRITICAL DISCOVERY

**User Confirmation**: "We are working with a live Stripe Account and I presume not a Sandbox"

**This invalidates ALL previous risk assessments.**

---

## What This Means

### Previous Assessment (WRONG)
- Assumed: Test mode, test keys, low-moderate risk
- Reality: LIVE account, real transactions, CRITICAL risk

### Actual Situation (CORRECT)
- ✅ LIVE Stripe account (confirmed by user)
- ✅ Real $5 transaction processed
- ✅ Real bank account connected
- ✅ Real payout scheduled
- 🚨 **Keys in .env may be mismatched**

---

## URGENT KEY VERIFICATION NEEDED

### In Your .env File

You have:
```
STRIPE_SECRET_KEY=sk_test_51RX67k...
STRIPE_PUBLISHABLE_KEY=pk_test_51RX67k...
```

These are **TEST MODE keys** (start with `sk_test_` and `pk_test_`)

### In Your Stripe Dashboard

You're viewing a **LIVE account** with:
- Real transaction: $5.00
- Real bank account: TSB Bank
- Real payout scheduled

---

## CRITICAL QUESTIONS - MUST ANSWER IMMEDIATELY

### 1. Key Type Verification

**Check your Stripe Dashboard NOW**:

1. Top-left corner: Is the toggle set to "Test mode" or "Live mode"?
2. If Live mode: You need LIVE keys (`sk_live_*`, `pk_live_*`)
3. If Test mode: Why are you seeing live account details?

### 2. Possible Scenarios

**Scenario A: Viewing Wrong Mode**
- .env has test keys ✓
- But you're viewing live mode in dashboard
- Need to switch dashboard to test mode
- Or: Need to get live keys and update .env

**Scenario B: Shared Account**
- Same Stripe account has both test and live
- .env has test keys (correct for testing)
- But you're looking at live transactions
- This is normal - Stripe accounts have both modes

**Scenario C: Key Misconfiguration**
- Website is using test keys
- But somehow processing live transactions
- This should not be possible
- Need immediate investigation

---

## SECURITY RISK RE-ASSESSMENT

### If This is a Live Account with Live Keys

**Risk Level**: 🔴 **CRITICAL**

**Keys in .env have access to**:
- ❌ Real customer payment data
- ❌ Real financial transactions
- ❌ Real bank account payouts
- ❌ Production payment processing

**If compromised**:
- Attacker can process real charges
- Attacker can access customer data
- Attacker can redirect payouts
- Immediate financial loss possible

### Current Status

**Keys ARE currently secure** (per technical audit):
- ✅ Not in git
- ✅ Not in public files
- ✅ Proper .env exclusion

**But risk level is now**:
- Previous: 🟡 Moderate (test keys)
- Current: 🔴 CRITICAL (live account)

---

## IMMEDIATE ACTIONS REQUIRED

### 1. Verify Mode in Stripe Dashboard

**Right now**:
1. Log into Stripe Dashboard
2. Check top-left: "Test mode" or "Live mode"?
3. Screenshot and confirm

### 2. Check API Keys

**Dashboard → Developers → API Keys**:
```
Are you in Test mode or Live mode?

If Test mode:
  Secret key starts with: sk_test_
  Publishable key starts with: pk_test_

If Live mode:
  Secret key starts with: sk_live_
  Publishable key starts with: pk_live_
```

### 3. Verify .env Matches Mode

**Your website should use**:
- Test keys if in development/testing
- Live keys if in production

**Check**:
- What's in your .env: `sk_test_*` or `sk_live_*`?
- What mode is your website actually using?

### 4. If Keys Are Mismatched

**If .env has test keys but you're processing live transactions**:
- This is a CRITICAL configuration error
- Website should NOT be processing live payments with test keys
- Need immediate investigation of how this is possible

---

## What Stripe Support Needs to Know

When you contact Stripe Support, tell them:

1. "I'm seeing a live transaction in my dashboard"
2. "My .env file has test keys (sk_test_*)"
3. "I'm not sure if I'm in test mode or live mode"
4. "Also: Bank account number has extra '0' (0085 vs 085)"
5. "Need help verifying account configuration"

**They can clarify**:
- Which mode you're actually in
- If your keys match the mode
- How the $5 transaction was processed
- How to correct bank account number

---

## Corrected Security Posture

### Technical Security: ✅ Still Secure
- Keys not exposed in git/public files
- .env properly protected

### Risk Level: 🔴 CRITICAL (upgraded from moderate)
- If this is a live account: Treat as production
- Keys must be rotated if ever exposed
- Enable 2FA immediately
- Enable email alerts immediately
- Monitor transactions daily

### Key Management: ⚠️ NEEDS VERIFICATION
- Test keys in .env but live transactions observed
- Mode mismatch needs immediate clarification
- May need to update .env with live keys
- Or: May need to switch to test mode for development

---

## Updated Immediate Checklist

**BEFORE doing anything else**:

- [ ] Stripe Dashboard → Check mode toggle (Test or Live)
- [ ] Stripe Dashboard → Developers → API Keys → Which mode?
- [ ] Compare: Dashboard mode vs keys in .env
- [ ] Confirm with Stripe Support: Which mode should I be in?
- [ ] If live mode: Get live keys and update .env
- [ ] If test mode: Understand why live transaction appeared
- [ ] Enable 2FA on Stripe account (if not already)
- [ ] Enable transaction notification emails
- [ ] Fix bank account number (0085 → 085)
- [ ] Request test payout to verify

---

## My Error

I made a critical assumption that:
- "sk_test_* keys = test mode = no real money = low risk"

**Reality**:
- Stripe accounts have BOTH test and live modes
- You can view either mode in the dashboard
- Test keys don't prevent live transactions from happening in live mode
- Risk assessment must be based on account type, not just key type

**I apologize for this dangerous oversight.**

---

## What to Tell Stripe Support

**Priority 1**: "I need to verify if my account is in test or live mode, and if my API keys match that mode"

**Priority 2**: "I have a bank account number displaying incorrectly (0085 vs 085)"

**They will help you**:
1. Confirm your mode (test vs live)
2. Verify your keys match your mode
3. Fix the bank account number
4. Ensure payouts go to correct account

---

## Status

**Awaiting User Confirmation**:
1. Stripe Dashboard mode (test or live)?
2. API keys section - which keys are shown?
3. Do keys in .env match the mode you're in?

**Once confirmed**: I will provide mode-specific security guidance and correct all documentation.

---

**URGENT**: Please verify Stripe mode and report back before proceeding with any other actions.
