Maybe it is a genuine page but not a message. I will look and post again.

Also note this is a public forum, so I will remove your email address. If you subscribe to forum posts and registered with an mail address the forum software will create emails and send them to that email address.

This web page - https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/s3menu-wizard/contribute/installed/ - loads upon Restart after the Menu Wizard extension receives an update.

That is a fully acceptable optional feature of the Firefox add-on system, which add-on developers may use to request donations from the users of their extension.

When the Contribute button to the right of Enjoy this add-on? The developer of this add-on asks that you help support its continued development by making a small contribution is clicked the "transaction" leaves the addons.mozilla.com domain for the PayPal website; Mozilla doesn't have access to any data which is entered at the PayPal website - Mozilla can't 'steal' your credit card information, nr would they want to.

There is a genuine Firefox extension hosted on the official site that matches that name

• Menu Wizard 4.05 by Oleksandr https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/s3menu-wizard

On that page it does say

Enjoy this add-on?
The developer of this add-on asks that you help support its continued development by making a small donation.
$10.00 suggested

There are similar notes on the developers page https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/s3menu-wizard/

The first question is did you install that addon ?

Those pages have large blue buttons labelled contribute did you press those ?

What sort of message did you receive was it an email or what ?

sorry, I am still learning how to post messages I think I now know how to post a message to the community instead of sending private messages

I want to clarify my question

as for the problem, here is what happened

as I recall, I was in Thunderbird and a banner popped up on the top that asked for a donation

my concern is that it was a scam

or did the developer create the banner asking for a donation

if so, do other developers create banners on Thunderbird to ask for donations

Hi Grady, In this case it looks genuine.

Most request for money are not, so you are right to be suspicious. I was trying to check you had installed the Addon, and seen the addon homepage.

People writing addons that are hosted on the official site are not allowed to charge for the addons, but they are allowed to request donations, either to themselves for the support and development, or sometimes perhaps to some other cause.

I think possibly some addons may be free, but promote related paid for software.

This is an official blog about the procedures that may be used:

• (Jan. 2010) Mozilla Add-ons Blog, Contributions Source
  blog.mozilla.org/addons/2010/01/25/contributions-sources

Includes:

.... Meet the Developer – The “Meet the Developer” page that explains why an add-on was created and introduces the developer to users ....
First Run Page – The First Run page allows developers to request contributions post-install with a version of the “Meet the Developer” page

THANKS TO EVERYONE

I will close this case because I have decided to not use menu wizard for lnow but may consider it again when I have more time

it is a very busy time for me: selling a condo; writing a book; starting a new website; etc,

thank you for all your help

OK thanks for posting back, and note that donations are optional. It is your choice whether or not to make a donation.

I will change the title of the thread to make it clearer the subject matter is about donations for addons.

Was

how to post a new message to firefox community

Now

Message page requesting donation for addons, genuine ?