Would PayPal be willing to step in, and help my situation?

[YG10]

Hello PayPal Community!

Thank you for visiting this message, I hope you read it completely, and answer my question. 

I appreciate your time, and your willingness to help. 

Recently, I have purchased a Steam account through eBay on May 06, 2016 for $80.00. 

Shortly, after the payment has been made, the seller has sent me a message on eBay, giving me the login information to the account. I successfully logged into the account, and changed the e-mail, and password linked to the profile. I have had access to the account, up until last Friday (June 03, 2016). The seller of the account claimed that his account was "Hijacked or stolen" to the customer service of Steam, and he regained ownership of the account, that he had sold to me. I have immediately requested a return on eBay, and a day later the seller responds in a rude way, claiming that it is "my problem".

I have contacted eBay after, and told them the issue that I was having.

They told me that not only has the seller listed the item in the wrong category, he has provided an invalid tracking number, and that I'll be refunded the full amount of the purchase. 

I decided to e-mail the seller privately, telling him that I know that he has the ownership of the account, which he has restored through Steam's customer support. Receiving a reply a day later, he confessed to his actions, and told me that it is "okay" to be scammed, and that he was selling the account again for $40 (not on eBay). 

I can provide images of the emails, if required.

P.S - The conversation is held in Russian, as both of us speak, and write the language.

However, this is not the reason for which I am questioning, whether or not I can receive my funds back. 

I have bought a second account from this exact seller, except for the price of $65.00, which he has regained access to as well. It was not purchased through eBay, and in fact the money was transfered using an option of "Friends or Family". The transfer was made from my mother's PayPal account, as I am a new member, and unable to transfer money. She is a trusted seller on eBay, and has a 100% postive feedback. Not only that, but she's been with PayPal for a long time. 

Here is the conversation that we had on eBay. 

Originally, the account was being sold on eBay as well, but he removed the listing due to the reason, that "he has found that it was forbidden to sell digital goods", even though it was not. 

The question is, whether I can receive my $65 back, or not.

This individual has had another account on eBay, and has scammed one of the buyer's of his "Steam accounts". 

The buyer was refunded, and the dispute was closed.

I can provide evidence to that as well. 

[kernowlass]

@YG10

This is an ebay and not a paypal dispute, so you need to ask on the ebay forums.

[YG10]

I am not sure who to contact exactly, since one of the transactions were not made through eBay.

I have contacted eBay about the purchase that was made through them. 

I've been told that I'll be refunded the full amount. 

I am asking whether, or not, PayPal is willing to step in, and help, since the other transaction (for $65.00) was sent as "Friends and Family". 

[kernowlass]

@YG10

A “gift” or “personal” payments are intended as transfer of funds from family or friends to one another. For this reason, there is no processing fee when payment is made with bank or PayPal balance.

On the other hand, as it is a “personal” payment, there is also no Buyer protection as no goods or services should have been exchanged.

If he was not a close mate or family member you should never use that option as it enables the seller to evade his paypal fees and negates your buyer protection at the same time.

Scam sellers often ask for payment that way as they know this.

Your only hope is if you funded your paypal payment via a credit card then contact your card issuer and see if they will help you.

[YG10]

As I am a new member to PayPal, I had not know this. 

If you look in the messages, then you would be able to see that he in fact, told me to use the "Friends or Family" option.

My mother sent the money from her bank account, however, I am not sure how they might help, if the money has already been transfered, and taken out of the account. 

[kernowlass]

@YG10

Yes he would have told you to pay that way if he wanted to scam you.

But its called a friends / family payment because its not to be used for selling.

Also when you click on ''send money'' it clearly states under goods /services that you will be protected by buyer protection BUT under family /friends it does not.

If she did not use a debit or credit card then they can't help.

[DPCreations]

@YG10

Sellers often make that statement so they don't have to pay fees.  These sellers are are looking for inexperienced PayPal members.

It is so important for new PayPal members to read AND understand PayPal policies and procedures before making any purchases or sales.  You can click on the "legal" options at the bottom of the page for more information.

It would be helpful if new members would also spend a couple days reading all postings on these forums to learn from the other mistakes people make BEFORE making their own mistakes.

[YG10]

I trusted the seller, since the first account that he had sold me, went successful up until June 3rd, when he pretty much took the account away from me, and got away with my money. 

I was not home when my mother made the payment, I just messaged her, and told her to use the option for "Family and Friends".  If I knew there was an option for "Goods or Services", I would have ignored the seller, and chose that. As I have said, I am a new member to PayPal, and have no knowledge towards PayPal. 

Is there a way for a PayPal employee to respond to this topic? 

I would really want to know if they can help. 

[kernowlass]

@YG10

This is a user to user help forum and not paypal customer services.

They would not be able to do anything for your friends / family payment AND as i said earlier the other was an ebay dispute and they would advise you to contact ebay.

[sharpiemarker]

Even Steam recommends you not get into trades involving money.  Just sign up for your own Steam account instead of having to buy someone's account which could have been gotten by fraudulent means or simply pimping out there their own account and rescind access after money switches hands.

From Steam's Support site:

Trades to Never Accept

Trades involving money

The Steam trading interface does not support the transfer of money in any form. This includes Wallet credits, PayPal, gift cards or any other type of currency.

Trades involving CD Keys

Trading for CD Keys is not supported in the Steam Trading interface. CD Keys that are offered are often for a different game, fake, used or region restricted.

Trading items/gifts for nothing in return

You should complete any trades in a single trade. The trading interface supports an unlimited amount of items to be included with each trade so there is no reason to perform multiple trades. If you choose to trade an item without receiving anything in return, you will receive a confirmation dialog prior to completing the trade which lets you know the item you are sending is considered a gift.

Trades offering Steam Wallet credit

Steam Wallet credit cannot be traded, moved, gifted or automatically added to accounts by other users. Never accept trades that offer Steam Wallet funds.

Do not lend or allow others to borrow items

If you give a user an item, there is nothing to stop them from keeping it. In most cases, if a user wishes to borrow an item they will not return it. Do not lend items to other users.