I was scammed by a Facebook sponsored Ad about Paddleboards

[candykastanis]

I had to file a claim today via online with Paypal because I thought I purchased a BOTE board through a licensed dealer. BUT, I was a victim of an ongoing Facebook scam. I have the proof. 

Paypal closed my case without even talking to me. They are saying I authorized the transaction and are now saying I need to contact the seller etc. They don't seem to understand there isn't a seller or legit merchandise because it is a scam site. I filed a report with Facebook and my bank and now because the Paypal agents are not live during business hours I cannot talk to a real person and get them to stop this pending charge. 

I am beyond upset. I don't know what to do to get Paypal to realize that this wasn't a legit business and their supposed transaction is a bust. I need for them to refund my money asap. Please advise.

 https://www.onlinethreatalerts.com/article/2020/6/24/inflatable-paddle-board-scam-and-fake-online-st...

[kernowlass]

@candykastanis 

Why didn't you file a dispute for non receipt of item? If seller didn't provide trackable proof of delivery then you would have had a refund.

A dispute for an unauthorised transaction is telling paypal that your account was hacked and used without your consent to make that transaction.
Paypal would check IP addresses and devices and close the dispute if it was you that made the transaction.

You are only allowed 1 dispute per transaction so the only way you can get a second dispute opened is to contact Paypal (when and if you can) and see if they will open a second dispute for you.
They may decline citing policies but if you say what happened then they might open a second dispute for you.

If not then if you funded your paypal payment via a credit card then consider contacting your card issuer and see if they will help you with a chargeback?

[JavonCalton]

I had this exact same issue. PayPal closed the dispute without any investigation. I followed up with proof that it was a scam account, the URL had since been removed, etc. They have yet to contact me. I've heard for years that PayPal was supposed to have all sorts of protections in place for buyers against scammers and bad actors. This has proven all of that completely false.

[tdfox]

We are going through the same issue.

Purchase was made (2 paddle boards) via website with PayPal payment. It did show on my account the items and pricing. When I contacted the seller 2X I did not receive a response either time. I filed a dispute and less than 24hrs later I received a tracking from UPS that says it (a 4lb package, obviously not 2 paddleboards) was delivered to my mailbox. That did not happen obviously. Also the time frame from the shipping label creation and delivery to my house was less than 24hrs. Again, obviously not possible.

UPS was called and they said the shipping label was generated through an Amazon account and call Amazon.

I called Amazon and since they did not handle the sale they can do nothing. They will not even investigate the account.

Why are these companies allowing this scam to continue? Go to Merctool.com they alternate the scam of Yeti coolers and Isle paddleboards.

Pretty simple to find but PayPal, UPS and Amazon don't care....

Doubt I will use PayPal anymore!

[kernowlass]

@tdfox 

Paypal is just a payment processor that gives you 'some' buyer and 'some' seller protection.
So disputes for non receipt of item are mostly automated. Seller provides tracking that shows delivery = seller wins.
So then its your turn to do some work to assist Paypal in recovering your purchase price from your seller.

Firstly ring customer services and tell them that the number is fake or that the item was shown as shipped before you purchased it. With that information they may well just issue you a refund.

Secondly if they don't then... APPEAL
To submit an appeal on the dispute that was closed, PayPal asks that you obtain a detailed report from the shipper/courier (on their letterhead or some other form of official stationary) that includes the address the seller gave them for the shipment. Or one that includes a statement mentioning your address and saying the item was delivered to a different address. THEY DON'T HAVE TO SAY WHICH ADDRESS IT WAS SENT TO, JUST THAT IT WAS NOT DELIVERED TO YOUR ADDRESS.

Check tracking in below link to see where it went.
https://www.17track.net/en

When you have that, contact PayPal via phone (log on to your account and click contact at the bottom of the page, or via Facebook (send a Private Message to PayPal) or via Twitter (send a Direct Message to @AskPayPal) and say you want to appeal the denial of the dispute based on the shipper saying the item was delivered to a different address. Once it's submitted (you will be provided with directions on how to do that), the dispute will be reviewed further and a determination will be made.

You also have the option to contact your card issuer if you funded your paypal payment that way and see if they will do a chargeback for you.