PayPal is allowing scammers to use them as a funding source!

[PAR61]

Scammers are using PayPal as a funding source for scams. Do your homework and stop these from happening. You are not part of the solution - you are now part of the problem.  Here is the deal:

An ad on Facebook stated that YETI coolers were on sale for $99 due to a business bankruptcy.  I was skeptical, but the ad reflected PayPal as a funding source.  I thought, "I am protected by PayPal, so this must be legit."  Well, after 45-days, I received a $1 necklace from China. So, I disputed the charge since I never received the cooler, PayPal stated that "I received the merchandise" so the dispute was closed.  They are smart enough to take your money electronically, but not smart enough to see a scam before it happens.  So, after a decade of being a loyal customer with tens of thousands in purchases, I plan to bid them farewell.  Thanks for nothing. 

[kernowlass]

@PAR61 

Chinese Web Sites or on Social Media ads easy to spot (once you know the below signs) so buyer beware.

Paypal would not be able to check every individual seller / merchant / company in over 200 countries worldwide that adds paypal to their website to accept payments.

So they give you 'some' buyer protection but the onus is on you to risk assess your transactions.

They do stop bad companies from using Paypal when enough claims start rolling in.
However as they are in China (mostly) then its easy for them to just start over with a new name, so stopping them does not really do anything.

The best thing is to not buy from them in the first place, to recognise them -

1. No return address on the returns policy. The site will look as if its in your country (where they despatch goods from) but they will ask for returns to go back to China (returns depot) at a shipping cost often more than the item is worth.
2. No contact telephone number. if you click on contact the most you will get is webmail or an email address.
3. Rarely company address information.
4. Great pictures of items at bargain prices that turn out to be tat.
5. Fake reviews.
6. Google and you can often see previous company names as they change them once enough claims roll in and Paypal stop them using their services and start over.
7. Send fake tracking numbers to win item non receipt of item claims.