Fraud

[Jakeyork0318]

Hello So I did something but I now realize is very stupid but I am new to PayPal so I didn’t realize it till afterwards. I was in contact with someone to purchase shoes over the phone i sent them the money and they were in return supposed to ship out the item same day. However they did not and have blocked me on the phone. And I also being new to PayPal sent as friends and family which now after some research realize that was dumb. So my question is are there any steps I can take to get my money refunded at all. Thanks

[dawn48]

you can go to the resolution center and file a complaint. I am dealing with a fraud issue-except the person a filed the complaint against provided a fake address and paypal keeps telling me to provide tracking info...its a fake address I can't. But in your case, if the seller doesn't respond. Paypal protection will cover the loss.

[kernowlass · Accepted solution]

@dawn48 

Wrong the buyer has 0 protection as they sent payment via the friends / family option.

@Jakeyork0318 

A friends / family (or gift payment) is intended as a 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.
However as it is a gift 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 paying his paypal fees and negates your buyer protection at the same time.
You would also not be able to open a dispute apart from one citing an unauthorised transaction but that would be automatically closed as you did authorise the initial payment.

Be careful as using that option for purchasing goods is against Paypal rules and can lead to account limitation.

If you funded your paypal payment via a credit card then contact your card issuer and see if they will help you but unfortunately they may decline as well as it was a gift payment.