Help! Scammed

[ajw94]

Help! I’m so annoyed with myself! I’ve been on the hunt for a present of a special edition book for ages, and I’m part of all these groups and someone messaged me on FB with a really good price! (Too good to be true now that I think about it) I ordered them anyways and sent the money via pay pal F&F ( I know.. I know..) it just seemed too cheap and now I’ve done some looking online and I’m 100% certain I’ve been scammed!! Is there anything I can do?

[ajw94]

In the mean time I’ve contacted PayPal, they’ve said nothing. Can’t help as I stupidly used friends and family. Contacted my bank who said transaction is pending so they can’t do a chargeback unless it goes through. I’m so annoyed with myself!! Is there any other options, I’ve also contacted the seller and surprised I’ve had no answer! Please someone help!

[kernowlass]

@ajw94 

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), which 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.