I've been an idiot and was scammed

[B-s6]

This is extrememly embarassing. There's an attractive woman on Twitter who asked if anyone would give her money for a pedicure. This may sound materialistic, but I'm as certain as I can be that she's a real person as she's had an account there for years and has hundreds of selfies. I wanted to give her money and signed up under a new Twitter name to ask. She replied and gave me her Paypal link. Except it wasn't her. Someone had impersonated her and replied to me straight away. I didn't realise this until I sent her money.

As well as losing money I'm deeply ashamed. It would be embarassing enough admitting I gave a woman money that I don't know, but now I've given it to a scammer. I sent the money as friends and family. Do I have any recourse? All I have is a screenshot of the conversation. The problem is the scammer deleted the first tweet that included a link. I don't have a screenshot of that. He posted another Paypal address, either to get more money from me or just to cover his tracks. He has now deleted this account.

Please help and please no judgmental replies. I know I'm a fool. I already hate myself. Even though this is shameful I'm posting the whole story so someone might be able to advise me.

[B-s6]

I included a screenshot of what happened on Twitter but I guess that broke some rule even though I blanked out the name.

Anyway I know this is a weird problem and I'm embarassing myself but I need help. I'm going to have to expose my idiocy to Paypal and even then it seems unlikely I'll get my money back. I'm ashamed of myself.

[kernowlass · Accepted solution]

@B-s6 

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.

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.

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.