how do I deal with being scammed using PayPal

[esogamer25]

I was scammed on Facebook using PayPal as the platform to scam me. Now I owe PayPal money because the amount was withdrawn from my PayPal balance, leaving me with a negative balance. Is there a way to resolve this with PayPal?

[kernowlass]

@esogamer25 

As you have given 0 information on how you were scammed / transaction type / funding sources etc then sadly can't advise.

[esogamer25]

Someone was pretending to be a legitimate animal rescue by using their name and logo and asked for donations for a dog with parvo. They gave their PayPal email address and I sent money there using my PayPal account. Now I have a negative balance in PayPal and my case of unapproved transaction is under appeal review. I filed a internet crime complaint on ic3.gov.

[kernowlass · Accepted solution]

@esogamer25 

Sadly it would not be an unauthorised transaction as you sent the payment so you did authorise it.

Unfortunately as you willingly sent the funds then nothing you can do about it unless you sent using the goods/services option?

If not and you sent using friends/family then you would have 0 buyer protection unfortunately.

[esogamer25]

Thank you

[esogamer25]

To anyone who may be reading this in the future, PayPal will not seek to recoup the funds from the scammer, you're left on your own to dispute the transaction with your bank as fraud. If doesn't matter to PayPal if identity theft (someone pretending to be another person or organization) on the part of the perpetrator was involved. Don't waste your time with PayPal

[JD2417]

I will never pay with PayPal again. They do not support the customer when scammed by a seller

[kernowlass]

@JD2417 

Who do you think are Paypals customers??

They are both buyers + sellers.

That is why they can only give 'some' buyer and 'some' seller protection.

That protection is not a 100% coverall so its up to us to risk assess our purchases and double check who we are sending funds to.

[JD2417]

Sure, understood but when you clearly see a product that says MADE IN USA and return policy is 30 days you don't expect to be dealing with a company in ASIA that says to return it will be $50.00 , more than the cost of the face cream. (PETER THOMAS ROTH). 

The email correspondence is not the company name as ordered but an unrecognized name in Singapore.

Obviously, a scam.

Also I ordered a face cream and they sent an eye cream and said it was the same thing! Don't know who I am dealing with and would honestly be afraid to use it.

Pay Pal should stand by their sales to customers if fraudulent.

Cancelling my Pay Pal account.

[kernowlass]

@JD2417 

 Don't know who I am dealing with and would honestly be afraid to use it.

Which makes me wonder why you would purchase it in the first instance?

Unfortunately if you are buying from Social Media sites then its mainly Asian (China/Singapore etc)  and tat is exactly what you should expect unfortunately.

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

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.

Even credit cards don't cover you if you purchase from some of these sites, so be prepared to cancel  your credit cards and bank accounts as well !!