PayPal Community

Just an update ... after SkaraMall.com produced a bogus tracking number (to the right city of about the right weight), after a few days, PayPal issued a refund to me (w/o further proof from me of non-delivery).  So, in this case, I did not have to get UPS to produce evidence of the fraud (but I did start a UPS "claim" which I don't seem to be able to stop).  Anyhow, PayPal may be clued in a bit better finally.  Good luck to those still awaiting refunds. ... View more

I'm still working on my reimbursement (6 weeks).   After I disputed the charge with PayPal, on about the last possible day, SkaraMall.com produced a (clearly bogus) UPS tracking number of a package of about the right weight to the right city.  While still awaiting the PayPal response (a denial if the pattern holds), I created a "claim" against UPS to get documentation that the package was not addressed to me.  UPS seems completely clueless (i.e., their automated responses and even when I talk to a person).  So, it is a battle with both UPS and PayPal to get the matter resolved.  I assume this is a percentage game ... many people give up (because of all the incompetence at both UPS and PalPal in handling such a scammer) and even so PayPal cannot determine with certainty that this a 100% scam operation even with repeated evidence the scammer is producing bogus tracking numbers. ... View more

I commented before but I'll update this with some advice (from someone who has not got any satisfaction so I can say what NOT to do). I opened an "Unauthorized" dispute as soon as I figure out I was scammed and send an order cancellation to the scammer's e-mail. The scammer put my order on "Hold" rather than providing shipping information. Paypal denied my dispute (ignoring the contents, no doubt).  The dispute is "Closed" and I cannot re-open it nor can I created another dispute for another reason (like non-delivery). Several times, I've "messaged" PayPal and the representative said PayPal is trying to contact the scammer, and PayPal will let me know how that turns out (hah, hah). Every week, I'll retry messaging them to get status until something changes. So, at least from my vantage point, you should never expect PayPal to stop this ongoing scam by trying to give them timely information never open a dispute until you have the ammunition to prove your case never show you hand to the scammer lest he takes evasive actions ... View more

Unfortunately, I "clicked" before I "researched" partly because of the implied protection/endorsement by PayPal.  You'd think PayPal would have a very aggressive fraud protection program for a blatant fraud situation, but evidently not ... perhaps crippled partly by COVID-19 but it seems systemic.  I used getnotify.com to see what e-mail might work and the crook (Dinh Van Dong, aka, SkaraMall.com) did open my request to cancel the order copied to his PayPal email (gmail user vipmomo054), but of course, did not respond.  I filed a "unauthorized transaction" case with PayPal (because it was the only category that MIGHT get some immediate attention), but PayPal rejected it (I presume completely automated because any reasonable human review would figure out this is an ongoing theft enabled by PayPal's neglect).  I also used their online messaging to try to get some attention to the matter, but that was a waste of time. My order is "on hold" status ... the theft MO may change to add delays into the process.   My plan is to use some of the strategies to document when the fraud when their is more evident and take pictures and make a movie of the opening of the delivery (if any), and if PayPal won't act, appeal to the Credit Card company.  What a pain. ... View more