Paypal payment mistake

[Frannyhy]

Some weeks back I received a mystery payment of almost six hundred pounds to my paypal account. I had no idea of what it was for, and didn’t know the sender.

I didn’t touch the money - I waited. The following day I received an apologetic email from the sender, saying that the money was for his sister who has the same name as me - he’d made a typo.

As the money was sent by friends and family he can’t reverse the transaction himself, and asked me if I’d do it.

I replied, that he needs to process the refund through paypal. I’m not sending the money back myself in case it’s a scam. However, Paypal won’t get involved.

He has written a couple of nasty emails to me. I’ve blocked him and taken legal advice and was advised that as long as I don’t withdraw the money I’m fine.

I do remember seeing someone who had made this mistake and was wondering if he or she is still here? I’m wondering what happened about it, and if a solution was found. I want the money to go back if the guy is on the level, but won’t risk sending it back myself.

Why would you not just send it back? It’s not your money. I’d be sending angry emails if you initially responded and then refused to send it back. How long are you planning on just keeping it for?

I can kind of understand being cautious, but how would he have got your email address in the first place if he didn’t actually send it?

I don't have any advice but it does sound weird and I think you're right to be cautious.

He has my email address because he can see it in his paypal history of the transactions he made.

I am happy to return the money but only if paypal is involved.

I've had this before, although the amount was much less. As long as you refund using the original payment, rather than starting an entirely new transaction, I can't see how a scammer could benefit.

Worth googling though, just in case.

What exactly would be the scam? Paypal say that the person who has made the mistake should contact the recipient and ask for their money back which is what he's done.

Why won't you give him back his money?

I understand you being cautious too. If you send it to this person and then the correct person appears demanding the payment then you’re £600 in debt to them. What has PayPal said?

Have you contacted Paypal directly to sort and copied him in on it?
Ridiculous that they cannot oversee it themselves.

Paypal aren’t answering my emails. All I want them to do is to assure me that it is safe to make a refund.

Send it back to the account it came from.

You clearly don't want it to go back to him that badly if you won't send it back to where it came from.

Has he opened a dispute on paypal?

Don't be a dick! Send it back using the same method it was sent.
PayPal will only get involved if it was sent goods and services

It sounds like a scam. There are plenty of ways to send money without using PayPal.

There is a large "Refund This Payment" button on the transaction. Why would you not use that?

Why don't you ring Paypal? They're pretty helpful over the phone.

020 8080 6500

That’s what I feel. Why wouldn’t he just do a bank transfer to his sister.

Ring paypal

I think you’re getting a hard time op. You’re right, I do remember a scam of this nature a while ago. Sit tight and wait for PayPal to respond

Thanks Clymene I’ll do that now.

Op I can understand how you'd be cautious but telling him your not sending the money back was a really awful thing to do, no wonder he's sending nasty emails, you've more or less told him.you won't return the money! Why not contact PayPal and tell them your fears and tell him once you confirm its not a scam you'll send him back the money?

Money washing?

Wait until its processed through and cleared on your account before you do anything.

It could be money laundering. He pays you the money, you send it to back to a different bank account making it safe money to use.

I agree. I wouldn't do a new transaction, I would only do it as a linked refund or following agreement from PayPal

@NoMoreHGTVPlease

Money washing?

Hardly, if she's using Paypal's refund payment feature. It goes straight back to the origin account -- it can't be sent on to a different place unless she creates an entirely new transaction.

@Frannyhy

That’s what I feel. Why wouldn’t he just do a bank transfer to his sister.

I often use PayPal rather than bank transfer as it's quicker using the PayPal app than my banking app, also people might not have bank details to hand but PayPal can be sent via email address or phone number.