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AIBU?

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Original poster

Paypal payment mistake

146 replies

Frannyhy · 22/06/2021 14:02

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.

OP posts:
CustardySergeant · 22/06/2021 15:20

The OP does say that she received the money "Some weeks back", so this wouldn't be uncleared money after that time would it? I think this is probably genuine if you can't reverse/cancel a F&F transaction as people say.

Babyg1995 · 22/06/2021 15:23

This happened to.me I sent it to the wrong account sender sent me it back straight away .

Babyg1995 · 22/06/2021 15:24

Sorry the recipient sent it back straight away .

yourestandingonmyneck · 22/06/2021 15:39

@Cantthinkofabettername12345

From memory they send you money but it’s frozen in your account, so when you send them money back it doesn’t send back the frozen money, it sends your money. So when they cancel their transaction they get the frozen money and your money. Then they delete their paypal and there’s nothing you can do.
Yes, this is exactly the scam.

Get believe the shitty responses the OP has been getting.

OP, you did the right thing asking PayPal to intervene. Glad it's sorted.

PiffleWiffleWoozle · 22/06/2021 15:44

Amazed by some of the unquestioningly trusting and therefore hugely scammable responses on here.

You definitely did the right thing OP.

thinkingaboutLangCleg · 22/06/2021 15:50

I’ve heard of this as a money laundering trick. Ask your bank’s advice, and get it in writing.

cocoloco987 · 22/06/2021 16:05

From memory they send you money but it’s frozen in your account, so when you send them money back it doesn’t send back the frozen money, it sends your money. So when they cancel their transaction they get the frozen money and your money. Then they delete their paypal and there’s nothing you can do

That happens with goods and services - however this happened a tine back so the money will have cleared. In the situation you describe my answer and others would be different

OliviaWainright · 22/06/2021 16:07

I accidently sent money to the wrong email address last year, as a F&F payment. Paypal sorted it and reversed it. Never would I have emailed the person I sent it to expecting them to send the money back

LifeIsAMotorway · 22/06/2021 16:09

F&F doesn't work the same way as Goods and Services. It's more akin to a bank transfer. You can't as a sender do anything about the money once it's gone - no reversal, no anything. In fact you have zero rights and no protection.

The scam for F&F is to get people to give YOU (such as buying something online). Then they keep the money and not send the item. It doesn't work in the opposite way by them sending you money.

Tell paypal it was a mistake and ask them the exact process to return the money.

Souther · 22/06/2021 16:10

I'm sorry it sounds like a scam.
Ive heard about these before.

So what happens is because you've refunded them and they usually ask you to refund them a specific way.
they then go through paypal and get their money back. But because of the way you refunded them you wont be able to claim it back.
I'd make them go via paypal

AliceLivesHere · 22/06/2021 16:16

Seriously don't me a nasty unhelpful person. He made a mistake. The money is for his sister. It's not your money just send it back. Paypal won't get involved because its a friends/fmily thing not a business.

@Frannyhy Ever think of just helping someone out once?

AliceLivesHere · 22/06/2021 16:17

If the money is received and was some weeks ago and is in the OP account then it isn't a scam - people do sometimes make mistakes!

starfishmummy · 22/06/2021 16:23

@TulipVictory

Refund it back! It's not a small amount of money, he must be really worried
And its "not a small amount of money" for the OP to lose if it turns out to be a scam.

Paypal can sort it

RandomLondoner · 22/06/2021 16:28

I have no idea if Paypal allows friends and family recipients to "refund" money, though I don't see why they wouldn't, since business payment receivers can do this. (Googling doesn't help because everything that comes up is to do with Paypal refunding someone, as opposed to the recipient using Paypal to do so.)

However I would like to point out that there's no logical reason why there couldn't be a refund function for the recipient to refund money. There would be no risk to anyone. In this regard, lots of people pontificating up-thread have talked about it being dangerous to send money back. It probably is, but that's is not what a proper refund button would do. A proper refund would nullify the incoming transaction, not create a new outgoing one. There would be no possibility of a scam against the recipient.

AnyWhore · 22/06/2021 16:28

@NoMoreHGTVPlease

Money washing?
I agree, money laundering was my first thought.
RandomLondoner · 22/06/2021 16:34

When the original payment was received, the money was (ostensibly) in Paypals bank account, and Paypals computer increased OPs balance (a record of what it owes OP) by say £600. In order to "refund", all it needs to do is reduce OPs balance by £600 and increase the senders. The money remains in its own bank account at all times, and there is no risk to anyone while that remains true. Whether Paypal wants to take the risk of allowing the original sender to withdraw it from his Paypal account is an issue that is of no concern to the recipient. Presumably Paypal knows how to deal with the risk to itself in that scenario.

Tinkling · 22/06/2021 16:38

This has happened to me a few times. I just send it back.

NVision · 22/06/2021 16:42

Do absolutely nothing except contact paypal about it.

Common fraud to get you to send payment back (usually to another account - not sure if thats the case here), then the first payment to you is reversed by paypal due to fraud/account theft. You are left out of pocket and no recompense as you personally authored the transaction (as opposed to someone stealing your account or similar).

DespairingHomeowner · 22/06/2021 16:42

@Frannyhy

No I’m not making an issue. I’ve just found Paypal were very helpful.

They said don’t reverse the transaction under any circumstances and to leave it with them.

@Frannyhy: you are SO doing the right thing

It sounds dodgy as hell & why should you be put at any risk

If he contacts you again, email back ‘please stop emailing me about this’: if he contacts you in future after that it’s harassment

His mistake, PayPal can sort or not, as long as you don’t spend it you are in the clear

Who can’t spell their own sisters name btw?!?!

cupsofcoffee · 22/06/2021 16:43

@northbacchus

Don't send the money back, I believe he can get a chargeback for the Paypal money issued through his bank and if you then also refund you will be out of pocket. Isn't F&F more likely to be a scam? Lots of selling sites say to avoid using it.
No.

Some sellers encourage you to use F&F because it means they don't have to pay fees, but if you use that method, you have no comeback if there's a problem with your goods - that's why PayPal discourage it (unless, of course, you know the person you're paying).

As this money was sent via F&F, PayPal cannot do anything to help him get the money back - it's like paying for a car via BACS instead of credit card. You can get help from your bank if you pay via credit card but not if you've paid by BACS.

amylou8 · 22/06/2021 16:45

I think you're absolutely right to be cautious. PayPal f&f doesn't have the same level of protection as g&s, however if he's funded the payment through his bank or credit card he potentially recoup his money via them by saying it was unauthorised. PayPal would undoubtedly recoup their losses from you. I would have done exactly as you have.

SusannahMartin · 22/06/2021 16:46

Jeez what sort of world are we living in? It was a mistake. Send him back his money

cupsofcoffee · 22/06/2021 16:46

Who can’t spell their own sisters name btw?!?!

Have you never made a typo in your life?

I sell online and take payment via PayPal and so many people incorrectly spell my name and my e-mail address! So they send things to "[email protected]" or "[email protected] etc. and wonder why it's not gone through.

They're not immediately recognisable mistakes as the "cupsofcoffee" part is correct, iyswim.

AnyWhore · 22/06/2021 16:46

@AliceLivesHere

Seriously don't me a nasty unhelpful person. He made a mistake. The money is for his sister. It's not your money just send it back. Paypal won't get involved because its a friends/fmily thing not a business.

@Frannyhy Ever think of just helping someone out once?

It's only his word it was for his sister, could be anyone.

Frannyhy you've done the right thing.

ElephantOfRisk · 22/06/2021 16:47

It can be a scam or related to money laundering so best to let Paypal sort it which is what OP is doing.

How would he be able to paypal it to you by accident anyway?

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