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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:
Staffy1 · 22/06/2021 17:45

Unlikely to be a scam. If the common scam is to get a refund and then cancel their own payment leaving you out of pocket, no one would wait around for this long without cancelling their payment. And by the sound of it there is no way for them to cancel or reverse their payment.

Newmumatlast · 22/06/2021 17:48

@Frannyhy

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.

If you're concerned about fraud contact the police before sending it back? Or ask to speak to the person on video not just email. If there's nothing untoward then that should be fine. Tbh its not your money. If PayPal won't get involved what are you going to.do, keep it forever?
MowldyStupidAndAssive · 22/06/2021 17:51

PayPal have told her she's done the right thing FFS!

SuperstoreFan · 22/06/2021 17:51

@MowldyStupidAndAssive

I can't believe how many people don't know that this is a very common scam tactic!

OP is absolutely right to be getting PayPal to deal with it. Under no circumstances should anyone ever refund a sum of money like this no matter what sob story the sender tells.

And what's more, if the sender was genuine, they could contact PayPal or do a chargeback themselves. The fact that they haven't speaks volumes.

bangs head on desk

No they can't!

MowldyStupidAndAssive · 22/06/2021 17:57

That's the whole point of the scam. That the sender can do a chargeback with their bank or credit card company for the payment. The only time they couldn't would be if they had paid with PayPal funds, but OP has no way to know the funding source of the payment she was sent.

PayPal themselves have told her she has done the right thing, not to refund, and to let them deal with it. I don't know why posters think they know better Hmm

memberofthewedding · 22/06/2021 18:01

I have a Paypal business account. Occasionally buyers want to cancel a transaction and ask me to refund their money - which may be quite a high amount. Using the "refund payment" facility from the original payment is quite safe since the funds go back to the original source. You can only refund the amount that is in the transaction and there is no way that the original sender can get more money out of your account.

However I would ring Paypal first and ask their advice as you feel nervous. If you do so while logged into your account you should not have to wait long for a response.

JellyTumble · 22/06/2021 18:04

YABU and creating an issue where there isn’t one. Just send him the money back.

Of course he’s sending you angry emails Confused

SuperstoreFan · 22/06/2021 18:04

@MowldyStupidAndAssive

That's the whole point of the scam. That the sender can do a chargeback with their bank or credit card company for the payment. The only time they couldn't would be if they had paid with PayPal funds, but OP has no way to know the funding source of the payment she was sent.

PayPal themselves have told her she has done the right thing, not to refund, and to let them deal with it. I don't know why posters think they know better Hmm

If the chargeback was succesful they would still owe Paypal the money and Paypal don't fuck around when it comes to debt.

The chargeback wouldn't be succesful as Paypal would say it was sent via friends and family, tough shit.

TatianaBis · 22/06/2021 18:06

Absolutely right to let Paypal deal with it.

If the payment was made using stolen card details, when that card is cancelled/money recovered - the payment will disappear. If you have sent £600 of your own money to the guy - you will be out of pocket and Paypal may not refund.

Ourlady · 22/06/2021 18:14

Well done on following your gut OP. Obviously many pp's haven't heard of this scam and are making out you're a horrible person for not sending it back immediately. If the guy was genuine surely he wouldn't mind Paypal sorting it all out.

Yuppie20 · 22/06/2021 18:21

Yeah think your being a bit ridiculous. Just refu d via the method he paid it through. You don't need to do a new transaction at all. I use PayPal all the time to transfer money to family and my window cleaner PayPal strictly do not get involved if its a friend and family transaction as not a business.
Poor guy is probably worried sick and it's a lot of money. Also if you take the money knowing that it was a mistake you are liable if he decides to take you to court

diddl · 22/06/2021 19:10

@JellyTumble

YABU and creating an issue where there isn’t one. Just send him the money back.

Of course he’s sending you angry emails Confused

Of course he's sending angry emails?

WTF??

Needs to be more careful in future, doesn't he?

Not Op's fault he sent it to the wrong account-that lies squarely with him.

PerciphonePuma · 22/06/2021 19:48

Everyone is arguing about whether it's a scam or not but all I can think is WHY has it taken you "some weeks" to pick up the phone and call PayPal? Hmm
Did it not occur to you that IF he's genuine and it was a mistake - the poor man must be in bits. I certainly would be, I'd be crying myself to sleep every night (yea, really).

Op have you spent the money?

AnyWhore · 22/06/2021 19:48

@Yuppie20

Yeah think your being a bit ridiculous. Just refu d via the method he paid it through. You don't need to do a new transaction at all. I use PayPal all the time to transfer money to family and my window cleaner PayPal strictly do not get involved if its a friend and family transaction as not a business. Poor guy is probably worried sick and it's a lot of money. Also if you take the money knowing that it was a mistake you are liable if he decides to take you to court
read the OPs posts. She says the payment has been frozen and that if genuine she wants the man to have his money back.

FFS duh

Bumzoo · 22/06/2021 20:24

You've done the right thing to be cautious

littlebillie · 22/06/2021 21:37

@Yuppie20

Yeah think your being a bit ridiculous. Just refu d via the method he paid it through. You don't need to do a new transaction at all. I use PayPal all the time to transfer money to family and my window cleaner PayPal strictly do not get involved if its a friend and family transaction as not a business. Poor guy is probably worried sick and it's a lot of money. Also if you take the money knowing that it was a mistake you are liable if he decides to take you to court
There was a scam regarding this a while ago for some reason the payment made to the account wasn't a real one but the refund left the person out of pocket. I'll see if I can find it
QueenBee52 · 22/06/2021 21:56

@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.

Well done OP... you did the right thing, and you can trust Paypal. Flowers
Rizwankhan · 05/07/2021 11:34

Don't return the money to a separate deal. If not, you run the risk of a refund or dispute of your initial transaction. Go to PayPal, find the transaction and reimburse.
There many subscription billing software that can handle your transactional and billing process with invoice. The original transaction can be reimbursed by you. Log in, find payment, click and see details, including the option to reimburse your money. PayPal account. PayPal will reverse the fees and take the net amount you received back to the purchaser.

QuestionableMouse · 05/07/2021 11:48

My sister has a ridiculous email address that she uses for family stuff and I've typed it wrong multiple times, despite it being ten or fifteen years since she started using it.

Regularsizedrudy · 05/07/2021 12:37

@PerciphonePuma

Everyone is arguing about whether it's a scam or not but all I can think is WHY has it taken you "some weeks" to pick up the phone and call PayPal? Hmm Did it not occur to you that IF he's genuine and it was a mistake - the poor man must be in bits. I certainly would be, I'd be crying myself to sleep every night (yea, really).

Op have you spent the money?

Op stated she hasn’t touch the money. The poor man? Boo boo he wants to be more careful then doesn’t he. If someone sends money by mistake that’s their problem. HE should be the one chasing PayPal. He’s obviously got shitty because the op isn’t doing what she’s told. She is absolutely right to let PayPal handle it. It’s not her problem.
Regularsizedrudy · 05/07/2021 12:38

Also the fact he got aggressive is a massive red flag that this is a scam. It’s a really common tactic when things aren’t going their way.

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