Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Paypal scam???

22 replies

Adviceneeeeded · 24/06/2024 17:03

Hi all

We received a fund into our main bank account that states a number starting with PPWDL then numbers for £758.50

It hasn't come from our PayPal account.

It's gone into our natwest account. This has to be some weird scam doesn't it?

I checked with dh and neither of us are expecting a payment. We haven't sold anything etc. Its been transferred from paypal.

I left a message with natwest and popped into the savings account incase natwest need to send it back.

Anyone else had this?

OP posts:
OliveWah · 24/06/2024 18:02

I haven't had this myself, but I follow the scams sub on reddit, and it does sound familiar. I suspect you'll get a message saying it's been sent to you in error and asking you to send it to a bank account. In a day or two, it will show up in your bank account as "fraud" and the money will be removed, leaving you £758.50 worse off.

If you want to ask, pop over and post your OP on www.reddit.com/r/Scams/ and I'm sure someone will be able to advise. Just to warn you though, if you do end up losing money, beware of "recovery scammers" who will get in touch and tell you they can help you get your money back - stick to speaking to your bank and/or Paypal.

Original poster
Adviceneeeeded · 24/06/2024 18:05

Thank you. The strange thing is. Ots not done though PayPal. Its a PayPal payment arrived in my natwest bank account.

Thanks for your help. I shall take a look

OP posts:
OliveWah · 24/06/2024 18:47

Ots not done though PayPal. Its a PayPal payment arrived in my natwest bank account.

Yes, but you'll get an email purporting to be from PayPal (or possibly from just an individual) saying that PayPal have sent you the funds intended for an individual in error. Or that they accidentally put in your account number, rather than theirs.

I hope you get some help over on r/scams, they're a pretty clued-up bunch and there aren't many scams they haven't heard of!

Original poster
Adviceneeeeded · 24/06/2024 19:27

Ahh got you. Thank you!
I wandered what happens if you just don't send it back....

I shall investigate. Thank you

OP posts:
Original poster
Adviceneeeeded · 24/06/2024 19:29

Right. Looks like eventually the bank will see the money they sent to my account is stolen and will reverse it. So I'm right to keep it in a seperate account. Then if they take it back from my account I can transfer it back over.

Nat West said they couldn't check the payment today. But can tomorrow.

OP posts:
OliveWah · 24/06/2024 21:33

I think the advice is usually just to leave it where it is and don't touch it, as it will likely be removed within 2-3 days. As long as you've got enough in that account to cover the £760 when it gets reversed, you should be alright.

The only other thing to bear in mind is by moving it, it could look like you're complicit in the fraud, however since you've already been in touch with your bank and discussed it with them, it seems unlikely - just worth mentioning in case anyone else finds this thread when looking for advice.

Original poster
Adviceneeeeded · 24/06/2024 22:17

Thanks @OliveWah I just didn't want it to be swallowed in with my expenses and then looks like I have spent it! Hence moving it and notifying the bank.

This is the part when dh suddenly remembers the reason for it 😅🤣 he hasn't yet. So probably is some sort of weird scam. Still. No message has arrived anywhere!

OP posts:
Summertimer · 24/06/2024 22:28

Basically, this kind of thing makes it clear why my institution (major uni) doesn’t allow us to have corporate PayPal accounts

GeordieMam92 · 01/07/2024 09:53

Hey,

I was just wondering if there is any update on what has happened?
I have had something very similar happen to me on the 25th June. Money still in my account. I haven't recieved any communication and bank hasn't pulled it back.

Original poster
Adviceneeeeded · 01/07/2024 11:19

Hi @GeordieMam92 nope. No one has asked for it. No strange messages. It hasne been recalled either. Bank said they can't help either. So I don't know what to do!

How long before you can just save/spend it. Because I don't want to have to keep factoring it in with my savings and I don't want to open a seperate account to keep it in either!

OP posts:
TheSerenePinkOrca · 01/07/2024 11:49

Adviceneeeeded · 01/07/2024 11:19

Hi @GeordieMam92 nope. No one has asked for it. No strange messages. It hasne been recalled either. Bank said they can't help either. So I don't know what to do!

How long before you can just save/spend it. Because I don't want to have to keep factoring it in with my savings and I don't want to open a seperate account to keep it in either!

For a "debt" it's normally 6 years someone has to chase it, so I would put it in savings, then on 1st July 2030 you can buy yourself something nice with it!

Woahtherehoney · 01/07/2024 11:53

I know you’ve reported it to your bank, but have you contacted PayPal? They can check where it came from and reverse it if necessary.

Original poster
Adviceneeeeded · 01/07/2024 11:56

@Woahtherehoney yes. I don't have a PayPal account. Never used them, so they said they couldn't help!

Wow! 6 years is a long time to be held financially hostage 🤣

OP posts:
GeordieMam92 · 01/07/2024 12:00

@Adviceneeeeded

I spoke to PayPal, they couldn't help, my bank said they couldn't help. They said normally If challenged they would pull it back within 2-3 working days. After that it's closed as ny funds.

If worse case they tried to pull it back I wouldn't have to pay it in full, it would be a payment plan I could set up if I didn't have funds to pay it back straight away.

I'm still in a pickle. I need to new blinds it's tempting 😂 my bank were lovely about it and were very reassuring but like you I'm a bit skeptical on what to do with it.

BarrioQueen · 01/07/2024 12:02

It's not your money. It's not a windfall. So await instructions from your bank.

Original poster
Adviceneeeeded · 01/07/2024 12:03

Oh interesting! @GeordieMam92 thank you! Who do you bank with? Natwest where really not helpful. They just said it came from paypal and can't tell me anything else!

Well, wait a few more days. If the bank said you can use it. Then use it!

OP posts:
Original poster
Adviceneeeeded · 01/07/2024 12:03

@BarrioQueen thats the problem. The banknwerent interested and said they couldn't help...

OP posts:
GeordieMam92 · 01/07/2024 12:07

@Adviceneeeeded I'm natwest too 😅 my branch are lovely and they looked fully into it and all they could see is that it was a payment from PayPal but they said noone as requested it to be pulled back, there isn't anything fraudulent flagged up and I've had no contact from anyone claiming to be PayPal wanting money back etc. It all seems legit on their end.

I'll give it another week to see what's going to happen 👀

Original poster
Adviceneeeeded · 01/07/2024 12:09

So strange isn't it! I wandered about where its come from! And who's missingbl it. If I could return it and it wasn't a scam, I would do so straight away. But obviously can't!

OP posts:
Original poster
Adviceneeeeded · 01/07/2024 12:10

It's been exactly one week here

OP posts:
BarrioQueen · 01/07/2024 12:15

Leave it at least a year - because maybe in this electronic payment world it has gone astray from someone. I'd just leave it. Sadly it isnt yours to spend.

Offcom · 01/07/2024 17:36

Ironically I've been getting emails from PayPal saying that a refund that I AM expecting is available to collect – except when I try to collect it, it's not available. The emails mention the exact amount I'm due and that it's from the company which is meant to be refunding me. Don't think it's a scam, suspect it's due to ineptitude

New posts on this thread. Refresh page