Scammed via PayPal

[theadultsaretalking]

So...I bought smth very expensive via PayPal Xoom money transfer option (friends and family - I know, I know...but was panicking and needing that specific item urgently). It turns out the seller was masquerading as another Facebook marketplace company - exactly the same shopfront, exactly the same address details, just different bank details at the last minute. Now both Xoom and my bank refuse to do anything about it, as it was an authorised transaction and technically Xoom fulfilled their obligation to transfer the money. Is there anything I can do? Or is it a very expensive lesson to learn?

Never pay via friends and family. You cannot get your money back as there is no protection - PayPal does warn about this. Always use the goods and services option for someone you do not know, this way if something goes wrong PayPal will step in.

Afraid you may have to chalk this up to an expensive mistake

You chose to select friends and family. It offers no protection.

Expensive lesson I'm afraid.

Agree with the above. Charge backs via your bank usually aren't possible because you paid by a 3rd party provider (PayPal) and PayPal won't help because you okay'd the "friends and family" warnings when sending the money.

Thought as much and I am usually so hot on all those things. Menopausal brain is not a myth. Damn it!

why when you could’ve pressed the business button didn’t you? That’s what it is there for, nothing can be so important and expensive you rush to buy it and miss out security steps like this, it just means you’re the one left out of pocket. My boyfriend works for rbs/NatWest and all day long people call with similar scenarios and he can do little to help. Call your bank and ask to speak to scammers team/fraud team

why? In short because I am an idiot and also I still struggle with the idea that someone can have a really nice and seemingly genuine chat with you over a period of time, all the while planning to screw you.

I know that my life experience should be enough for me not to be surprised, but I am still taken aback at how shit some people are.

sorry I didn’t mean to make you feel worse, it’s just crap you’ve lost your money people can be total shits - like I say my bf sits all day long and deals with similar in between being shouted at by people so it’s crap. Do try and speak to the bank though and I hope you get your money back

Bank won’t do anything even though they agree it was a legit scam.

The thing is, I can (at a huge push) take a hit - my kids won’t starve, we won’t end up on the street- but these people don’t know who they are dealing with. They could literally push someone to suicide. I just don’t get it :(

Try Action Fraud. Is "seller" even in UK?

There is a fraud report option for family and friends.. . My mate was recently scammed out of £865....