Scammed through 'family and friends' - how to report?

[babzydoodle]

I bought something on Depop and the seller wanted me to pay through 'family and friends' so I did which I now realise was a stupid thing to do. She never sent the item, it's been 7 weeks and she hasn't replied to my messages. 

What would be the best thing to do? How do I go about reporting her? Gutted as I know I probably can't get my money back but is there any way to get her account suspended or something? I don't want her to just get away with it cause she's doing this to other people too. 

[kernowlass]

@babzydoodle

To be honest unless you have an auction where there is proof she is asking for friends  / family payments for purchases then its unlikely action will be taken against her.

She could just say you sent her a ''gift'' which to be honest is what you did.

BUT if you funded that payment via a card then contact your card issuer and see if they can help you BUT some card issuers will again want proof that it was for a purchase so a refund is not guaranteed.

[babzydoodle]

Thank you kernowlass for your reply. I do have screenshots proving she asked for friends and family payment for the item, and also in the original PayPal transaction I put 'payment for [item] on depop' in the comments/notes section. What's the best way to contact PayPal to try and report her? And I paid with my bank funds so I contacted my bank this morning, they gave me a form which I filled out to see if I can get the money back - but it was a debit card I paid with not a credit card - does this mean I can't get it back through the bank?

[kernowlass · Accepted solution]

@babzydoodle

You may get it back via your bank but it would be as a ''goodwill'' gesture.

You can report by using the contact option bottom of paypal pages BUT be careful, its against paypal rules for YOU to send payments for goods using the family / friends option and you risk your own paypal account being limited for doing so.

[babzydoodle]

Ah I see, thanks very much for your help, I have reported her to depop anyway so hopefully they will get back to me soon also.