How does Paypal investigate unauthorized transaction charges with debit card purchases?

[ccoxey]

How does Paypal investigate unauthorized charges where someone uses your debit card information completely without your permission?

I have been a victim of this twice in the last three months, where my debot card has been cloned. I live in Florida. The first time the purchases were made in Texas, and I figured they would side with me, and realize it was completely unauthorized sense I live so far away, and transactions were made that day both in Florida and Texas using the same card. They did side with me and I got my money back.

This time, the unauthorized transaction happened an hour away from where I live, and I was in that location that day! I live in Port Charlotte and I visted a friend in Fort Myers. On my way back from Fort Myers, I stopped at a gas station where I spent $11.99 on gas. That same day, someone used my card on that same road for $100! 

I didn't use my credit card that day anywhere else! So the times can't be a contradiction. For example, if an authorized transaction took place at 12 P.M. 50 miles away from where an unauthorized transaction took place at 12:05 P.M. Then there is obviously foul play, but in my case, there is no such proof, sense I never used my card again that day!

The next day, my card was used again (unauthorized) at 6:35 AM PDT near Fort Myers. That day, I used my card at 10:57 PDT about 50-60 miles away from where it was used that morning. But still, can't it can be argued that I could of driven down there?

Only merchants have use of the security footage, so that can't be used by Paypal to determine that I did not use the card.

How else would they investigate this? I am scared as I really can't afford this, and I do not want to, nor can I afford to be a victim of fraud...

[sharpiemarker]

Turn on your email notifications on purchases for your PayPal debit card so you can monitor it.  Call the customer service # on the back of your PayPal debit card to void that card # and issue you a new one right away and tell them you suspect unauthorized use after you used it a the gasoline station.  You might want to call up either Mastercard or Visa and explain the situation.  If you don't recognize a charge you don't recognize a charge, its not like you're not recognizing all of your charges.

I think that gasoline station got a criminal working for them or someone with a card swipe reader.  I swear, it ain't safe to leave the house these days.

Several years ago I've had unauthorized charges on two different credit cards before and I don't know how the information could have gotten out.  One card I used at Target store, on their check out card swiping machines, the other I didn't even take out of my wallet!  I swear, no lie.  Then you read/see on TV where criminals have credit card readers where all you have to do is walk past and they get your info. Thankfully the credit card companies contacted me via email or I wouldn't have known until too late as they were huge charges.   Now I make sure to get email notifications of all transactions financially.

[shaeknits]

Having on your notifications does no good. I notified PayPal minutes after receiving a notification that a card number on my account was used in another state. I received an email saying

We have completed our investigation of your case and, as there is
insufficient evidence in support of your claim, we have denied your
Unauthorized Account Use Claim.

I feel so hurt that I am not protected against charges I or someone on my account did not make. This happened on the 13th of this month and I received the email today. I am sure they did not investigate. Makes me so sad.

[shaeknits]

I spoke to multiple people at PayPal today so this issue has been resolved. It seems when I originally spoke to the first person immediately after it happened she started a claim against the account and forgot to close it when I specified the problem was with one of my cards. That is why I got the denial letter since the problem wasn't against the account just that card. After speaking to a knowledgeable person in the credit card department I feel confident that they are on my side.