I've been scammed via Facebook Messenger by a hacked account - has anyone else experienced this?

[stephtelfer]

Last night, a person who I know and I am close to on Facebook asked me, via messenger, to receive some money for them into my Paypal account from an ebay buyer, as theirs wasn't working. I did this, as they were extremely convincing, knowing things only this person would know. I sent the initial payment to a bank account, details provided, and all seemed fine. The penny dropped when she asked again if she could send more, and I Googled if this might be a scam. Turns out it is, so I quickly refunded the 'buyer' his money back, and contacted my bank fraud squad immediately.

The 'buyer' has now tried to reclaim the money from my PayPal account, so I am -£350 in the red. Paypal say that it is completely out of their hands but I just don't see how this can be the case. Surely they know who sent that money, and can see that it's fraudulent?

I have reported to police, and opened a case with my bank. I feel so duped and stupid, but this person who hacked my friend's account clearly did their research and knew so much about them that they could hold a conversation with me. 

Does anyone know if there's any way I can get PayPal to investigate the senders of this money from their end? I feel like there's got to be something they can do. It's put me off using PayPal ever again. 

[Mandyb1]

My bank are being quite understanding it seems. They have contacted the bank account that the money went to and are keeping me updated, the other bank has until tomorrow to respond. PayPal on the other hand, even after I told them my bank are investigating as it is a scam, have gone in favour of the account that the money originally came from as they put in a claim for an unauthorised transaction even though it wasn’t me that made the unauthorised transaction, I didn’t take their money. I asked them if they can be sure the account the money came from is legitimate but they said they are happy after doing their investigation the money should go to them. As I see it instead of me being the one having to clear myself the original source of the money should be the one with the problem as it was never my money, I didn’t take it so why am I being held liable? cant seem to talk to anyone sensible at PayPal. Bank said to speak to PayPal’s internal investigations...but I can’t find a phone number or anything. Tried live chat just now and as quick as I pressed to send my message it came back with ‘I am not trained to answer that question’

[Missy73]

Me too, this is awful it has been happening for over a year now and PayPal arnt taking any responsibility or helping to resolve this scammer

[BethArmett]

Has anyone had any success being refunded the money? This happened to me last night. PayPal were no help. My bank are investigating it but I have a feeling that they’ll come back to me not being able to do much..

[Hlhwils3]

This just happened to me last week. Has anyone had success getting the money back? 

Thanks

[ahart906]

Guys this just happened to me yesterday......I did the exact same thing..... had a friend contact me, transferred around £300 and then boom, it wasn't her. Contacted my bank (Barclays) and they seem to be quite understanding. Cannot get through to Paypal for love nor money. Absolutely useless.  Has anyone had a positive outcome with this? 

[ZackWalmsley97]

I commented on this with my old PayPal which I can’t get into now. But it went to the police and the police didn’t want to know so I didn’t get anything back and to be honest I should have fought it with the court but I couldn’t be bothered but now it regret it

[Kmonc]

Hi did anyone ever get this resolved, my sister has just had the exact same thing happened to her and paypal are doing nothing to help her. Just wondered if anyone had managed to get a decent outcome?

[Jgannon47]

Did she end up sending the money? I’m afraid if she sent money it makes it more of a challenge for the bank to help. Luckily I did not send the money but I do have the money in my Pay Pal that they sent😭 hackers suck!!

[rsangsterkelly]

Yes, Happened to me this weekend -- I woudn't have even clocked it was a scam if they hadn't tried to get me to loan them and extra £300 because they'd gone over their transaction limit. I also have a red £380 against my account. I've reported it to my bank (Lloyds) and they're investigating at their end. I'm wondering if they've hacked into someone's paypal account and stolen money funnelling it out or it's the same person raising it as fraud to steal more money. I've attached the conversation as I'm curious as to if it is a bot or a real person. 

[rsangsterkelly]

Update -- received a message saying they've sided with me, but the person has re-raised it?!? and the options i have to resolve are to admit something I didn't do no section to highlight fraud? I'm extremely disappoint/sickened with this process. Like an awful roller coaster. Now back to my bank to let them know it's been reopened. Why are they jerking me around like this??? Is anything ever final?