How to report a scammer

[revansavfc]

I have paid someone who I have found out is a scammer..I have looked at opening a complaint with PayPal but there are only 3 options, none of which are the ones I need. Please help

[kernowlass]

@revansavfc 

Would help if you said how you were scammed.

However as long as you did NOT use the friends/family option but used goods/services then click on the transaction and open a dispute for non receipt of item OR item received but not as described which ever is appropriate.

[revansavfc]

Hi. I had paid for a football shirt and did it via friends and family.. I have found out that he has scammed several people. I have contacted him but he doesn't reply. I have contacted my bank who said to report it via PayPal but I cannot find the option to do this. The options shown are "lost card", "unauthorised use" etc. Shall I just contact PayPal and speak to someone? Thanks

[kernowlass]

@revansavfc 

A friends / family (or gift payment) is intended as a transfer of funds from family or friends to one another. For this reason, there is no processing fee when payment is made with bank or PayPal balance.
However as it is a gift payment, there is also no buyer protection as no goods or services should have been exchanged.

If he was not a close mate or family member you should never use that option as it enables the seller to evade paying his Paypal fees and negates your buyer protection at the same time.

You would also not be able to open a dispute (apart from one citing an unauthorised transaction), which would be automatically closed as you did authorise the initial payment.

Be careful as using that option for purchasing goods is against Paypal rules and can lead to account limitation.

If you funded your Paypal payment via a credit card then contact your card issuer and see if they will help you but unfortunately they may decline as well as it was a gift payment.