Online scam reported to paypal

[Temis1ZZ]

Good afternoon everyone,

I’m reaching out today because i was trying to purchase boat parts on [Removed], everything was going fine until PayPal payment process was done and I ended up on a TikTok.com page with message stating that I just had purchased coins.

When I returned to the boat parts website and didn’t see any sign of my order I clearly understood that it was a scam…

As this is not the first I’ve been scammed in the online world I immediately reported the incident to PayPal which then opened a claim (claim ID :

[Removed]).

Claim which was then surprisingly closed in the favor of TikTok..

So I had called once again and they explained that TikTok had provided evidence that I received the supposedly coins.

Those same coins which I have no transaction ID or even any clue of where they landed because I have no TikTok account…

Now that I don’t have anything, no refund, boat parts or even “coins”, only my eyes to cry I had called PayPal a third time…

They suggested me to contact TikTok without any reply from them yet.

They also said that If i file an appeal there's a good chance it ends up the same way...

Since the only information I have is the PayPal transaction I will include everything below :

Case ID: [Removed]

Disputed amount: $62.93 USD

Seller info: [Removed](Can't show the rest, paypal bs policy)

Date reported: 19 August 2024

Invoice ID: [Removed]

Item name tiktok b2c recharge

Item description: tiktok b2c recharge

Item number: _668071

Quantity: 1

I will also attach a screenshot and link of the product I was trying to purchase.

Link :[Removed]

Paypal also suggested that i report the incident to my bank >> But there's a reason i'm using paypal in all my transcation because my bank has a terrible customer service (overseas bank) and i'm pretty sure that nothing will happen... I will still try that option but i don't really have any hope, i just find it terribly ridculous from Paypal to have let me down that way. I always had an impeccable service but this time i just feel like i was stabed in the back.

Let me know what you people think.

Regards,

Lucas 

[kernowlass]

@Temis1ZZ 

Did you purchase from a website or a Social Media post?

How did you send the funds? If you used send  money then did you put a note on it to fully described what you were paying for? Or if it was a money request or invoice then did that fully describe what you were paying for? If not then all paypal can see is that you bought something from Tiktok and Tiktok provided delivery of what you purchased to you.

[Temis1ZZ]

Hi Kernowlass,

It was purchased from a website. The same one included in my original message. I was basically searching for a specific inflatable boat valve on google and ended up on that website.

The payment occured on the website itself, nothing unusual. I had put the parts in my cart, then went to checkout. In the checkout i filled up the biling address including my email and clicked on the option that it was the same for the shipping address.

Then on that same page i had the parts and shipping cost shown on the right side and below that the payment options.

I first tried to pay with a company credit card since it was parts for a job. Got that declined. Not too unusual since it's an overseas bank and sometimes payments don't go through because they only accept US credit cards. Note that i haven't checked if that card was actually debited so will check that asap just in case..

From there i went back to the payment options and selected paypal. Small paypal window pops up with my account already logged in (not unusual) with "Ship to .... my address" then "Pay with ... debit card" and below again "complete purchase". Same small paypal window i usually get when i do a purchase without no information on the items i'm buying or company i'm buying it from.

Then once i completed the purchase i was redirected to a tiktok.com website stating that i had actually bought coins and not parts for that same amount.

I have all the screenshots.

I understand what you're saying kernowlass but if all paypal is seeing is a payment to tiktok and tiktok had proof that does "coins" were delivered then where are they ?

I don't really know how tiktok works but an example, any video games i had played when i was younger >> when i was purchasing coin or anything else it was only possible because i had an account so it could be added on it, if not how would it be possible ? It's like sending money to someone through paypal while the other person doesn't have any paypal account, it just doesn't make any sense.

I just feel like i'm going crazy but you see where i'm going with the reflexion ?

P.S. I just got an answer this morning from tiktok feedback email address which is asking me to submit an inquiry through the Tiktok app, signing into my account etc. Not sure which part of "I don't have an account" they did not understand lol.. Just doesn't make any sense. 

[kernowlass]

@Temis1ZZ 

The payment occured on the website itself, nothing unusual. I had put the parts in my cart, then went to checkout. In the checkout i filled up the biling address including my email and clicked on the option that it was the same for the shipping address.

You don't have to fill in that information if you are using a paypal account, you just have to log in to paypal to pay. Paypal has your billing card information and email address so why would you need to imput them?

Also if paying with paypal your cards are already added to your account so you don't imput them either during checkout.

The whole point of paypal is that you DON'T have to enter that information on the website !! 

[Temis1ZZ]

I didn't click on the paypal option before fiiling up all the information.

This something that is asked on pretty much every single websites i order parts, either i pay by card, bank wire or paypal. I believe it's the case for everybody.

It's always asked before i select the payment, i guess it's for them to keep the information on account.

I understand that paypal has all those informations but it always worked like this for me so not unusual.

Also the company card isn't the same as the one on my paypal account. The one on my paypal account is my personal card.

And this same personal card i don't have to enter it because yes it's already on my paypal account.

[ElleSays1]

Exact same thing happened to me but through a scam website for Vivaia shoes that has now been disabled. I have sent PayPal screenshots and proof that I was looking for shoes when all of a sudden it said I was paying TikTok for a recharge! I don’t even have that app. Twice now ruled in the sellers favour with PayPal just saying that TikTok shared information (none of which I’m privy to and also I’ve never had any response from that seller’s email.

[Temis1ZZ]

Hi @ElleSays1 

I totally feel your frustration..

I ended up getting my money back with paypal through the appeal.

I attached as many screenshots as i could and really explained in details what happened. Letting them know my frustration as well.

Was a very frustrating battle against Paypal. At some point it was not even about money anymore but the principle.

Like how can you let the scammers win...

I'm sorry that happened to you as well.

Hope Paypal is smart enough to start reacting to this new kind of scam and stop letting those scammers win...

[ElleSays1]

I tried appealing twice and they are still siding with the scammer.

[ElleSays1]

How do I appeal?