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Paypal Scam (Advice)
 

A few years ago I was scammed by an individual via Facebook.
They made out they were selling a ring for a substantial amount of money over £1,500 , I was looking for this item as a gift for my daughter.
This individual had me pay them using friends and family which I later found out through Paypal was a 'GIFT' payment. I found this individual online recently using the real email they gave me to pay, they contacted me on a ⊗⊗⊗⊗ facebook account before, long story short would the police be able to sort this years on if I reported it?

I've phoned Paypal over the years with no help or assistance, they said the police won't get involved as it's a civil matter. I never stated what I was paying for in the description either when I sent payment. :(
The Facebook account was ⊗⊗⊗⊗ that the person communicated me on.
Not sure what others think. Help.

Re: Paypal Scam (Advice)
 

You're in the UK, I'm in the US, so thing are different. BUT, you can try.

Did you file a report with the police?

Re: Paypal Scam (Advice)
 

No , this was a few years ago now so not sure if the Police will get involved now

Re: Paypal Scam (Advice)
 

Why do you say that?

Re: Paypal Scam (Advice)
 

Welcome to the forums - all the best as you master stealth :thumb:

Why would you wait a few years to file - that's kind of what phaz might be alluding too.

You should have taken action right away.

Also, this forum is not meant for legal advice so contact a lawyer or the police and see what they can do but I think you waited way too long here

Re: Paypal Scam (Advice)
 

I think that for 1500 police will try to find out the scammer...

Re: Paypal Scam (Advice)
 

If the police even believe OP there's going to be little to nothing they can do since the alleged fraud took place years ago. This is the kind of thing you need to start taking steps to fix immediately after you realize you've been scammed - not 2-3 years down the road.

:violin:

Re: Paypal Scam (Advice)
 

+ that guy might used VPN,etc...

Re: Paypal Scam (Advice)
 

sadly, even though you never got any item,the police would probably consider it buyers remorse and do nothing, especially after so much time (You said years)

Re: Paypal Scam (Advice)
 

Why we see so many cases when police arrest young ladies or finds them days later after they steal like 20-30$ in a coffe shop or in a club?

Re: Paypal Scam (Advice)
 

I don't know that we do see "so many cases when police arrest young ladies" for $20.

How many hundreds of cases are you talking about? Got a link to those 'so many cases'?

If the OP had filed a report at the time, maybe, but $1500 isn't even enough to interest the police these days, sadly.

Re: Paypal Scam (Advice)
 

Not sure how you mean? The Police would probably consider it buyers remorse?

Re: Paypal Scam (Advice)
 

So do you think years on the Police would do nothing ?

Re: Paypal Scam (Advice)
 

How do you mean Buyers remorse?

Re: Paypal Scam (Advice)
 

Almost weekly. See them in my local newspaper.

Re: Paypal Scam (Advice)
 

So is there nothing I can do, I know where this individual lives, should I approach them directly?

Re: Paypal Scam (Advice)
 

Intimidation can work.

UK doesn't have statue of limitations the way the US does apparently, so go to the police. Bring proof from the sending/purchase.

Re: Paypal Scam (Advice)
 

you can contact actionfraud, the delay of years severely weakens your case.
My guess is nothing will come of it, but you lose nothing if you pursue it....

Re: Paypal Scam (Advice)
 

The fact that you didn't do anything when it first started speaks volumes here....
This makes it almost impossible for you to do anything.

So without expecting anything, you might as well contact Paypal, FB and your local police and just tell them the story. Not sure if they'll do anything about it, but I highly doubt I would.

At this point it's like you got nothing more to lose.

Re: Paypal Scam (Advice)
 

Because you sent it as F&F instead of an actual transaction. And being that so much time has passed, they would probably think that you got something for not saying something earlier. file an IC3 report then contact paypal and then show paypaL. Sometimes if they feel law enforcement will be getting involved they will just bite the bullet and give you back your money.

Re: Paypal Scam (Advice)
 

I just feel it's a nice loophole for scammers to use as Paypal will not doing anything about this person and they could be doing it to loads of others and what recourse have the buyers got when f&f means it's a gift payment which can't be disputed?

Re: Paypal Scam (Advice)
 

This has been a known scam/issue for years.

Re: Paypal Scam (Advice)
 

Don't trust anybody on facebook...
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Re: Paypal Scam (Advice
 

Flag is UK, so not within the IC3 jurisdiction.

OP should approach their site.

https://www.actionfraud.police.uk

:juggle:

Re: Paypal Scam (Advice)
 

Scratches head that a newbie would be asking such questions. Hmmm.

OP,

Two of us have said contact actionfraud

Do that to get your closure.

Avoid contact with this alleged fraudster. Protect yourself now..

https://www.actionfraud.police.uk

:peace:

Re: Paypal Scam (Advice)
 

Is there no way for this person to be prosecuted three years on?
Is there any point in reporting the matter?

Re: Paypal Scam (Advice)
 

are you reading the answers? based on the info you gave us, everyone thinks your particular case is unlikely to succeed ie. you are unlikely to get your money back.....

However this person may have done it to other people who have reported it, so at the very least you will add to the evidence against them. The more complaints there are then the cases may be taken more seriously....there is the element of preventing it happening to others in future too...

There is no way we can give an exact answer as to what will happen to this person.

Re: Paypal Scam (Advice)
 

I see your reference to concern that they may repeat their actions - -sneaky crime as it is..

Ive seen where on our social forums, Craig's List being one of them where individuals will post warnings to the public to not be subject of potential scam by the questionable scam person - referencing their own dealings with scammer person .

Money scams by trickery when done over the internet is a interest of law enforcement Any reprieve on your transaction my be null, but bring this person to someones attention. And maybe use your areas social media forums to warn or bring out possibly other victims who may have a more recent and or verifiable transaction. This form of proactiveness does produce results and catch criminals. The stories of such are shown everyday on the news and social media cites of these wrongdoers.