I've just been scammed of potentially thousands, what should I do? - General

[QUOTE=LuaChobo;47390452]paypal is just better supported on more storefronts, i prefer google wallet but i only really use it when im buying shit from google so idk[/QUOTE] I have paypal, but I really do like seeing websites using Stripe API

[QUOTE=MattJeanes;47385571] do you think I did the right thing?[/QUOTE] no. i think its certainly possible that your bank/paypal will fix it, but in the future you shouldn't trust some random person with your money. i probably wouldn't trust most of friends with thousands of dollars, idk why you would trust this person you just met. instead of trying to be nice you should trust your intuition more you said yourself you feel like you try to please people too often, remember the old adage: "no good deed goes unpunished"

[QUOTE=sloppy_joes;47390656]no. i think its certainly possible that your bank/paypal will fix it, but in the future you shouldn't trust some random person with your money. i probably wouldn't trust most of friends with thousands of dollars, idk why you would trust this person you just met. instead of trying to be nice you should trust your intuition more you said yourself you feel like you try to please people too often, remember the old adage: "no good deed goes unpunished"[/QUOTE] When I asked that question I meant if I had done the right thing contacting the police and my bank, I know the whole situation is a massive fuck up. Still have no idea why I trusted that guy, all I thought I was doing was just receiving and transferring some payments, not converting thousands into bitcoins. I felt it was too late to back out once the money started rolling in so I just kept going. I know what I should have done now but I didn't at the time. I should have just told him that I can't do it and refunded all the incoming payments but I didn't think of that. Either way definitely not going to fall for any money scams again, this has fucked me up too much to forget any time soon. [editline]25th March 2015[/editline] I just contacted 101 (non emergency UK police line) and they said that contacting Action Fraud was all I needed to do, since they would contact the police anyway. I also called PayPal and gave a few details, although not as many as I would have liked to, and they said that they'd send me an email within 24 hours - but he also mentioned that depending how this was all done, I may not be covered for it.

[QUOTE=Headhumpy;47389182]If you can't sleep and you don't want to deal with this any more for today, just chill and do whatever you do when you are chilling. Listen to some music, play some vidya, or read a book. Don't stress yourself out over this.[/QUOTE] [url]https://soundcloud.com/adult-swim-bumps[/url] he could listen to some bumps [editline]25th March 2015[/editline] [QUOTE=sloppy_joes;47390656]no. i think its certainly possible that your bank/paypal will fix it, but in the future you shouldn't trust some random person with your money. i probably wouldn't trust most of friends with thousands of dollars, idk why you would trust this person you just met. instead of trying to be nice you should trust your intuition more you said yourself you feel like you try to please people too often, remember the old adage: "no good deed goes unpunished"[/QUOTE] at least he'll know better after this the biggest rule I have with the internet is to not give money out. Period. Ever. Unless to a very specific thing (Amazon/Notable store/Heavily reputable seller/steam/etc) it's so easy to lie it isn't even funny.

[QUOTE=MattJeanes;47388856]I've been threatened by some people who I traded the bitcoins with because my bank has gone after them so I've had to call my bank up and explain that they are innocent and that this fraudster is the one who's made these trades and got away with the bitcoins. Remarks such as this are also really not helping: 'I just cannot find the words for what a DUMB FUCK you are. Either that or you're a lying piece of shit. Knowing LBC as well as I do… I think it's probably both.' Everyone is pissed off with me and I'm probably £3000 in debt to PayPal. I can't even call them cause it's out of hours now and they don't have an emergency 24/7 fraud-line afaik. Fuck fuck fuck fuck I just want to punch myself in the face repeatedly for being such a dumbass. darth-veger the 4chan story you referenced gives me hope that PayPal will help me through all this, but then again it is a 4chan story. What the hell am I going to do if PayPal force me to cough up £3000? My parents or sister are gonna have to pay out the ass for my stupid mistake that could have been avoided just by not being such a fucking dumbass.[/QUOTE] If it helps, I run an online store and it is basically fucking impossible for us to fight a chargeback/dispute. If someone issues a chargeback against us, we lose the money. PayPal is corrupt and awful but in this instance that works to your advantage.

[QUOTE=geel9;47393400]If it helps, I run an online store and it is basically fucking impossible for us to fight a chargeback/dispute. If someone issues a chargeback against us, we lose the money. PayPal is corrupt and awful but in this instance that works to your advantage.[/QUOTE] Yeah but I'm on the other end of that stuck because the people who sent me money are issuing chargebacks against me, and they've already gone through, hence the massive debt. PayPal also contacted me back after giving photo ID to them, and they said that they were unable to help as I was under 18 (oops). They said 'You can contact us after you turn 18 and we'll help you to resume using our services'. I'm 17 now but will be 18 in a couple of months, although I have had my PayPal account for years beforehand. I've been suggested to just leave it for a while since my account is now locked and no money can be taken from my bank or anywhere else into PayPal - and just wait for contact from police/action fraud/bank etc. What do you guys think?

So long as PayPal can't take any money from you, I wouldn't be worried about them for the moment. Get it sorted with your bank and with Action Fraud first and foremost. I sincerely hope you learn from this mistake. This kind of scam is on-par with Nigerian princes in your email and I'm honestly surprised anyone would fall for it.

fascinated that after [quote]Jamie Hanny: yo matt im ieuans mate Matt Jeanes: 23/03/2015 20:41 Matt Jeanes: kk hi Jamie Hanny: 23/03/2015 20:41 Jamie Hanny: new profile he said u would be able to help me out with a favor[/quote] you didn't immediately speak to your friend and say "who the fuck is this random guy i've never met or spoken to and why did you tell him i'd be able to help him with a favour lol?"

[QUOTE=ChestyMcGee;47401350]fascinated that after you didn't immediately speak to your friend and say "who the fuck is this random guy i've never met or spoken to and why did you tell him i'd be able to help him with a favour lol?"[/QUOTE] I for some reason just never had any suspicion or feel the need to check him out. Reading back the conversations and stuff it is so incredibly obvious but at the time it wasn't. Weird.

[QUOTE=MattJeanes;47402669]I for some reason just never had any suspicion or feel the need to check him out. Reading back the conversations and stuff it is so incredibly obvious but at the time it wasn't. Weird.[/QUOTE] You shouldn't feel bad about it, it happens to everyone at least once. I was dumb enough to fall for the "Steam admin needing my password" trick a couple years back. It's not as bad as what you've gone through by far, but it's the same tactic, and the only reason it keeps happening is because it works. On the Paypal note, you've got a couple months to sort it out with the police, you shouldn't worry about anything. I'm not sure how to send hugs over the internet, but when I find out how, expect a warm one from everyone in this thread :)

Oh neat, a court claim just arrived in the post against me for about £500. This was from a guy which I couldn't get in contact with as the account on the bitcoin trading site had its password changed, but I managed to get it banned. Again he believes that I'm a scammer (don't blame him tbh, from his perspective it does look that way) but there's 3 vital things I can use to fight back here: 1. The defendant (me) must be at least 18 to have a claim made against them, which I'm not 2. The PayPal account used to make the payment which was later reversed (causing the claim) was actually not mine, my account had been locked by that point by PayPal. 3. I have proof that this guy remotely connected to my computer, and chatlogs from facebook and teamviewer. However, I know the following can and probably will be used against me: I did technically authorise the payments with a handwritten note next to my ID, even with good intent under the impression I was helping this scammer. I also got a call from my bank which was auto-blocked by my phone because it was a private number (I've since turned that off though), and they left me a number to call them back with via voicemail. Unfortunately my signal dropped somehow during the voicemail and I missed the number and when I called voicemail back, it said I had no messages. Shit. I'll just call up their normal line and explain I guess. I also better call up the action fraud line giving them the info that my bank wanted to tell me, and also about the whole court claim thing. What a way to spend friday night. Yay.

Court claim could be claimed against your mother though, no? Since the Paypal was connected to her stuff?

[QUOTE=MattJeanes;47407435]Oh neat, a court claim just arrived in the post against me for about £500. This was from a guy which I couldn't get in contact with as the account on the bitcoin trading site had its password changed, but I managed to get it banned. Again he believes that I'm a scammer (don't blame him tbh, from his perspective it does look that way) but there's 3 vital things I can use to fight back here: 1. The defendant (me) must be at least 18 to have a claim made against them, which I'm not 2. The PayPal account used to make the payment which was later reversed (causing the claim) was actually not mine, my account had been locked by that point by PayPal. 3. I have proof that this guy remotely connected to my computer, and chatlogs from facebook and teamviewer. However, I know the following can and probably will be used against me: I did technically authorise the payments with a handwritten note next to my ID, even with good intent under the impression I was helping this scammer. I also got a call from my bank which was auto-blocked by my phone because it was a private number (I've since turned that off though), and they left me a number to call them back with via voicemail. Unfortunately my signal dropped somehow during the voicemail and I missed the number and when I called voicemail back, it said I had no messages. Shit. I'll just call up their normal line and explain I guess. I also better call up the action fraud line giving them the info that my bank wanted to tell me, and also about the whole court claim thing. What a way to spend friday night. Yay.[/QUOTE] If they find this guy, you might actually make some money by claiming for emotional distress. If ever you need someone to chat to, shout at, or unload some problems onto, don't even hesitate for a second to drop me a message.

I just tried to submit my defense but it came up with a technical error I removed some lines and it worked though, even though I was within the limit - and I need all my lines! Apparently support lines are only open monday-friday 9am-5pm - brilliant. Any ideas? [quote=Money Claim] We are sorry, but your request has been rejected owing to one or more technical reasons. Please check your input and try again. If you continue to get this message then please contact the Money Claim helpdesk. It can be contacted for support between 9:00am and 5:00pm, Monday to Friday on: Tel: 0845 601 5935 Fax: 0845 601 5889 If you prefer to write your query instead, please contact: Money Claim Online Northampton County Court 21-27, St. Katherine Street Northampton NN1 2LH Or email to [EMAIL="customerservice.mcol@hmcourts-service.gsi.gov.uk"]customerservice.mcol@hmcourts-service.gsi.gov.uk[/EMAIL] Please make a note of the following support id: <redacted> [/quote]

I would send them a direct email then call whenever they're open. While you're doing that keep trying to submit your ticket.

I would get a lawyer.

Turns out a bracket in the text was causing the issue, yes, a bracket. Submitted it! Now to hope all goes well.

[QUOTE=MattJeanes;47424652]Turns out a bracket in the text was causing the issue, yes, a bracket. Submitted it! Now to hope all goes well.[/QUOTE] Hope everything goes well for you. I know it's none of my business but I'm interested in how this all pans out. It's amazing what lengths people will go to screw other people over. I wish you the best.

OP was 1 week ago and it still isn't fixed man, dealing with this kind of thing for a week would drive me into a mental ward

OP hasn't posted in three days, so the British mafia probably already abducted him for his debts. RIP in piece. I remember when I owed PayPal 27 cents and freaked out because they might charge me overdraft fees or some shit. Good times...

Just got back from the British mafia! My bank said everything is under full investigation now, and the guy who threatened me before has threatened me again, saying he's gonna come round my house for the money and stuff. I pretty much told him that I literally don't have the money, and that he'll have to tell the truth to the bank/police, since he tried to pass off my payment as for rent. Someone else also contacted me telling me their bank cleared them of any potential fraud so I sent him a screenshot of that email to try and help convince him that he'll be alright. I could have just reported his threats straight to the police but I decided that I'd try and sort it out with him personally and actually do my best to help. I hope he appreciates that when this is all over. Though it's really not the best feeling in the world when you wake up from a nice sleep and check your phone and then remember that you're still in the middle of all this shit, and someones threatened you as well. As well as actually scaring me to the point where I physically shake sometimes, it just makes me sad. I think I've learnt my lesson 100 times over now life, I'd just like this rollercoaster to end please thank you. [editline]4th April 2015[/editline] Oh and the actual PayPal debt has gone down to ~£1550 now, not entirely sure what all the 'pending' stuff was about but I'm relieved that if I do have to cough up in the end, it's only half as much as I thought. Still loads though.

That's really unfortunate, i hope it gets sorted out for you! :(

Hope they manage to get the debt down to nothing. You shouldn't have to pay a penny- here's hoping that if you do, the fraudster has to pay it back to you and more.

Alright, so it's been 3 months now and I haven't heard anything from anyone since I last posted here. I'm posting for 2 reasons, firstly to let anyone interested know that it seems to be all be dead now, and secondly to ask you guys if I should try and open up another PayPal account? The minus PayPal balance is still there. If you guys remember they said I could contact them once I turned 18 but I'm not sure it's a good idea. [img]http://i.imgur.com/IsUOOLI.png[/img]

[QUOTE=MattJeanes;48249747]Alright, so it's been 3 months now and I haven't heard anything from anyone since I last posted here. I'm posting for 2 reasons, firstly to let anyone interested know that it seems to be all be dead now, and secondly to ask you guys if I should try and open up another PayPal account? The minus PayPal balance is still there. If you guys remember they said I could contact them once I turned 18 but I'm not sure it's a good idea. [img]http://i.imgur.com/IsUOOLI.png[/img][/QUOTE] Depends on if you need it. I'd only open one if you really needed to, and I definitely wouldn't contact them about this in case they decide to try and make you cough up. I've heard stories about how shady PayPal can be sometimes and how much they love money.

Not exactly sure but I wouldn't expect PayPal being able to collect the debt since you where a minor when getting it. I would just avoid using PayPal and then use one of all the other payment methods. But you should probably contact a lawyer before doing anything. This could work: [URL]http://www.askalawyer.co.uk/[/URL]

[QUOTE=MattJeanes;48249747]Alright, so it's been 3 months now and I haven't heard anything from anyone since I last posted here. I'm posting for 2 reasons, firstly to let anyone interested know that it seems to be all be dead now, and secondly to ask you guys if I should try and open up another PayPal account? The minus PayPal balance is still there. If you guys remember they said I could contact them once I turned 18 but I'm not sure it's a good idea.[/QUOTE] honestly after reading the entire thread your best course of action (seeing nothing changed and nothing will change) is just leave that account behind and never look back

[QUOTE=Maruhai;48259065]honestly after reading the entire thread your best course of action (seeing nothing changed and nothing will change) is just leave that account behind and never look back[/QUOTE] To add onto this, as you learned from your awful situation here, never give anyone anything that can relate to your license, or a bill of any type for anything, even if it's a reputable company such as OVH. That 20% VAT tax that I have on my bill from them I attempted to remove but they wanted an ID and a proof of location (some type of bill) to which I just said "Fuck it, I'll pay the $11 more." I would never give anyone my license or any form of proof of my living situation besides a company that I can legitimately contact in real life, and have done a lot of research on, never give out anything that can get you in any trouble, if a company asks for your license + proof of location, simply go somewhere else, it's not worth your time for a possible major headache.

Yeah that's what I thought. I've got a set up at the moment though, just using a family member's existing PP account and just transferring them money from my new bank account whenever I want to buy something - so I'm not completely fucked if I want to buy something from a place which only accepts PayPal. [QUOTE=Reyjr43;48259148]To add onto this, as you learned from your awful situation here, never give anyone anything that can relate to your license, or a bill of any type for anything, even if it's a reputable company such as OVH.[/QUOTE] Trust me I'm being extremely careful with all that stuff after this experience - in fact I'd probably say it was good that it happened now rather than later on when it could really really fuck me over. Life lesson certainly learned.

I would just ditch that PayPal account.