My partner recently agreed to help someone with their transactions on PayPal, where they’d split the profits from selling items online. It turns out the person was a scammer, and now PayPal is either planning to issue a temporary restraining order or giving my partner the option to pay back the debt. Is that even possible?
Unfortunately, the person blocked them, and there’s no way to recover the money. My partner only received a small portion of the profit, which they’ve already used for bills. Is there any way we can resolve this? Any help is appreciated.
Sorry to hear about this. Unfortunately, it’s common for scammers to use other people’s accounts to handle transactions and then disappear, leaving the account holder responsible. When PayPal sees suspicious activity like this, they’ll often hold the account responsible for the debt if it was used to facilitate a scam. It might be worth speaking with PayPal support directly to explain the situation and see if there’s any way they can help.
This sounds like what’s called a ‘money mule’ scam, where someone is used to move money for a fraudster. Your partner could be held liable because it was their account, and PayPal will likely require them to pay back the funds. I’d suggest they stop all communication with people they don’t know well on payment apps and contact PayPal support for any assistance they can provide.
PayPal can be strict in cases like this since they have to cover losses from unauthorized or fraudulent transactions. If your partner was the account holder, they could be held liable even if they didn’t realize it was a scam. One option might be to talk to a consumer protection lawyer who can give you legal advice specific to your case. Also, be careful with similar situations in the future—they’re quite common and usually end up with the account holder taking the hit.
The key thing here is that PayPal’s policies often make the account holder responsible, even if they were unaware it was a scam. Your partner could try explaining everything in writing to PayPal, especially if they can show any evidence of the scam. But in general, these cases are tough to resolve since the account was used for transactions, and PayPal may not offer any leniency.
If they have any records of conversations or agreements with this person, they should save them as they might help the case. However, PayPal is strict with their terms, and they often hold the account owner liable for any fraudulent activity. In the future, they should avoid letting others use their account or handle funds for them, as it’s a major red flag.
Unfortunately, since your partner allowed someone else to use their account, PayPal likely views it as their responsibility to ensure legitimate transactions. If the amount is significant, it might be wise to consult a legal expert on consumer protection who can help negotiate with PayPal. But be prepared—PayPal’s policies don’t often favor the account holder in cases like this.
Scammers often target people by promising easy money through ‘helping with transactions.’ PayPal typically holds the account owner responsible for the balance if it’s flagged as a scam. Best option is to contact PayPal support, explain the situation fully, and see if any part of the balance can be negotiated or reduced. It’s a difficult position, but sometimes explaining can lead to a bit of leniency.