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Ask HN: Why does PayPal protect scammers?
The account of a reputable user on a collectors forum has been hacked and used to scam at least 6 people causing a loss of multiple thousand dollars. Because the user was known and had a great history and relationship with others, a lot of people fall for it when he started to sell a few more items of his collection this weekend.
Paypal denies to investigate because friends and family was used in all cases, because the considered the member a friend.
While I somewhat get that Paypal is not legally required to make people whole, I feel not even looking the case at all is neglectance.
- slater 3y agoMoney.
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- akerl_ 3y agohttps://www.paypal.com/us/cshelp/article/whats-the-difference-between-friends-and-family-or-goods-and-services-payments-help277 https://www.paypal.com/us/cshelp/article/whats-the-differenc... The whole purpose of "friends and family" is that there's less fees but no protection. If you're buying a good or service from somebody, even somebody you know, you probably shouldn't pick "friends and family".
- brianjking 3y agoNot to mention that they literally include this language on the screen when you issue a payment via F&F. "If you're scammed you won't be able to get your money back." https://imgur.com/a/TRAU35T https://imgur.com/a/TRAU35T
- singlepaynews 3y agoorthogonal to the topic: How does purchase protection work on the backend? I've been trying to find something on what Ma implemented and haven't been able to.
- basch 3y agoIt’s insurance. Everyone who pays into it funds a pot to make those whole who lost.
- mike_d 3y agoBecause with F&F you are explicitly opting out of fraud protection in exchange for a free service. If you don't like the free food, don't eat it.
- cheerioty 3y agoI’m not asking for PayPal to make people whole. But when their service is used as part of a scam/crime, are there legally not bound to investigate?
- maratc 3y agoI don't think they are legally bound to investigate anything, unless law enforcement asks them to.
- RecycledEle 3y agoI think the claim you want to make is: PayPal was repeatedly warned, but did nothing. Anyone scammed after the first few warnings to PayPal should sue PayPal for negligence.
- cheerioty 3y agoThey finally escalated my enquiry on the executive level and acknowledged that they obliged to investigate. They also provided me with my rights, e.g. if i'm not satisfied with how they handle things that I can bring it up with the Australian Financial Compliants Authority. Seems to be region specific but I assume similar things are in place for other regions.
- is_true 3y agoThey permanently limited my account because they failed to process my ID and got my birth date wrong, I opened a case and when I told them that, they just deleted all support messages. Paypal is just a tool to avoid giving your CC to a third party, never think about adding your bank account to your account.
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- flowzai 3y agoFor users, PayPal ensures a high level of trustworthiness.