PayPal

[wiltma]

Has anyone out there ever received a PayPal payment into their account that wasn’t meant for them. Someone sent me their rent. I have tried numerous times to email and text them with no response. This amount is quite a bit and doesn’t belong to me. I have tried to get PayPal to help to no avail. Anyone have any suggestions?

[Mrprez]

Is it actually in your account? Shows in your balance? Or is it one that you must claim? If the latter, ignore it and it will go away. If it is in your account, you can refund the payment.

[alwann]

Has anyone out there ever received a PayPal payment into their account that wasn’t meant for them. Someone sent me their rent. I have tried numerous times to email and text them with no response. This amount is quite a bit and doesn’t belong to me. I have tried to get PayPal to help to no avail. Anyone have any suggestions?
Be careful. Lots of PayPal scams being reported Did you go to the PayPal website and click on Resolution Center?

[retiredguy123]

I would suspect a scam. I wouldn't refund the money to the sender. I would notify PayPal about the error and wait for PayPal to debit your account.

[Stu from NYC]

I would suspect a scam. I wouldn't refund the money to the sender. I would notify PayPal about the error and wait for PayPal to debit your account.

That is also what I would do.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

It is very likely a scam if you received an e-mail or notification from PayPal that a deposit was made. Check your actual bank balance, by manually typing in the bank's website address on your browser buffer or via their app if you have it on your phone.

If the deposit is a) there AND b) cleared for use, then yes it's a mistake and you should contact PayPal to try and resolve the error.

If it is a) there BUT b) NOT cleared for use, do nothing for a week. Not even if someone sends you a notification telling you it was an error and you have to return it.

If the second example is true, and you've waited a week, get in touch with PayPal directly and ask for resolution.
If the second example is true and someone contacts you to ask you to send the money back to them, get in touch with PayPal directly and ask for resolution and report a potential scam.

Do not refund the money directly to the sender.

[Two Bills]

Be carefull.
Do as suggested. ie. Check PayPal account by signing in to account direct, not from any link.
I regularly get phising atttempts purporting to come from PayPal. Some are very cleverly worded.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Be carefull.
Do as suggested. ie. Check PayPal account by signing in to account direct, not from any link.
I regularly get phising atttempts purporting to come from PayPal. Some are very cleverly worded.

I used to get these all the time, and it always confused me because I don't have a PayPal account.

These days I get them from Amazon, as text messages on my cell phone. Usually saying:

Dear [null]:
We are waiting to deliver your package. Please press on this completely, totally innocent hyperlink that will absolutely not take you to a scam website, and type in your credentials so that we can totally not steal your identity and use it to make fraudulent purchases on your behalf.
Love, Amazon.

(or some words to that effect)

[Two Bills]

I used to get these all the time, and it always confused me because I don't have a PayPal account.

These days I get them from Amazon, as text messages on my cell phone. Usually saying:

Dear [null]:
We are waiting to deliver your package. Please press on this completely, totally innocent hyperlink that will absolutely not take you to a scam website, and type in your credentials so that we can totally not steal your identity and use it to make fraudulent purchases on your behalf.
Love, Amazon.

(or some words to that effect)

I get them as well.
Plus couriers waiting to deliver parcels I havn't ordered!

[EdFNJ]

Has anyone out there ever received a PayPal payment into their account that wasn’t meant for them. Someone sent me their rent. I have tried numerous times to email and text them with no response. This amount is quite a bit and doesn’t belong to me. I have tried to get PayPal to help to no avail. Anyone have any suggestions?
If you got an email only (no funds) that's one thing but if there is actually funds in your PP account it's likely an error. Once you actually get $$$ it's not likely a scam but an error.

There is a dentist in NJ with my exact same name and evidently he takes PayPal because I have gotten his payments a few times over the years. His office says it's because people send to his name@gmail.com (which is my email not his that he does NOT have) rather than his office email. I've also got bills & x-rays meant for him by email.

[vintageogauge]

DO NOT REFUND THE MONEY. Let PayPal figure it out, if it is in fact a rent payment he/she will soon be hearing from their landlord and they'll go back to PayPal to check on it. If you notify PayPal and yes you can actually talk with a representative at PayPal, and you sent the sender a e-mail and a text you have done your part, they'll figure it out, just don't spend it or take it out.

[Number 10 GI]

Inquiring minds would like to know if this message came as an e-mail with a PayPay header. I get all kinds of e-mails from PayPal that aren't actually from PayPal, they are scams using the PayPal logo. Did you click on a link they provided? If so log into PayPay at their website and see what is actually in your account, definately change the password to your PayPal account, right away.

[Topspinmo]

DO NOT REFUND THE MONEY. Let PayPal figure it out, if it is in fact a rent payment he/she will soon be hearing from their landlord and they'll go back to PayPal to check on it. If you notify PayPal and yes you can actually talk with a representative at PayPal, and you sent the sender a e-mail and a text you have done your part, they'll figure it out, just don't spend it or take it out.

I agree what’s odds of someone paying their rent with PayPal?

[Mikey Osmond]

My initial move is to click on the sender's e-mail to see if it's actually PayPal.

[EdFNJ]

Inquiring minds would like to know if this message came as an e-mail with a PayPay header. I get all kinds of e-mails from PayPal that aren't actually from PayPal, they are scams using the PayPal logo. Did you click on a link they provided? If so log into PayPay at their website and see what is actually in your account, definately change the password to your PayPal account, right away. Her OP said she got "Has anyone out there ever received a PayPal payment into their account that wasn’t meant for them." Everyone seems to be assuming it was an EMAIL with a link to PayPal. If she actually got MONEY IN HER ACCOUNT the chances of it being a scam vs. a mistake are quite slim. She needs to confirm but it seems quite often someone posts something and never returns to clarify.

[Number 10 GI]

Her OP said she got "Has anyone out there ever received a PayPal payment into their account that wasn’t meant for them." Everyone seems to be assuming it was an EMAIL with a link to PayPal. If she actually got MONEY IN HER ACCOUNT the chances of it being a scam vs. a mistake are quite slim. She needs to confirm but it seems quite often someone posts something and never returns to clarify.

I have gotten e-mails from PayPay telling me a payment was made to my account. I always sign into PayPay from their website to verify. I do this even if I know a payment is coming from something I sold but I never click on a link.
If this was from a scammer and the OP used a link in the e-mail to log into their account they just gave the scammer their user name and password. The scammer then could log into the OP's account and send a payment to their account or purchase merchandise.
That is why I was wanting clarification on the initial notice they had money in their account. If it came from PayPal itself and there was actually money in their account some one should be looking for it pretty soon. I'm surprised PayPay ignored them.

[EdFNJ]

I agree what’s odds of someone paying their rent with PayPal? For me it was 100%. The owner of the home I rented here in Sept 2016 did as well as the owner of the home I rented Jan/Feb/Mar 2017 while looking for our own place here did and in fact requested it vs waiting for a check from us. It's a lot more prolific then you might imagine as funds are in your account within minutes. I'd bet quite a few who have rentals here do gladly accept it.

[EdFNJ]

I have gotten e-mails from PayPay telling me a payment was made to my account. OF COURSE you would but once again the OP said IN HER ACCOUNT and nothing about EMAIL. Had it been an email with a link I agree with you 1000%. Too much assuming going on. :) I have been using PayPal (and eBay) since 1998 so I pretty much know it's ins and outs.

[Cheapbas]

Just click refund!

[Northerner52]

Be carefull.
Do as suggested. ie. Check PayPal account by signing in to account direct, not from any link.
I regularly get phising atttempts purporting to come from PayPal. Some are very cleverly worded.

Thats correct. If you clicked the 'fake link' on the email you may have inadvertently given the scammer your PayPal user name and password. Got to www/Paypal.com yourself and change you password and security questions.

[Bridget Staunton]

If I read your post correctly you said you tried to call PayPal. I have talked to them several times. Their number is 888-221-1161. Hope it works. God bless

[MandoMan]

I used to get these all the time, and it always confused me because I don't have a PayPal account.

These days I get them from Amazon, as text messages on my cell phone. Usually saying:

Dear [null]:
We are waiting to deliver your package. Please press on this completely, totally innocent hyperlink that will absolutely not take you to a scam website, and type in your credentials so that we can totally not steal your identity and use it to make fraudulent purchases on your behalf.
Love, Amazon.

(or some words to that effect)

I’m also leery of scams. However, I lost out on a large eBay sale early this year because I thought a message that payment couldn’t be made until I fixed something was a scam (and Paypal actually told me it was a scam), but the problem turned out to be that I had a new Visa card that had the same number and name and bank, but a different expiration date. So the money wouldn’t come through until that was fixed. I fixed it on the PayPal site using my account—NOT through the email. But I lost that first sale.

[meridian5850]

If the funds are actually in your Paypal account, there will be a notification after you sign in to Paypal. Click on the details and on the next page will be a button to click on to refund the payment.

[wiltma]

DO NOT REFUND THE MONEY. Let PayPal figure it out, if it is in fact a rent payment he/she will soon be hearing from their landlord and they'll go back to PayPal to check on it. If you notify PayPal and yes you can actually talk with a representative at PayPal, and you sent the sender a e-mail and a text you have done your part, they'll figure it out, just don't spend it or take it out.

I have tried numerous times to speak with someone to no avail. Money is there and cleared. Had the girl’s email and have emailed and texted her with no response. I guess I will try the resolution center AGAIN. I don’t have a bank account linked to my account only credit card so hopefully that is safe

[Rachelle]

There is a phone number on PayPal page
They will help immediately

[retiredguy123]

I have tried numerous times to speak with someone to no avail. Money is there and cleared. Had the girl’s email and have emailed and texted her with no response. I guess I will try the resolution center AGAIN. I don’t have a bank account linked to my account only credit card so hopefully that is safe
I still wouldn't refund the money to the payer. I would notify PayPal in writing or email, and document the notification. If they want to fix it, PayPal will debit your account.

[JohnN]

I'd bet it's a scam. I have used the Paypal resolution center to resolve a dispute with a vendor and the process worked just fine. Let Paypal handle this, I would advise to NOT be sending any money out to anyone on your own.

[wiltma]

Has anyone out there ever received a PayPal payment into their account that wasn’t meant for them. Someone sent me their rent. I have tried numerous times to email and text them with no response. This amount is quite a bit and doesn’t belong to me. I have tried to get PayPal to help to no avail. Anyone have any suggestions?

I am the original poster here. To clarify, I had no links that I clicked on. I am smarter than that. I received an email from “Michelle B” asking me to text her when I received her “rent “. I immediately went to my PayPal account and there it was August 31. Over $800. Contacted PayPal and they said it would probably be taken back before it cleared. It cleared on September 4th. Didn’t get taken back. I emailed and texted her with no response to this day. I will contact PayPal again today but while I have spoken with them in the past, they no longer have live people. Thanks to everyone for their advice. I will keep you updated when anything happens

[retiredguy123]

It sure sounds like a scam to me. But, if you have notified PayPal, I wouldn't do anything else.

[doodles]

The telling phase is pay pal did nothing. It’s got to be a scam, if legit PayPal would handle it

[wiltma]

Inquiring minds would like to know if this message came as an e-mail with a PayPay header. I get all kinds of e-mails from PayPal that aren't actually from PayPal, they are scams using the PayPal logo. Did you click on a link they provided? If so log into PayPay at their website and see what is actually in your account, definately change the password to your PayPal account, right away.

No it did not. I received an email from the sender that it was the rent and to let them know when I received it. I went to my account and there it was. Took 5 days to clear and is still there. When I tried to resolve it PP said I couldn't and to get in touch with the send which I have tried to do to no avail

[Rsenholzi]

PayPal charged my acct for a substantial amount of money . I stopped them because they refused to do anything. Thankfully my credit card company stopped he payment. I don’t trust them at all

[chet2020]

I could see how someone could pay the wrong account through PayPal. When you are paying, you start typing the email address and you get an autofill menu of matching names to select. If you click the wrong one and send the payment, you've just paid the wrong person. However, for this to happen, this person would have had to have paid you previously for something. OP, have you ever received a payment from this person before?