Consumer complaint received 2023-07-28
Company: Paypal Holdings, Inc
State: TN
Product: Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service
Sub-product: Mobile or digital wallet
Issue: Fraud or scam

Complaint:
On XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX customer service number in XXXX and then XXXX call the number. I had a feeling this was not an XXXX customer service rep and I asked him to approve it and I dont remember what he said. But he went on to say they had red flags all over my XXXX account and people are trying to hack into it. Well, I love XXXX and I was freaking out so I fell into his scam. This is what Happened-he first of all had me go and download the app called any desk.com. Once we got into that he had me go into XXXX and purchase XXXX XXXX products. XXXX product was around {$90.00}. The other product was around XXXX. Then he had me go into my Venmo account, which at that time had a XXXX balance. I realize then when he kept correcting the spelling of these XXXX individuals that it was in my phone, but I still went on with him. He had me send {$500.00} to XXXX individuals. He then wanted me to go to XXXX but he did not tell me why. I told him I was legally blonde, and some friends were going to come pick me up later. XXXX will have them take you to XXXX. So when my friends arrived and they listen to him, they said he is a fraud And this is a scam you have fell into. So then I hung up on. XX/XX/XXXX which was the following Monday I went to the bank and reported to them what it happened. They closed down my checking account, savings account, and all my cards. My Venmo account had a XXXX balance. So I wasnt even worried about the Venmo transactions at that time. So the bank did refund me the {$90.00} and the {$70.00} XXXX products that I had bought. Probably XXXX or XXXX days later I got a notification from Venmo that I had a - negative {$2000.00} in my account. Which again my Venmo account was at a XXXX balance. so I contacted Venmo and told them I was scammed and they need to really give me back the {$2000.00}. I explained to them it did not come out of my checking account and XXXX not sure why it came out of a XXXX balance in Venmo. They wrote me back and told me to contact the people that I had sent the payments to. I said, like I told yall during the complaint it was a scam. I do not know the XXXX people or individuals that the Scammer sent the money to, so no I can not contact them. I said please replace the money they have refused to do so. I then contacted my local police station and filed a complaint with them. The police report complaint number is XXXX. The Venmo complaint number is XXXX. I am still waiting for the police XXXX to call me back regarding this complaint against Venmo and about the Scammer. so my biggest question is I feel like I do not owe Venmo back {$2000.00} with a XXXX balance in my account. They should have a safeguard for people who have XXXX balances not to let any money go to any individual whatsoever. I would like to have the {$2000.00} back into my Venmo so XXXX have another XXXX balance. I have a few screenshots of like the people sent the money to. I took the screenshots during the call so I dont know if you would like to see them. Please let me know whatever what other information XXXX help me with this complaint, so it can get resolved. My phone number is XXXX. I must say I have gone through absolute XXXX because of the scammer. Thanks so much for your help in advance XXXX XXXX.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief