Consumer complaint received 2020-04-08
Company: Paypal Holdings, Inc
State: TX
Product: Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service
Sub-product: Virtual currency
Issue: Fraud or scam

Complaint:
On XX/XX/XXXX I started communicating via XXXX  with a 'seller ' claiming they had 3 Maltese for sale. I found the puppies on their XXXX page Puppies for sale near me. He said he had 3 that were available and sent me pictures of each one. I told him there were 2 that I would like to meet. He let me know the fee was {$400.00}. I said I would bring the money when we met or I could sent him a deposit through PayPal. He said that would be fine to send it through Friends and Family option. He provided me with his email account and I sent him {$200.00} but through Goods and Services option. He refunded my that right away and said I did it wrong and send it the other way. I was very reluctant. It seemed to be a huge issue that the way I sent it because PayPal charged him {$10.00}. 

I did as he asked and told him I'd see him at XXXX at the meet up. I sent a message letting him know I was there. He never showed, I called and called but no answer or responses. He finally called back after me sitting there for an hour and asked that I give him 30 more minutes. I actually gave him 45 more minutes. Still no show. 

He called me 21/2 hours after we were supposed to meet and he said his partner had the puppy and was asking what I was wearing. I told him I was no longer there. He gave me the number of the guy that supposedly had the puppy. I called him and sent a text. He called me back and told me he wasn't giving me the puppy because I hadn't completed the transaction. He said I needed to send the remaining {$200.00} before he would bring me the puppy. I refused. He said then I would not be getting the puppy until I did. I told him I'd bring him the cash when I had the puppy in hand. 

They kept calling me to get me to send the other {$200.00}. I told him absolutely not. He hung up on me. 

I have several back and forth conversations and texts. They both have told me the money isn't there. 

Today was a new excuse, I was told that the supplier had my money and they could not get it. I told them they were the supplier and that now they were just making up excuses. I told them they were just trying to wear me down and that I would just forget about it. In fact the second guy I've been dealing with told me just this morning ( XXXX ) that i should just forget about my money. 

I've spoken to the second guy, XXXX XXXX ( at least this is the name I was given ), this morning and again he said if I would just pay the second {$200.00} then I could get the puppy. I told him absolutely not. I told him I just wanted my money back and he could move on. That's when he told me to just forget about my money. I told him I wasn't going to forget because I worked hard for my money and he had the nerve to say he worked hard for it too. I've been calling and texting a few times an hour trying to get them to return my money but nothing. 

The numbers I have been calling are : XXXX - this is the first person I talked to XXXX - second person - supposedly is XXXX XXXX Emails I used for the PayPal contributions : XXXX - this is first one I sent to and he refunded my first {$200.00} XXXX - this is second one I sent the {$200.00} to after the refund

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation