Consumer complaint received 2026-04-19 00:00:00
Product: Checking or savings account — Checking account
Issue: Problem with a lender or other company charging your account — Transaction was not authorized
Company: Paypal Holdings, Inc
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
I listed my washer/dryer for sale on XXXX XXXX for {$600.00}, payable by cash or XXXX. A person who later identified as XXXX responded from XXXX, a number that appeared to be from XXXX XXXX, CA. She said she'd XXXX the money and then I received an email saying XXXX would not transfer amounts over {$500.00} for individuals and she'd have to send {$500.00} more to enable it to occur, making it {$1100.00}. I could then return the {$500.00} to her. Simultaneously, XXXX texted : XXXX currently on the phone with the XXXX agent and they want me to send the additional {$500.00} so you can have the business limit to receive this payment and you will refund me backAll I need from you is your mutual trust that once I send the additional payment you will send my money back immediately! I hesitated, and she said, " it's fine, '' and then I felt obligated and said I'd send her {$500.00} back immediately. Her reply : " I already sent the {$500.00} '' " Trusting you on this '' " I have had same experience in the past .. and it was fixed just like this after I called. '' " You're good. '' Needless to say, it was a sham and they said I'd have to wait until the next day for resolution. XXXX kept up a steady stream of happy and I then texted, " No I'm contacting the FBI because at noone XXXX XXXX says they have to verify my ID and will call back tomorrow. This is outrageous, and I'm very sorry. I insisted he send you back all your money and he claims he can not. '' She replied, " You don't have to contact fbi '' " He said that they would have to wait to verify our id first before the payment can be reverted all back to our account '' " XXXX get things complicated for us please!! '' " I told you I have had the same experience in the past too '' Back and forth until she said, " Please pick up '' " I'm on call with him too '' XXXX The last thing I said to her was " My XXXX account has been drained. '' More from her, included " I have been debited '' " Talk to me XXXX '' but I did not respond. On my email was a notice from PayPal that my account had sent {$990.00} with transaction fee of {$29.00} to XXXX XXXX in XXXX from my VISA Debit Card. I complained to PayPal and they decided the transaction XXXX was legitimate and also warned me that they do not respond to any demands for records from agencies. I contacted XXXX and because XXXX had discontinued my debit card, XXXX would not let me transfer the {$3000.00} back to my checking account automatically for a fee, but said I could send it at the normal pace that would take until Tuesday, XX/XX/XXXX. I argued, but got nowhere. I went to my bank and changed my password there, went to XXXX and had them check my phone and XXXX for intruders ( none found ), took other precautions, and next morning agreed to let XXXX transfer my money back to XXXX, hoping it will arrive by noon ET, XX/XX/XXXX and XXXX PT. Please help me. The thief XXXX repeated it would all be over the next day and I fear they will still try to access my account. I also allowed XXXX, the Venmo agent from XXXX to video tape my face multiple times, always saying it wasn't working, to ID me for the Cash.App account. He also photographed my CA driver 's license and took a partial photo of my XXXX passport, although I moved it and it didn't quite work and then I began to get suspicious. This was all going on with me sharing my screen with XXXX XXXX XXXX and trying to keep up with the text exchanges with what I thought was the victim, XXXX.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation