Consumer complaint received 2024-12-03 00:00:00
Product: Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service — Mobile or digital wallet
Issue: Unauthorized transactions or other transaction problem — 
Company: Paypal Holdings, Inc
State: NC

Complaint narrative:
My complaint is about PayPal. See below copies of letters sent to PayPal and Paypal 's debt collector. 


XX/XX/year> PayPal : I opened a PayPal account a few months ago so I could be paid by an internet job I tried. I was paid {$25.00} for the tryout. I immediately sent this {$25.00} to my bank account. That is the only legitimate transaction that has ever occurred on my account. My PayPal balance has always been zero ever since I opened the account, except for {$25.00} for a few minutes. 
On XX/XX/year>, someone named XXXX XXXX at XXXX hacked my account and sent himself two transactions of {$6000.00} each, so {$12000.00} total. I got emails alerting me to this. Immediately after, I got more emails saying there was unusual activity on my account. See the enclosed emails as proof of this. 
I immediately submitted an unauthorized activity case to you. See enclosed as proof of this. Within minutes I was emailed saying you determined there was no unauthorized use, as these transactions were consistent with my PayPal history, which is absurd. I had had one transaction before this, and I was the one being paid, and it was only {$25.00}. See enclosed as proof of this. Not to mention, by your own admission, these transactions were unusual. You emailed me saying so. 
I immediately appealed your decision. See enclosed as proof. I was again denied. See enclosed as proof.

I find it hard to believe you can not see where these transactions originated from and determine they were not made by me. Likely they were initiated outside my home state, likely outside my home nation.

The bank account I had linked to PayPal had a very low balance, so thankfully my bank returned both {$6000.00} transactions.

However, because of this, I have had to close that bank account due to this fraudulent activity. I called you several times, and got zero help. I have made reports to the FTC and the XXXX XXXX XXXX division regarding this alleged XXXX XXXX and regarding PayPal as a whole. I am currently researching arbitration and will begin calling consumer protection attorneys in my area soon. 
I demand my negative PayPal balance be returned to zero and my account closed immediately. 

XXXX XXXX XX/XX/year> From XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX To XXXX XXXX XXXX Sweet XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX Reference # XXXX Via Certified Mail - Return Receipt Requested Dear XXXX XXXX : I do not owe the above referenced debt. For explanation, please see enclosed a copy of a letter I sent to PayPal, along with supporting documentation. 
Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( hereinafter referred to as the FDCPA ), I am entitled to request validation of the debt you allege is due to you. This is not a request to verify the debt, but rather a request for you to provide complete and competent evidence of my contractual obligation to provide payment to you.

Within thirty ( 30 ) days of receipt of this letter, you must provide me with the following information and/or alleged information : Creditors full name and full address, name of debtor of record, full account number, amount and due date of debt, original charge off or delinquency date, explanation of how the debt was calculated, evidence that the debt is within federal and XXXX  applicable statute of limitations, amount paid when you purchased this debt, completed and executed agreement including signature pages for the alleged debt, and proof that my PayPal account was not used without my knowledge or consent. The deadline in which you must provide all of this information is XX/XX/year>. 
Cease and Desist : Pursuant to my rights under the FDCPA, you must cease collection attempts until you can prove that I committed the transactions on PayPal that led to this alleged debt.

Communication Restriction : Pursuant to my rights under the FDCPA, you are authorized to communicate with me in writing only.

Civil Remedies : Under the FDCPA, I have the right to sue you if you violate any provisions of the FDCPA. In that case, I may be entitled to damages, including statutory damages and attorneys fees. 

Record Keeping : You are required to maintain records of your communications and activities in regards to me. 
I do not mean to take a confrontational tone, but I am angry and must assert my rights. I have worked hard to get myself completely out of debt, and then this happens. As you will see from the enclosures, PayPal knows for a fact that my account was hacked, and they just do not care. I pleaded with them for help and got none. 
Thank you for your time, consideration, and attention to this matter. 
Sincerely, XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation