Sacramento man sells perfect-condition gaming PC on Facebook Marketplace, only for the buyer to file a false PayPal dispute weeks later, receive a full refund, and still refuse to return it to the seller: 'Can I take him to small claims court?'

Author image for Emma Saven
Emma Saven
Dec 11, 2025 10:00 AM EST

Any form of online shopping has its risks…If you're not paying the seller directly and receiving your goods or services with your very own hands, there's always a slight chance it might never make it to you. But what we don't often think about is that it could go the opposite way. The seller scammed online, while the buyer sits with their belongings in hand… Cue this special story: gamers edition!

This innocent man was just trying to make some extra cash by selling his PC on Facebook Marketplace. All seemed to be going swell, a potential buyer came over, played with the PC for 20 minutes, and a deal was made, even shook on, if you want the specifics. The seller wanted to receive money through PayPal instead of cash, so the seller agreed and sent those $850 dollar bills through…All was pretty smooth and simple, until it wasn't…Until the moment the seller noticed his payment received had been reversed, and the buyer…a ghost! 

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  • The man has tried everything to get in touch with the buyer…but nada! So he decided to file a police report in hopes of getting his PC back or at least a portion of the money he sold it for…Because while this scammer sits with a perfectly conditioned PC, he's left $850 short and a loss of trust in humanity! 

  • 01
    Young man playing on his PC and a shocker man looking at his phone
    via gettyimages

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02

    Sold my gaming PC on Facebook Marketplace, buyer did chargeback after 3 weeks and won't return it

    Location: Sacramento About a month ago I sold my gaming PC on Facebook Marketplace for $850.
    via Striking-Flight2
  • 03
    It was in perfect condition, I even recorded a video of it running games before the buyer picked it up just to be safe.
    via Striking-Flight2
  • 04
    Guy seemed normal when he came to get it, tested it at my place for like 20 mins, everything worked fine.
    via Striking-Flight2
  • 05
    He paid through PayPal goods and services which I thought was safer than cash honestly. Fast forward 3 weeks and I get a notification that he filed a dispute claiming the PC was "not as described" and had issues.
    via Striking-Flight2
  • 06
    PayPal sided with him and refunded his money. I tried to appeal but they basically said the buyer provided photos of a PC with issues so they approved the refund.
    via Striking-Flight2
  • 07
    Blue lit-up 'refund' button on a silver keyboard
    via gettysignature

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 08
    Here's the thing tho, he never returned my PC. I messaged him asking when hes gonna return it since he got his money back and hes ignoring me now.
    via Striking-Flight2
  • 09
    I can see hes active on marketplace selling other stuff so I know hes getting my messages.
    via Striking-Flight2
  • 10
    I filed a police report but the officer said its a civil matter. I have the guys address from when he picked it up, screenshots of our conversations, and the video I took before he bought it.
    via Striking-Flight2
  • 11
    PayPal is being useless and just says the case is closed. I have some money saved aside but using that for my car insurance payment next month would completely destroy my finances.
    via Striking-Flight2
  • 12
    Can I take him to small claims court? What are my options here because it seems like he just scammed me and got away with it.
    via Striking-Flight2
  • 13
    yellowsubmarinr File in small claims court. It's designed precisely for this. Filing fees will be less than $100 (probably less than $50) and you may be able to recoup those if the other party is found liable. Collect any evidence you have, it'll help your case. Good luck
    via Striking-Flight2
  • 14
    SunSen FYI-PayPal's G&S policy specifically includes "anything you buy in person" under Items Not Covered by G&S for peer-to- peer sales. Going forward, do not accept G&S for in-person transactions, as the buyer is able to inspect the item at purchase. You may be able to argue this with PayPal, but at this point small claims is probably the way to go.
    via Striking-Flight2
  • 15
    Shocked man reading a message on his phone with his hands over his mouth
    via wildlittlethingsphoto

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 16
    blockrush3r Always deal in cash for marketplace im sorry this happened to you people are shiesty
    via blockrush3r
  • 17
    scotty_erata NEVER trust PayPal to provide any protections. Even buying online from a retailer, they won't go through the same review processes as a credit card company or bank would. If you can't use a credit card, use cash.
    via scotty_erata
  • 18
    MightyMetricBatman Doesn't matter the condition if the sale was as-is. You can sue in small claims and file a police report in case the police want to pursue it as a potential fraud case. Welcome to why Facebook Marketplace is cash-only for the most part. It is entirely possible the name on the paypal invoice is the person whose identity was stolen and not the person with the merchandise. If that was the case, you'll lose the small claims and be out the court costs and process costs as well. Sma
    via MightyMetricBatman
  • 19
    rpmrising Depending on the facts it may be a crime. In CA, theft by false pretenses to fraudulently obtain your PC is a crime under Pen Code 484. However, it's fact specific. He may have bought the PC and encountered an issue with your PC and legitimately did a charge back so might not qualify as theft by false pretenses. You can file a small claims and serve him, but if he doesn't respond and you get a default judgment, you still have to collect on that judgment. Another option is to retain an
    via rpmrising
  • 20
    CTMatthew Wondering why you thought PayPal was somehow safer than cash?
    via CTMatthew
  • 21
    anaqvi786 Submit a complaint to your local Attorney General's office against PayPal. Many years ago I had a situation like this where that's the route I went, and PayPal ate the loss and made me whole.
    via anaqvi786
  • 22
    BrianChange704 I hate that the police often say things are "civil matters" when they don't want to be bothered, but in this case they are right. It's only criminal if he had the requisite intent to steal, which proving will be almost impossible. Sue in small claims court.
    via BrianChange704
  • 23
    AssumptionMundane114 Always cash.
    via AssumptionMundane114

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scammer reverse-payment paypal lawsuit pc gaming facebook marketplace
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