I apparently set up a Paypal Credit account years ago (when it was called BillMeLater) and forgot about it. Last year I started receiving emails "Statement balance" and "Payment received!" Checking into this, it looks like a third-party was somehow charging my account and then immediately paying it off. This happened a few times before I could call PayPal. I explained everything that was happening to their fraud department, and how I believed this to be some kind of scam. They told me they would make a note and mark the previous transactions as fraudulent. Not long after that the emails continued, so I called back and told them to just close the account. They closed the account, and again had me speak to fraud to verify everything and explain what was going on. For my records I wrote down everyone spoken to and what was said, however it's clear that their fraud team simply handled this as a fraud/dispute claim and ignored my comments about it being a scam.
In the following months I received two-pairs of typical credit dispute letters from PayPal: "Here's a temporary credit while we investigate your fraud claims." followed by "We've resolved a dispute in your favor." I assumed that was because I called to complain twice.
Now, PayPal have sent me in a check in the mail for $2,000. This is not my money. It seems like one of the people I spoke to just credited the money back to me, and their automated system closed and zero'ed the account. I voided and destroyed the check.
My main questions are what kinds of scam/fraud could have been involved here, and should I do anything else?
I was less surprised by the fact that they made the mistake and more shocked that they just sent a check in the mail to the address they had on file, which could have changed in the years since the account was opened. I'm worried that their system will just send another check after 180 days, which could easily be intercepted by someone in the mail and cashed. Then someone does an audit and it would be on me to prove I didn't cash it. Perhaps I'm overthinking it.
Of course I also really don't like the idea that there would be any more time/cost burden on me. To further complicate things, my main PayPal account (which is used for online authentication with PayPal Credit) was locked years ago due to a payment dispute that I have no interest in attempting to resolve. This makes it harder to communicate with PayPal. I couldn't find any public email address or support form on their website. The only options I have to communicate with them are sitting on the phone for who knows how long to find a customer service representative that would actually know what to do with this information without making things worse, or writing a certified letter to their central office.
