PayPal Refuses to Protect My Purchase and Enables a Scam by the Website TheLumisly.com
On 17 August 2026, I saw a Facebook advertisement from TheLumisly.com for a highly detailed 1:8 scale model of a classic Volkswagen Beetle. I placed an order and paid via PayPal (Transaction Reference 5DD76545B3106521T).
To be on the safe side, I took screenshots of the entire ordering process and downloaded the video of the Volkswagen that was shown in the advertisement.
Then the problems and inconsistencies began. The shipment tracking service, for which I had paid an additional €9.95, was inaccessible, as was the TheLumisly.com website.
After sending several strongly worded emails, I was finally promised that the shipment was on its way. In the meantime, I searched the internet for Lumisly.com and was shocked by the many negative reviews about this website. My confidence that this matter would end well quickly disappeared.
On 26 August 2026, the postal service delivered a small Chinese plastic envelope which clearly could not possibly contain a 1:8 scale model. At that moment, I knew that I too had been scammed by TheLumisly.com.
After opening the envelope, I found a completely worthless Volkswagen model, worth less than €2.00. It was a 1:43 scale model, in a different colour and without any of the detailing of the advertised 1:8 model.
After I submitted a complaint, TheLumisly started using delaying tactics. They asked all kinds of questions and made various demands, such as requesting photographs of the product received and the date of delivery. Every time I responded, another new request followed.
Once it became clear that I was the victim of a scam, I contacted PayPal Buyer Protection and submitted detailed photographs of the advertisement, the ordering process, the email correspondence and the worthless product I had received.
After that, TheLumisly again started sending delaying emails. Because they refused to correct this fraud and refund the money I had paid, I escalated my complaint to a formal claim.
The claim was then rejected in favour of the seller within a single day, despite all the detailed evidence I had submitted proving this scam.
PayPal Buyer Protection is therefore of absolutely no value. Because PayPal is effectively enabling this scam, after many years and many payments I have decided to stop using PayPal and to close my PayPal account.
You have been warned.