Scamming People Into Sending You Money

My question involves criminal law for the state of: California
A close friend of mine has done something horrible and has asked for my advice for help.
He has scammed a few people online, they sent him PayPal gifts, worth in total of 855$, but he got scared and returned everyones money after doing so.
Is this a punishable offense? is it classified as stealing or no?

Thanks for all responses.

Quote:

---

Quoting stevensprings

---

Is this a punishable offense?

---

Yes.

Just like robbing a bank, going out to the parking lot, thinking better of it, going back in and returning the money. Guess what, you still robbed a bank.

Quote:

---

Quoting stevensprings

---

is it classified as stealing?

---

Yes.

But since the victims got the money back they just might decide not to call the police on him.

He's just going to have to sweat it out for a few months and hope nothing happens.

Thus are the consequences of stupidity.

Well thanks for the reply.

It's involving counterfeit goods as well, I forgot to mention that in the previous post. Would this have any effect on anything?

One more thing, They sent the money to him as paypal gift, which technically means they weren't expecting to buy something right?

It's not gift cards.
When sending money via PayPal, you have the option to send the payment as a good/service or as a gift

The more crimes you commit, the more likely it is that you'll end up being prosecuted. You're describing a growing list of state and federal offenses.