Accidentally became a money mule. What should I do?

[Yana67]

Location is in the southeast asia. Due to the pandemic, I have been looking for jobs online. I came across this job listing that requires me to receive payments from an online shop and transfer it to my client. Now apparently this is a very old scheme that I obviously was not aware of, so forgive me for falling in` to it THAT easily ​

Now all the transaction happened via online. Basically I received the "payment", sent tracking number to paypal so that they could release the money, and after being approved, I immediately transferred the money to my "client". I just got a small amount from it (with my client's permission because I really needed money that week for an emergency.
After a few weeks, I received an email from paypal stating that the buyer hasn't received the package yet and now wants it to be refunded. I told him that I transferred the money already. We escalated it to paypal and I stated in the dispute that I was used as a middle man (I didn't know the term money mule that time) and that I was scammed as well. I won the dispute against the buyer because the tracking number I provided to paypal (tracking number was given by "client") said that the item was delivered successfully.
I closed my paypal account immediately after everything was settled but I am still very anxious and I don't feel good knowing that I became part of a scam.
My questions are:

1. since the buyer lost the dispute, can he still sue me for all of this, given that I am from another country?
2. is it possible that my "client" and the "buyer" are the same?
3. What will happen to me? will the police or some international folks come after me?

PS: the money transferred was about 1000usd

 

[Alexion]

Nothing will happen. There are too many scams like this going to for anyone to get in trouble.

You might be asked by local police to assist them with contacts from your "client", that's the max it can happen to you.

 

[Panther28]

They might have been hoping that they could win the claim against you, and then leave you high & dry, so it's just as well you escaped unscathed.

Wouldn't worry about it now.

Onwards and upwards from here with the many legit methods on bhw you can use to make money online, rather than join a scam ring. Good luck.

 

[SM23]

I think you was lucky, most of this always make you lost money and have negative balance in Paypal which they may ask to pay back, Good to see this wont happen to you.

 

[Dresden]

Doubt anything is going to happen honestly just be happy that you were able to win the dispute.

 

[Chris Newman]

will the police or some international folks come after me?

For US$1000 (as mentioned by you) : No one will come after you. But, now onwards beware of such scams.

 

[GenesisOne]

I am going to say the same just to confirm that you are out of trouble now.
Lesson learned => move on in peace.

 

[roydan]

I don't feel good knowing that I became part of a scam

You weren't part of a scam. You were being scammed and were lucky enough that the scam didn't work.
Nothing should happen, but even if something would happen, looks like you got all the proofs (texts, messages, PayPal transactions)to easily prove you didn't steal the money.

 

[iemg88]

If you're in southeast asia you can pay off the police