There is only one way to send Paypal as a gift and be safe. If you are going to send as a gift USE YOUR CREDIT CARD linked through paypal. NOT DEBIT CARD, visa, mc, amex only. Credit cards are insured and payments are fully refundable 99% of the time by filing a dispute throught the credit card company. If you send Paypal gifts through your linked bank account there is nothing you can do paypal will NOT cover you.
Paypal as gift- Credit card
Paypal regular payment- Use your bank account but mark it as purchasing goods and add the 3% fee to your payment if the seller requests so. Write in the purchase section when you buy what you are buying.
Anyone asking for a paypal payment as a gift is looking for only 2 things-
1. To avoid fees associated, in which case you offer to pay the 3% yourself
2. Rip you off
Moral of the story...... When in doubt use your credit card. I have been dealing with Paypal for years and had to learn the hard way. Credit card companies will always reimburse you for anything fraudulent. They makes lots of money and want to keep you as a customer and will do just about anything to do so.