Selling your used stuff online has become commonplace. So have scams taking advantage of the good names of reputable online companies. At the FTC, we’ve heard from people stung by scammers spoofing PayPal. The scam generally goes like this: You post a high-value item, like a used car, for sale online. In no time at all, you get an email from a buyer willing to pay full price — or more! But he sets conditions; he is only willing to pay by PayPal or insists the sale must happen right away. What’s really going on? A ruse to steal your personal information, money or merchandise.
Here are some suspicious situations to look for and steps to safe selling online:
Scenario One: The buyer claims he can only pay via PayPal. Don’t have a PayPal account? No problem, he says. He’ll send you an email with a link so you can set one up.
What should you do? Don’t take the bait. The link will send you to a website masquerading as PayPal. Any information you enter will be collected by the bogus buyer, and may be used to commit fraud. If you need to set up an account, go directly to PayPal.com.
Scenario Two: “Check your email!” The buyer claims he has sent payment to your PayPal account with additional funds so you can ship the merchandise ASAP, but oops, he sent too much money. He asks you to return the extra money via a money wiring service. It’s all a lie, including the extra money the buyer says he included.
What should you do? Log into your PayPal account. Make sure you’ve been paid before you ship. Never follow links in emails from people you don’t know. The safest approach is to open a browser window, navigate to PayPal.com, and log in yourself. Also, if the buyer claims to have sent extra money, and asks for some back, that’s a big red flag.
Scenario Three: The buyer sends you real money through a real PayPal account, and you ship him the car. Problem is, the PayPal account belongs to someone else! You might need to return the money even though the scammer has your wheels.
What now? Contact PayPal and ask them to open an investigation. The company offers seller protections so you aren’t liable for unauthorized transactions. Also file a complaint with the FTC and your local police department.
Learn how to recognize and avoid common online scams. And contact PayPal at spoof@paypal.com if you’ve been stung by a PayPal spoof. The company wants to hear from you.
In reply to Just got the exact same scam by KJK
In reply to Thank you FTC and all of the by GG
In reply to Yep, another "Roy Cryan" by orljustin
In reply to Thank you FTC and all of the by GG
R Roy Cryan to nhr8q-6185622948 2 days agoDetails I work with the Military and am presently located at San Luis Obispo County California Military Bases, United States, so i wont be able to come. As soon as the payment clears i have a mover that would come over to pick it up..
In reply to R by Is it still av…
In reply to Just got email from same Roy by Hmbleb
Posted a Craigslist ad & got a text from (727)998-xxxx wanting responses only to email garrettfutch
"Thanks,I'm seriously interested in buying this for my Father as a surprise gift, your asking price is quite reasonable and affordable considering others I've seen lately,I would have loved to come check it out my self but am currently in camp as military instructor for new recruits. I however squeezed out time to check this posting as all personal dealings are highly restricted here,I want this kept discreet enough until it get delivered to him and due to the fact that phone calls making are restricted......i will be paying you with my PayPal account because it's attached to my bank account and its a safe and very secure way to make payment. If my mode of payment is accepted just send me your Paypal email address,(Paypal ID) so i can pay in right away. I'll need your name, the pickup address or location and please include your PayPal email address for the payment and send me some recent pictures if available And if you don't have a PayPal account, you can easily go to WWW. Paypal. com and sign up. its very easy. I await your reply asap Thanks" "There will be a pick up agent that will come to your house to do the pick up after the payment must have been made so get back to me with your PayPal email now along with your final price so i can make the payment ASAP."
In reply to Posted a Craigslist ad & got by B
Check this one in response to a motorbike online ad (South Africa). Similar wording but this one works on an oil rig!
From: ANN VAN DER MERWE Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2018, 10:50 Subject: Re: Kx60 To: Thanks for the details, I think it's better i inform you about this. I received an email from my pick up agent am most sure i include that in my previous email, she said she won't come for the pick up unless i pay her the agent commission fee via Spar first in order to be able to schedule a pick up time, i would have love to pay them directly via Spar but there is no way i can pay online ! so i have to ask you to help me with the pick up fees, i will include the R2500 they charged to pick it up and take it my home(1st class treatment), to the payment i will sending into your PayPal account, so after i have made the payment I will need you to help me send the R2500 to my pick up agent through Spar.I will be sending total payment of R6,850 into your PayPal account ,which means R4,000 for the Item, while R2500 for the Pick-Up fee. I have also included the Spar charges which is R50 and extra R300 for the stress ok I will be making the payment if you agree to help with this. Thank you
Received this messages just minutes after the other one offering my $400 when my asking price was $300. Red flag #1 From +1 347-913-8526 I'm making you an offer of $400 including shipping fee cause i don't have a meet up schedule and i'll be paying via PayPal. Do you accept my offer?? I'm making you an offer of $400 including shipping fee cause i don't have a meet up schedule and i'll be paying via PayPal. Do you accept my offer?? My reply: I am not using PayPal for this transaction. Their reply: I'll be paying you first before you mail out the device Actually i was advise to do PayPal,I have been ripped off doing money order, western union,cash would have been better but as you can see,the situation is not favorable.. My reply: Thanks but I'll pass. These people are a joke!
SCAM ALLERT. Selling my car thru cars.com , got a text as early as 5am . Text saying that he's from MA and he is interested with a car and ne will send his agent/ shipper to test drive and pick up the car . He said he could only pay with PayPal and asking for my email and name. RED FLAG I replied and told him I only deal with cashiers check or cash and only do transactions inside a bank for imediate deposit. Never text back. Beware lot of Scammers thru buyers and time share.
Same scam here, selling a car in auto trader, was contacted within 12 hours. Even has a Facebook page with a military guy on it.
Do you have the extra keys, Do you have the spare tire, Where did you get your car serviced, Have you ever had any transmission repairs and Is there any rust on the vehicle? I'm ready to pay your asking price but not cash in person because I am serving in the US army and currently been deploy to Fort Huachuca Military Base , Arizona and calls are restricted at the moment and my only quickest payment option is PayPal, its safe fast and secure and i will be responsible for the PayPal transaction charges so you can get your expected amount. If you don't have an account with PayPal, its pretty easy to open one, Just log onto paypal. com and sign up. I hope we can make the purchase as fast as possible? As I am buying the vehicle for my dad and I'm very sure he will love this vehicle, his a mechanic and a handy man, so if there is anything that need to be fixed in it just let me know he will handle it. I have a mover that will come for the pick up once payment clears in your account and he will handle the title for me.I would appreciate if you email me with more pictures (if available) too since i won't be able to see this in person. I look forward to hear from you with the information below. I look forward to hear from you with the information below. Your PayPal e-Mail Address : Full name: Phone Number- Firm Price: Zip code for pickup: Thanks Gomez
In reply to (Below is a message I by selar
In reply to This number is a scammer who by jason mac
Gomez Wilson scam:
I'm ready to pay your asking price but not cash in person because I am serving in the US army and currently been deploy to Fort Huachuca Military Base , Arizona and calls are restricted at the moment and my only quickest payment option is PayPal, its safe fast and secure and i will be responsible for the PayPal transaction charges so you can get your expected amount. If you don't have an account with PayPal, its pretty easy to open one, Just log onto .paypal. and sign up. I hope we can make the purchase as fast as possible? As I am buying the vehicle for my dad and I'm very sure he will love this vehicle, his a mechanic and a handy man, so if there is anything that need to be fixed in it just let me know he will handle it. I have a mover that will come for the pick up once payment clears in your account and he will handle the title for me
In the last 2 days I received 3 of those Paypal scam emails and one that is the following:
"i like the bmw and i am sure that it is O K i am fine with the pr ice from your listing so i will go ahead get the funds from my l oan broker. i will have to come and see and also check the car. I -will bring also my mechanic with me, so he will see it too. i will be able to pay you cash after i will inspect the car. i am very serious and i deal only face to face with cash. Do you have all the service docs and the history of-the_car?"
This is close to the same wording I have received in a past car sale. I am not sure what the deal is with this one but anybody who says "I am very serious" and "I am okay with the price", just delete the email. I real buyer will test drive the vehicle and offer less than asking price. I wish there was a way to stop these morons because they are wasting our time.
Pagination