How can I verify a buyer for a boat sale?

[HannO77]

I am selling a boat on Boat Trader.com for $25,000 and I have a prospective buyer. How can I confirm or verify that this Paypal user is legit? Are there any guidelines for selling high dollar items like this?  Any way to safe guard this sale?

The main thing that has me concerned is that the buyer is unable to physically come and see the boat and will use an Agent to pick up the boat after the payment clears.

Thanks

[kernowlass · Accepted solution]

@HannO77

Sounds like the below scam.........................

They encourage you to accept a 'direct' Paypal payment,  they don't quibble on cost and may also say they can't view the item as they are disabled or working abroad etc etc but they will arrange a shipping agent to collect it.
No funds or activity of the transaction shows in your Paypal account and any emails 'may' go into your junk or spam folders.

You will get/got a "fake" email that looks as though it is from paypal.....it isn't because they don't actually have a Paypal account and have no intention of paying you.
It will say the buyer has paid ...you won't have been paid.

The 'fake' paypal email will tell you that the buyer has paid for the item + shipping costs but you must send those shipping costs to the courier/ shipping agent via western union, moneygram or walmart etc BEFORE the funds are released to you.
They are not interested in the item, they just want the western union etc funds and you will never see money in your paypal balance.

Paypal NEVER tell you to send an item before the payment is showing in your paypal account.
Paypal NEVER expect you to use a rival money transfer service eg Moneygram or Western Union etc.
Also their is no seller protection on paypal for any type of motor vehicle or item that is collected by the buyer.

Delete any emails and ignore the scammers.