Email from PayPal asking me to accept payment

[FerodaleK]

Hi, I've not used PayPal much before but have just sent someone a link requesting payment for some shoes I'm selling. I received an email from "paypal" asking me to "accept" payment immediately by responding to the email. This seems so suspicious to me but have read that PayPal do now send an email something like this. The email is coming from an address that i just found out i am not allowed to include in this message!!!!???? I've tried to check the origin of the email but for some reason I don't have this option with Gmail. Can you please help me by letting me know if this is how a seller accepts money? Are these emails real? They did use my full name when sending it..... Thanks in advance ☺️

[sharpiemarker]

@FerodaleK 

When someone sends a PayPal payment, PayPal emails you yes, but emails can be spoofed to trick you into thinking you received payment or that the person had paid so what you do is log on to your account to check if there is indeed a payment to accept. Simple. Always log on to check. Do not do anything without a record of payment in your account. The record of payment also tells what you should do next.

You can read more about common scams and how to report them here:

https://www.paypal.com/au/smarthelp/PAYPAL_HELP_GUIDE/all-about-fake-emails-or-websites-icf27

[FerodaleK]

Thank you so much. Yes I knew to check your account but because I've never received a payment before I wasn't sure if the payment showed in your account before "accepting" via the email. Thank you so much. I'm going to string these scammers along now. I have reported their Facebook account

[kernowlass]

@FerodaleK 

Don't string them along, they have been known to use your email address to sign you up to some nasty sites.

[FerodaleK]

Oh damn.....too late....how will I find out if they have? Oh I guess I would get an email from the site. Can they get my personal details just from replying to an email? I only sent one reply via email. The conversation was on FB messenger as I was selling something on Marketplace. I'm selling a LOT of things there as I'm moving and I'd say about 80% of enquiries were from fraudsters. It is so frustrating.