PayPal trust service. Pending review. Scam?

[Simonpoeschl]

Hi I just sold something via Instagram and the person said she send me the money and I received 2 sketchy mails saying that the buyer has to send me another 200€ to upgrade my PayPal to business level. Sounded like scam and want to ask for your options. Email was from **removed** Mary, Sent you €50.00 USD We have a problem crediting your funds of €50.00 because your account status is not a business user which makes your account have limits. This amount seems to be above your limit so you have to take this urgent step to expand your limits How do I expand my account to a business User. Contact the last payer to send an additional payment of €200.00 for your account to be fully expanded to a business user. Soon as this is done we will credit your account with the total sum of €250.00 with a free compensation fee of €50.00 for this inconvenience caused. IMPORTANT NOTE An alert has been sent out to the payer in regards to the €200.00 additional payment he has to send to you, we will secure this transaction with higher priority that neither the payer nor seller will lose in this transaction.

[Michellelikesse]

I had a similar email today from person who said they were going to pay me for a product - it seems like a scam so I'm not replying and blocked them on Instagram - is this how a PayPal business account works?

[Simonpoeschl]

I had a business account 3 years ago and it's simply a few clicks to transform your account into one. That someone has to send you additional money doesn't make sense in my head. Block and move on will be the best choice I guess.

[kernowlass · Accepted solution]

@Simonpoeschl 

@Michellelikesse 

You never pay any upfront fee as a seller.

Ignore scammers that send fake Paypal emails telling you that you need to pay an upfront fee to verify/upgrade/or any other reason to 'accept' a payment.

You would certainly never have to send funds via another payment processor/bitcoins/ or tokens/vouchers of any sort.

Any fee is auto deducted by Paypal at the same instant the remainder of the payment is credited to your Paypal account balance.

No funds in your balance = you have not yet been paid, even pending/held payments will still show in your Paypal account activity.