How to recognize common scams when selling

[PayPal_Michelle]

Hi everyone!

I want to write this post specifically to help new and experienced sellers spot when a buyer may not be legitimate. This includes recognizing fake emails and tricks fraudsters use to obtain items without actually paying.

Common Email Scams:

• Emails made to look like they are from PayPal using our information for the email account “name”. Hovering over the name or replying will show that the actual email address isn’t registered to paypal.com
• Emails may say that “You have money” or “You’ve been paid,” but there is absolutely no record of the payment in the PayPal account. These will also generally say something along the lines that the payment will not post to the PayPal account until replying to the email with tracking information.
• PayPal will never ask that you reply to an email with tracking in order to complete a purchase. Tracking should always be added to the transaction in the PayPal account.
• There are some situations where we place a hold on a payment until tracking shows an item has been delivered, but there will always be a record of the sale in the PayPal account, and it will show a “pending” account balance. If there is no record in the PayPal account, do not ship the item!
• Emails will say that you’ve received a payment considerably more than the sale amount. These will advise you to use a competitor payment processor to send the difference to a “shipping agent” that will come pick up the item or back to the buyer directly.
• Processing payments is kind of PayPal’s thing, and we will never ask you to send money using another company.

Common Fraudulent Orders:

• The buyer may request a seller send an invoice instead of paying through the seller’s website or on eBay.
• This is a means to obtain the seller’s email address to commit the above scams.
• The buyer asks that you ship to a different address after sending a payment.
• There are situations where this may be an innocent mistake by the buyer, but it is also a means for fraudsters to circumvent our security measures.
• In both cases, always refund the payment and ask that they resend it with the correct shipping address. This will protect you in the event a dispute happens, and a legitimate buyer won’t have an issue correcting their error.
• Buyer sends an invoice to confuse new sellers into believing it is a “pending” payment.

The key is to stay informed and don’t be afraid to ask for help if you are unsure if it is safe to ship an item. We’re always happy to help here or you can contact our customer support directly by following the Help & Contact link at the bottom of the page. You can also reach us on Facebook or at @AskPayPal on Twitter.

Sell safely and thank you!

Michelle

If this post or any other was helpful, please enrich the community by giving kudos or accepting it as a solution.

[kernowlass]

@Sherzod2012- 

Sadly you have been scammed, you should NEVER send an item before the funds are showing in your paypal balance.

Funds show more or less instantly but allow about 2 hours NEVER days.

The emails you received were not from paypal but spoofs trying to scam you and now they have they are trying to scam you further.

[amandalwhite]

I’m selling something on social media and a person said they wanted to buy it. Well he said that he would send the money to my PayPal so I gave him my email. He then messaged me saying that he had sent the money but when I went to my email I had a email from a PayPal unit. Well it says for me to receive my money I would have to send the item and reply back with the tracking number then the money would be put into my account. Does anyone know if it’s a legit email? I’m scared to send the item then not get the money.

[Keymoe]

Dear PayPal Merchant : Chris You have a pending fund of $630.00 from your buyer Laura <removed>We would like to inform you again that the payment sent from Laura <removed>won't reflect in your PayPal account due to our terms and policy to confirm the pictures of the Ebay gift card and the Shipping Tracking from you so that we would be able to credit your PayPal Account because your money was place on pending by us for security reason. Details of Transaction Transaction ID: U-2F219288GM319564W Transaction Amount:$630.00 Case #: PP-091-962-222 Name /Shipping Address: Item Number: Name Of Courier Service: Tracking Number: ------------------------------ ----- Buyer's Shipping Address: ------------------------------ ----- ----------------------------- ------ What to Do Next ------------------------------ ----- You are to send shipping tracking number to us for verification, so as to secure Buyers purchase as well as you. Fund has been deducted from <removed> and shall be credited into your PayPal account (@outlook.com) immediately after we verify the pictures of the Ebay gift card with the full receipt by our management as Let go/PayPal terms to verify The Ebay card and the shipment from you due to Buyer's non-delivery reports. Below are requested shipping details and you are require to send the item through USPS post International Parcel service. Mailing Address; Christopher <removed>Status: Confirmed NOTE:As this transaction was done via our e-mail payments service, any inquiries and necessary information should be sent to us by replying to this message, because of the status of this transaction has not been passed on to our customer care phone service section so all inquiries should be directed to this e-mail address as it is the one monitoring all online transactions. ------------------------------ ------------------------------ ------------------------------ ------------------------------ ------------------------------ -------------------- We are truly sorry for this inconvenience but PayPal does this in order to protect both buyer and seller. NOTE: PayPal would be responsible for any lose, as long as we've gotten the pictures of the card with the tracking number from you. Thank you so much for your usual co-operation, PayPal Team. So is this one fake lol

[kernowlass]

@Keymoe 

SCAM.

They encourage you to accept a 'direct' Paypal payment and may ask you to send the item internationally.
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.
They will tell you that the payment is released when you provide paypal with a tracking/shipping number......this won't happen.

Paypal NEVER tell you to send an item before the payment is showing in your paypal account.
Paypal do not tell you to send trackable, they advise it for selling protection but it is not compulsory.
Delete any emails and ignore the scammers.

[Jules41]

i advertised an electronic device and the interested party wanted to pay via paypal.  i didnt know how it works not had an account.  the interested buyer advised me how to register and i received an email to say a payment has  been made

i mailed the device through postnet and received an email from the following address to say they received the waybill and as soon as the package is released my money will be available

the mail stated

Hello Julie

Please Note: We have received your waybill and we are verifying it also processing your payment your account will be credited once your parcel is on transit. We urge you to exercise patient till the verification process is complete.

Note: Payment will approve once the waybill is on transit.

We have withdrawn your funds from the buyer account and we have your funds safe with us, be rest assured as we have everything under control.

We are doing this to make sure that you and the buyer have a safe transaction and it is our duty to make sure that both party are being protected.

Please we urge you to exercise patience till the verification process is complete.

If you have any further question, please do not hesitate to e-mail by replying this Email we sent to you.

Thank you for usingPayPal!
The PayPalTeam

Consumer advisory PayPal Pty. Ltd., the holder of PayPal’s stored value
facility, does not require the approval of the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
Users are advised to read the terms and conditions carefully

is it a true paypal email?

[BR_Camaron_XX]

Hello, first off I would like to state I have never sold using Paypal so I am very new. I am trying to sell some weights and I was offered Paypal but they would get a courier to pick them up for them. They said they would be happy to pay first and then send the courier but I would like to know how do I protect myself in this situation from things such as charge-back? Thank you for any help in advance. 

[Mikito]

Hi, I sold something on internet, I've send it to the buyer and I received a message in Spam by Paypal telling that they need ny informations to receive the money, is that common? Should I trust it? Thank you

[Felecia16]

I think I have been scammed for an item which was very costly. The person has now received the item but I haven’t got the money. And i received an email that he approved of the payment but It’s still pending on my account and It’s on my current balance. It their any way I can collect my money please.

[AnyaM11]

I got an offer on eBay for a bath set I was selling and I got an offer. In the comment section of the offer he requested that if I accept the offer I should text him and he left a number, because he had some questions about the product. When I texted him, he replied with the following:

 "I would love to have it mailed to my cousin in Oklahoma as a birthday gift,I want you to include a steam wallet gaming gift card of 400$ inside the package when shipping because it’s going to the recipient as a gift.I’m a  veteran(0311)and not in the right position to have it mailed out myself, I will make an additional $500 to the payment. 400$ for the steam wallet gaming card and i will also add $50 to cover for the shipping cost and extra $50 for gas and inconvenience.are you cool with that ?"

I went along with it knowing that I would not buy or ship anything until I had the money for it in hand. He requested I send an email detailing the agreement for the additional service so that he could send money. I did so, strictly detailing that the order will only be processed, the gift cards purchased and shipped with the order, only once the necessary funds have been received and confirmed for this order.

Then I get an email from a <removed>  address with a big PayPal banner saying  James <removed> sent $536.00 USD,  "for an item and a steam wallet gift card of $400 and the shipping." Payment Approved, Transaction U-25B56292VF676342Y ... so on and so on. I must say, the top portion looked like it could have been authentic. Until you scroll down and see the following:

"Important note: it may take a little while for this payment to appear in the Activity section of your account.Until you email us the picture of the eBay gift card and receipt for verification so that we can credit your PayPal account.The transaction can't be cancelled based on the fact that the payment was made via PayPal advanced method, the money can't be refunded  back to the buyer because it has already been ordered to your PayPal account. Thanks for using PayPal"

He asked if I got the confirmation, I replied that I got an email. I said I would wait to see it in my PayPal activity. He said, but didn't you see the bottom part of the email. I told him I agreed to do it when money was received and confirmed, I did not receive money only and email.

Suddenly, I get another email from the online paypal payment usa at gmail address with the subject line *** LEGAL ACTION ***, with crude graphics and text saying they have forwarded my name and address to the police. There where crude payment buttons splattered all over the place and pictures of dudes being perp walked, LOL.

I responded back saying I am going to post about this everywhere on eBay, PayPal and Google, you may need to change your email address and get all new accounts. 

He responded back with another statement saying:

"The reason why the funds hasn't reflected into your account is due to the gift card in which PayPal needs to verify  from you first as a proof of purchase. Due to some recent business sales some sellers will receive a clear funds in their account and do away with the money without getting the gift card.So since the money has been debited from the buyer’s account, PayPal is in hold of the funds until you email us the picture of the gift card for verification so the funds can be sent immediately into your account before shipment. It's a medium of protecting both sellers and buyers. Hope you understand?"

At this point I just blocked him and put him into my spam folder.

BE CAREFUL OUT THERE GUYS. NO MONEY - NO PRODUCT/SERVICE ... remember that.

[kernowlass]

@AnyaM11 

Yep ongoing SCAM for a few years.