Seller asking for a second transaction of refundable shipping insurance.

[Jomahu]

I bought some car parts from a particular seller. I sent the money as a payment and everything was going well.

The seller reached me saying that he is at Fedex and that they are demanding a refundable $100 insurance fee that will be refunded once the package was delivered (I have never hear about this). Since he didn´t have any money to pay for it his story was that he asked the "Fedex manager" for his Paypal account so I can pay Fedex directly for the insurance. It was a particular email and the "Fedex manager" requested to send it as a gift. 

I refused and asked the seller to use a different service. He replied that all will charge the same $100 refundable insurance fee.

I know the story about Fedex is a whole big red flag, however, I would like a second opinion.

Thanks in advance.

[kernowlass · Accepted solution]

@Jomahu 

Sounds a scam to me, firstly any insurance taken out is done via the seller not the buyer once they have completed the payment for the item + shipping.

Secondly they were asking for a friends/family payment again if they were paying FEDEX then it would automatically be a goods/services payment, no big company would tell you to send an f/f payment !!