Received an offer to buy a car and pay with PayPal.

[txrisser]

We have a car for sale on Craigslist and this morning I received a text asking if it was still for sale. I responded that yes it was. Then they asked about its condition and if the price was the was the "final price offer". I told them more about the cat and that the price listed was a "firm" price.

They asked if I had the title and I responded that I did.

They then texted the following" Am okay with the condition and price I am ready for its purchase, i will proceed with the deal and i will be paying throught paypal due to my work frame i will not be available for the pick up. but am going to add $900 for the shipping and handling cost to michigan kindly let me know."

I texted back: "So you want us to arrange transportation?"

They responded: "yes I we make full payment of $12,900 to your account with my pick up agent fee I only need your PayPal email so I can make the payment in full and your we receive the whole money in your account before pick up they we contact you from the pick up agent company about the pick up schedule after payment."

I tried calling the number and it was listed as being from Massachusetts so I responded: That's agreeable. Your phone is listed as from Massachusetts but you want it delivered to Michigan? I'll need an address to get a quote on the transportation."

They responded: yes the pick up agent company we handle all the necessary documents and pick up so you don't need to worry your self about that."

So red flags are flying. First they want to give me more money than I'm asking for to cover transportation but when I ask for an address to get a quote on the transportation they give me some talk about their agent?

I decided to tell them that they should arrange the transportation and I gave them our city and zip code. Now I'm waiting.

[kernowlass]

@txrisser 

SCAM.

They encourage you to accept a 'direct' Paypal payment no funds or activity of the transaction shows in your Paypal account and any emails 'may' go into your junk or spam folders.

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 the item/car.

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 anther payment processor than Paypal OR via providing some vouchers or tokens BEFORE the funds are released to you.
They are not interested in the item, they just want that couriers/shipping 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.
Delete any emails and ignore the scammers.