Scam message ??

[Newbuild100]

Folks. I put an advert on gumtree last night for a motorbike (£4.5k's worth). Within  an hour, I got this reply . . . . "

	i am an officer in the army ,i am presently in Afghanistan for a peace keeping mission . i am interested in buying your listed item for my son as a birthday gift .I would like to know if the item is still available for sale? Is it in a Good condition?How much is your final price I will be paying you Via PayPal which is the only payment method i can do due to my present location. its a fast, safe and reliable method of payment.i will be the one responsible for the pick up and delivery of the item. here is email is   . . . . Thanks Richard

I want to think this is a genuine enquiry (I need to sell the bike !). Does the above seem genuine ? Has anyone seen anything like the above before ? I have replied to him BUT am i heading for a potential scam here ??? Thanks for any views folks

[kernowlass]

@Newbuild100

This is a typical 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.

They don't quibble on cost and may also say they can't view the item as they are disabled or working abroad / in the military etc etc but they will arrange a shipping agent to collect it.

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 western union, moneygram or walmart etc BEFORE the funds are released to you.
They are not interested in the vehicle, they just want the western union etc 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 that is collected by the buyer.

Delete any emails and ignore the scammers.