Scam

[LadyPenelope1]

This morning I had an email asking if the washing machine I had listed on Gumtree was still available. So I naturally replied to say it was. The sender called herself Katrina <removed> and the email address was something I am unable to put on here.  She replied to say she wanted it and would pay via paypal. If I would hold it while she arranged a courier and could I give her my address. This I did.  She asked me to forward my paypal details. I had never done this before so I contacted Paypal and the online advisor showed me how to send an invoice. This I did.  After a few hours I contacted her to see if she had received the invoice, she said she had not. So I logged in to my account to see what was happening. It said sent, but there was a notice saying reminder, this I sent. Soon after I got three very strange emails supposedly from Paypal saying she had paid £550. (the washer washer was £225.) And instructing me to pay money to Western Union. So I then realized it was a scam. I have changed my Paypal password. But this person knows my name and where I live. And my email address. It is a worry. Anything else I should do ?

[kernowlass · Accepted solution]

@LadyPenelope1

Don't worry about it, they have no interest in you and this same scam has been ongoing for about 15 years.

If you are not going to send them the 'shipping agent' money via western union then they will move on to the next potential victim.

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 item that is collected by the buyer.

Delete any emails and ignore the scammers.

[LadyPenelope1]

Is there no way the police can catch someone through their email address ? 

[kernowlass]

@LadyPenelope1

As they are probably using a public internet cafe using anonymous or hijacked email addresses 'somewhere' in Africa then I doubt the UK police would be in with a chance do you