Possible scam?

[Capmajor]

Good morning

Selling expensive items on Gumtree, I was messaged by two "customers" on the same night who wanted my Paypal Email address so they could make payments.

For some reason my email address didnt work [ so they said ]. At this point one got irritated saying it wasnt the email address I used to set up my account. The other just said he had tried but couldn't make a payment - it didnt work.

I sent him an invoice for the amount using his email address but he didnt pay.

after a couple of followup emails I cancelled the invoice and now find his email address has disappeared!!

The other "customer" dint respond when I asked for his email address to send an invoice.

Both "customer" said they couldn't come to get the items but would send agents. ODD????

methinks there's a scam here - any ideas?

[kernowlass · Accepted solution]

@Capmajor 

They are scammers, they want you to send a money request so that they have your email address etc and can then send you convincing SPOOF fake emails. However they make an excuse not to PAY that way as they don't have a paypal account.

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 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 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.

They also 'sometimes' threaten legal action...have a laugh at that one and ignore it as its rubbish.

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.
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.

[Capmajor]

Hi and many thanks

Capmajor