Craigslist bogus Paypal Request

ALOYSIUS1978
New Community Member

I received an email from a paypal address asking me to go to any RIA Outlet and submit a shipping fee of $600 dollars and then my item from Craigslist would be submitted and the shipping fee would be refunded.  I quickly decided to call Paypal on their 800#.  Much to my surprise, the assistant informed me that no email had been sent from Paypal and to not reply to this email!  This is outrageous!  How can an email sent from Paypal be a hoax?  I forwarded this hoax email to Paypal in hopes that they can inform their Security and stop these **bleep**!

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1 REPLY 1

kernowlass
Esteemed Advisor
Esteemed Advisor

@ALOYSIUS1978 

 

Because it WASN'T sent by paypal, it would have been sent by a scammer and made to look as if it was from paypal, haven't you heard of spoof emails?

Scam has been ongoing for at least 15 years and works like this...................

 

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 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 item, 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.
Delete any emails and ignore the scammers.


Advice is voluntary.
Kudos / Solution appreciated.
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