Am I being scammed?

[YC19916]

Hello, I set up the sale of an item on gumtree and the buyer agreed to pay through paypal. I sent through the request and I recieived an e-mail from paypal saying that I would receive payment once they received confirmation of the delivery.

The buyer is now stating that paypal has overcharged him and that I have to pay him money through a different money transfer site before my payment will go through. so i basically give away the item and send money and hope that I will then get my money back. something seems wrong but I cant seem to speak to anyone at paypal about it.

[kernowlass · Accepted solution]

@YC19916

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 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.
They will tell you that the payment is released when you provide paypal with a tracking/shipping number......this won't happen.

OR
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.

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

Or once you have sent and they know you have become a victim they may again send you 'fake' Paypal emails stating they sent too much and you have to refund BEFORE the funds are released to your balance or you have to send a western union payment to pay customs fees etc.

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 type of motor vehicle or item that is collected by the buyer.

Delete any emails and ignore the scammers.

[Boris2017]

YES YOU ARE BEING SCAMMED,, NOT ONLY BY THE PERSON DEMANDING MONEY BACK BUT ALSO PAYPAL THEMSELVES THEY ARE WORKING WITH SCAM SITES TO DELIVER ITEMS THAT ARE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT TO WHAT YOU ORDERED AND THEN YOU HAVE TO SEND THEM BACK REGISTERED POST TO GET YOUR MONEY BACK AND THIS PROCESS IN TOTAL TAKES ALMOST 4 MONTHS SO THE ONLY ONES MAKING MONEY IS PAYPAL AND THE SCAM COMPANIES AND I THOUGHT PAYPAL WERE HERE TO HELP THE CUSTOMER BUT I WAS SO WRONG

[kernowlass]

@Boris2017

This has NOTHING to do with the original posters question, this SCAM is done via spoof emails and NONE of the transaction is done on paypals site.

Try reading before you reply.

Maybe if you tried reading you would have read that in the event of an item received but not as described dispute YOU have to return the item back to the seller before you get a refund, KNOWING that information why are you surprised when that is exactly what you are asked to do.

Paypal gives you some protection but who you trade with is up to you to risk assess.