Help with identifying whether e-mail is from PayPal and genuine or not

[Novel]

Can someone please tell me whether this is how things work on PayPal? I am receiving funds via PayPal for the first time. The person I sold the goods to says that he has paid. I received an e-mail from "PAYPAL>" and the e-mail said that I should ship the goods and then forward proof of shipment/tracking information to an e-mail address and that it will only be after I have sent the said proof of shipment that the funds will be credited to my PayPal account. I don't see any proof of payment when I log into my PayPal account. Is this how things work on PayPal? How do I know that it is not a Scam? I will appreciate advice - whether I should ship as per the e-mail. Thanks  

[kernowlass · Accepted solution]

@Novel 

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.

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.

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.
Delete any emails and ignore the scammers.

[Novel]

Thank you for the advice. After some more searches, i discovered that this person has been scamming people selling goods online. What they wanted me to do was exactly as you detailed in your reply. Thanks.