Is this a scam?

Minion84
New Community Member
I sold my car today and was told that payment has been made to PayPal but it’s on hold until I pay the $600 to courier the car and send proof back through an email to PayPal. Is this legit or a scam? First time using PayPal
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2 REPLIES 2

PayPal_Intars
Moderator
Moderator

Hi @Minion84,

 

Welcome to the community forum and thanks for posting.

 

Any time you receive an email about activity on your PayPal account, the safest way to confirm the emails’ validity is to log in to your PayPal account via the PayPal website. Do not use the links in the email received. Any of the activity reported in the email will be available to view. When you receive a payment, you’ll see the money in your account right away. Even if it was placed in your pending balance, you’ll see this. We want you to have complete visibility of your money. Please forward any suspicious emails or websites to spoof@paypal.com. If we know the email, you will receive an email to confirm whether PayPal sent it. If it’s not known to us we will immediately investigate and extract all malicious content. To learn more about online safety, click the “Security” link near the bottom of any PayPal page.

 

-Intars

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kernowlass
Esteemed Advisor
Esteemed Advisor

@Minion84 

 

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/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 car, they just want that couriers/shipping 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.
Also their is no seller protection on paypal for any type of motor vehicle.

Delete any emails and ignore the scammers.


Advice is voluntary.
Kudos / Solution appreciated.
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