Is this a scam?

[AndreLubbe]

Good day Community

I am based in South Africa and a gentleman mailed me with regards to vehicle I have advertised to sell on gumtree and would like the vehicle to be shipped to him offshore. I have been notified I need to make a payment to the courier "additional pick up fee" before the funds will reflect in my account. I am afraid to do so as I suspect it may be a scam.

I would appreciate some input from anyone who has experience in this department

[kernowlass · Accepted solution]

@AndreLubbe 

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 vehicle 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 vehicle + 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 vehicle, 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.