Maybe being scammed?

[Abiismyth]

So I'm new to selling on eBay and using PayPal, so please be kind. So I put up an item to bid, someone got back to me asking to buy out right. I agreed and they said to give them my PayPal email so they can transfer funds. I did this all was well, and I received an email from service@paypal. co.uk saying my funds will be held until I email back with a tracking number. So I sent the item and responded to the email with the tracking number. Everything seemed legit and fine until I noticed that none of this was reflected in my PayPal account, then I began to question things. So I confirmed with the buyer the package was sent etc and they confirmed the payment had been taken from their account... then it gets strange... the buyer then emails me saying that he got an email saying I needed to upgrade my account to a business account to receive the payment and he wanted to send me £850 for reasons I still don't understand. He then proceeded to tell me that I will have emails in my inbox saying the same... which I did... but they were clearly fake as the grammar wasn't right. I have stopped conversing with him of course but now I don't know if the funds for the product with be released ever, but I've sent the product. Can anyone shed any light as to if the funds will be released? Or on what I should do? Thanks!

[kernowlass]

@Abiismyth 

SCAM.

They may buy on Ebay but they use an anonymous or hijacked Ebay account and do not have a Paypal account so they can't use Ebay checkout.

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.

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.

Once you have become a victim they may try again with more fake Paypal emails with other 'reasons' that you must send them a payment for custom fees, overpayment, upgrade account or anything else they may think you will fall for. 

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.

[Abiismyth]

Thanks so much for your help, this is exactly what has happened. Is there anything I can do to retrieve the money or do I just cut my losses?

[kernowlass]

@Abiismyth 

Sadly as none of the transaction was done using Paypals site there is nothing they can do about your money as you were never paid.

The scammers send fake ebay or paypal emails and work from an internet cafe somewhere normally in Africa.

You could however try contacting the carrier you used to ship the goods and if it has not left UK soil you may be lucky in getting it back again.

If it was RM then contact them?

[Abiismyth]

I has left the UK now but no worries thanks so much for your help, I really appreciate it.