selling ! Phone on eBay and I received a text message asking if the product was still available, and to email them, so I did, they said that they sent the money but it beening held by paypal until i send money through money gram, and once i have the reference number i email that to the email address and the funds will be released. Is this normal
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.
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.
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 also 'sometimes' threaten legal action...have a laugh at that one and ignore it as its rubbish.
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. Delete any emails and ignore the scammers.
Advice is voluntary. Kudos / Solution appreciated.
