Potential Craigslist Scam

[Mhill28525]

I posted on Craigslist, without pictures, because I was going to add the pictures today. This morning, I received this text: "Do you still have it available?HUSQVARNA RIDING TRACTOR 26 HP$900... ( I said yes) "Sound good,i am interested in it and I'd like to know the condition, are you the first or second owner? and how long have you had it?...and i have a mover that will come for the pick up once payment is cleared in your paypal account, do you have a paypal or zelle account ?...With the descriptions i am okay and i will have to pay you through zelle or paypal because  am currently at hanscom Airforce base at bedford Massachusetts...As soon as i make the payment the pick up company will contact you so as to know the best time for them to come for the pick up....Do you have a PayPal or Zelle account?...Ok, Kindly get back to me with the paypal Email address so that i can make the payment asap ...and also let me have the zip code where it is for me to forward it to my Hauler to calculate how much it will cost me for the pickup." (At that point I said I had to have cash and had decided it was a scam) "I insisted on paypal or Zelle because i have been ripped off using money order and Paypal or Zelle protects both buyers and sellers from scam... I insisted on paypal or Zelle " I said I'm sorry and that was the end of it.

[kernowlass · Accepted solution]

@Mhill28525 

YEP SCAM, glad you weren't caught out.

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/spam folders.

They don't quibble on cost and may also say they can't view the item as they are disabled / working abroad / in the military or sending as a gift to a family member but they will arrange a shipping agent or courier 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 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 by providing some vouchers or tokens before the funds are released to you.
They are not interested in the item, 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, Western Union, Bank Transfer or any sort of gift token or voucher.
There is no seller protection on paypal for any type of motor vehicle or item that is collected by the buyer.

Delete any emails and ignore the scammers.