Scam <removed>

[Poppapad]

Hello Scam alert! There was someone interested in buying something from my cousin. He doesn't have PayPal.. This person said is on the sea right now and can only pay him via PayPal. Then my cousin received two emails from supposedly PayPal, first with a receipt and a second that he need to send an amount of money to a Sherry <removed>, or else PayPal wouldn't release the payment. The emails was going on for about a week. From a greek email address with the name Katrina <removed>. There was a deadline for the money my cousin had to pay. That was today morning. Luckily he didn't understand how to send the money and so he didn't. The "buyer" after emailed to tell him that PayPal got her money and that she is gonna report my cousin to PayPal and FBI

[kernowlass · Accepted solution]

@Poppapad 

Don't you just love it when they say you will get reported to the FBI  as though they have any jurisdiction in Europe....LOL

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 or 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.

OR
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 western union, moneygram or walmart etc BEFORE the funds are released to you.
They are not interested in the item, they just want the western union etc funds and you will never see money in your paypal balance.

They also 'sometimes' threaten legal action...have a laugh at that one and ignore it as its rubbish.

Or once you have sent and they know you have become a victim they may again send you 'fake' Paypal emails stating they sent too much and you have to refund BEFORE the funds are released to your balance or you have to send a western union payment to pay customs fees etc.


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.
Also their 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.

[Helensykes]

Well we’ll well... your report just solved my problem. I was so curious and anxious about selling an item to Katrina bc she was abroad and she sent me this “Hello im buying from abroad and. I want you send me more pictures? i like to see it to know the current condition and what is your final offer for the item. i will be paying you through paypal online transfer. kindly get back to me to proceed with the transaction.Best regards” she is scam guys I was about to go to the p.office but I reread the fake email and I understand that it was totally fake

[kernowlass]

@Helensykes 

Its why i give up my time to help on here, love beating the scammers !!  😊