checking for potential scams before I ship internationally

[nancym1309]

Hello,

I was approached from someone who wants to purchase an item I have listed on Facebook Marketplace.  The person is in Australia and I"m in the USA.  They agreed to pay all shipping costs and the cost of the item through PayPal if I generate an invoice.

I'm a little apprehensive (although then seem legit) because of all of the different potential scams out there.  I would be out the cost of the item $350 plus over $100 in shipping if this isn't a real sale.

Has anyone heard of any such scams or am I being overly sensitive?  

[kernowlass · Accepted solution]

@nancym1309 

READ THIS COMMON SCAM SO YOU ARE AWARE HOW IT WORKS AND ALSO READ UP ON SELLER PROTECTION AS ITS NOT A 100% COVERALL AND YOU NEED TO RISK ASSESS YOUR TRANSACTIONS.

SCAMS.

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.

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 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 item, they just want that couriers/shipping 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.

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 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.