Help selling an item

[TrailSeeker]

Hello,

This is my first time to sell an item through Craigslist and I'm using PayPal as a payment means for the buyer.  What information am I required to share with the buyer in order for him to post a payment to my PayPal account?  I'm feeling very cautious.

[kernowlass]

@TrailSeeker

There are so many scams about and ways to lose your money if you don't read up on paypal seller protection first so you can risk assess your transaction so my advice is do that first.

Also have you been asked by a buyer to set up a paypal account? If so then that may well be the start of a scam so can you give more info on item / buyer etc.

[TrailSeeker]

I have my own paypal account so I'm not setting up anything with the buyer.  It's a power wheelchair ($1500) being sold. I live in Colorado, buyer says he's in Indiana and is arranging for a delivery service to pick up and transport the chair after he deposits funds into my PP account.   I will arrange to meet the delivery truck at a public place (possibly a local police department where a friend works who could be present with me at the time of transaction)  My cousin, who has sold things on Craigslist, said I don't need to provide my name to the buyer, even though the buyer is requesting this.  I assume the buyer only needs my paypal email address to deposit funds.  Can you confirm that?

[PayPal_Donna · Accepted solution]

Hello TrailSeeker,

Welcome to the PayPal community and thank you for your post.

You are correct, all the buyer needs is the email address registered to your PayPal account in order to transfer the funds accross

I would also advise you that with a sale like this, you are open to the buyer opening a non-receipt claim against you. As we would ask for a postal tracking number in order to show the item was delivered, if you haven't got one, we would file in buyer favour. 

-Donna

[TrailSeeker]

Thank you!  Please tell me if there's a way to create a tracking number?  Only through UPS or USPS, right?  That's a really good suggestion!  Thanks.  The sale in question fell through.  I didn't have a good feeling about it from the start, so I'm actually relieved.  Now hoping a local sale can be achieved so that shipping isn't an issue.

[kernowlass]

@TrailSeeker

I think it is THIS scam.....................

They encourage you to accept a 'direct' Paypal payment but 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.

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.


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 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.