giftcard scam??

[acmmaker]

i recently sold an item on ebay and received an email from Paypal stating the funds were approved and will be in my account in a few days. Then a few days later, i received an email stating i need to buy a $300 giftcard and upload it to paypal to "verify" my account. My senses tell me this is a scam...can anyone confirm?

[kernowlass · Accepted solution]

@acmmaker 

SCAM.

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.

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.

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 via a gift card or tokens to try and scam more money from you.

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.