How to Verify Address or buyer info on Craig's List

[annabanana1972]

 I have posted an omega watch (value is quite a bit) on Craig's list and was contacted almost immediately upon posting.  The buyer would like for me to use pay pal to receive payment and has added an additional amount to cover the shipping.  He asks that it be shipped via the Postal Service and that I not include the value of the item inside of the box due to the fact that if I did that the person he is sending it to would have to pay additional charges when they received it.  He has not given me information as to where he wants it shipped but from the information that I have received, I believe he is not from the US but elsewhere.  The poor English in the email leads me to believe that this is a second language for him.  I have contacted paypal asking how I am to protect myself.  The man (with broken English) told me that I should follow the "buyers agreement" and that I would be fine.  He says I have to "verify" the shipping address but has no idea how to do this other than on ebay.  Does anyone know how to do this on Craig's List?  I have sold things previously on Craig's List but I have always met the seller and was paid cash.  I have used Paypal but never to receive a payment, only to purchase something. I am seeing info that they will hold your payments, etc.  Do you ship prior to a release of this payment?  The buyer isn't going to want to wait on his product if it has been paid.  I am just a little leery of this whole deal.  How do you determine if it is a scam?  I am seeing horror stories about paypal and want to make sure that this is the best and only option that I have in order to receive money from this man.  Anyone know if there is some sort of data base to cross reference info in order to check for scams?  Please help as I am at a loss on how to proceed!

Thanks

Ann

[jwnacnud]

SCAM! SCAM! SCAM!

I would run from that "sale" as quickly as I can.  You'll end up second guessing your second guesses.  Warning signs for a scam are:

• High value items that can be easily resold on the street or at a pawn shop.  An omega watch or an ipod/iphone certainly qualify there.

• Poor english grammar
• Wanting to  pay with a check or money order
• Sending more money than was agreed upon (I know, it sounds impossible, but it happens with scams)
• Let me stress again, the poor english grammar.  

You have only one alternative in which you will still be protected.  Have the buyer pay you via Western Union.  I don't like Western Union either, but if a buyer is willing to put his cash on the line through WU and you get your cash, only then can you ship to a "probable scam" without losing anything.

You can also openly call them on their bluff.  "Your communications with me are very suspicious and I think you are trying to scam me."  They almost never respond to that.  In my 8 years of online sales, I have never accused someone of being a scammer and been wrong.  If they are legitimate then they can have a dialogue with you and help to make you feel comfortable about the transaction.  If not, run away from it.