Payment on hold until tracking number received Scam or Not?

[btskaggs]

Received an email that said it was from paypal for confirmation of payment from a buyer I sold an item to.  But it stated that the funds would not be put into my account until they received a tracking number for the shipped item.  I think this is a scam but not sure, has anyone seen this before?

[dave393]

Yes, it is a scam! A PayPal scam. See my comments earlier in this thread about their new "Payment Hold" system that they've put into effect. Every seller practically, except people who are the largest sellers (over 100 transactions) are going to have to wait who knows how long before they can get their money (the money the seller has already paid) out of PayPal. In the meantime, all this money PayPal has in its own account is drawing interest for them. 

It's outrageous. It's stupid. And, it's obviously a desperate move by somebody at PayPal, somebody trying to hold onto his job with this money making scheme.

Dave

[KLM]

Let me get this straight. This in not a scam from the buyer, rather from Pay Pal? They can hold my money for an indefinite amount of time to make money off my money????

[surplusdealdude]

No, we are talking about scams from buyers here.

[Jill63]

I just received a similar email saying that I need to provide paypal with a receipt of shipment or a shipment tracking number, then I will be sent a URL that will be linked into my account.  I'm guessing that the money will be credited to my account then?  I've never used paypal to sell anything before and was skeptical when I received the email, especially since I couldn't find any information about this on the paypal website.  The status of my "money request" still says "pending" in my paypal account and gives no indication that paypal has received the funds.  If this is a new protocol paypal is implimenting, they should provide more information in your paypal account about the money status instead of just sending out emails.

[BadPolicy]

Yes, I've heard of this.  It's not a scam from the outside though... it's a PayPal scam.  I received an email a few weeks back telling me that my future payments from customers would be put on hold for approximately 45 days or until PayPal received confirmation from my customers that they received the item they purchased from me and were satisfied with it.  How ridiculous is that!  As IF even half of these people are going to bother responding to PayPal that they are satisfied!!  It's a scam alright.  It's called PayPal trying to make all the money then can off of our money.

[lonniesdream503]

Yes i have some buyer that offerd me over the asking price for my 14k white gold wedding ring asking 500.00 and offering 560.00 I recieved 3 or 4 emails saying the money is there just waiting for conformation that it was shipped. cant i some how make sure this is not a scam? Here is the address where the item will be shipped:
Shipping Information:  Mellisa Garrison

*Personal information removed in accordance with Community Guidelines*

[marys007]

*Personal information removed in accordance with the Community Guidelines*

yes! such a scam. i was just scammed by the same person different first name. my husband caught the scam though and after we already shipped my WEDDING GOWN for $180.00 we rerouted it back. I can't even believe someone is doing this, we need to do something about this!  And **bleep** fed ex won't even give me a refund. Should i file a police report?

[surplusdealdude]

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@marys007 wrote:

*Personal information removed in accordance with the Community Guidelines*

yes! such a scam. i was just scammed by the same person different first name. my husband caught the scam though and after we already shipped my WEDDING GOWN for $180.00 we rerouted it back. I can't even believe someone is doing this, we need to do something about this!  And **bleep** fed ex won't even give me a refund. Should i file a police report?

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Don't waste your time with a police report UNLESS you sent the item to a US address, in which case the FBI might like to know about it here;

www.ic3.gov

If it was going to Nigeria, don't bother - the FBI has no jurisdiction there.

Fedex won't refund you because they've done their job - they deserve to get paid for it.

[JuanJo]

Not only is it a scam, it's a lie.  I entered tracking numbers for three items, not one of them caused PP to release my funds.  Mine are held for 21 days.  As it happens, all three items were bought by international buyers, so it will take even longer for them to receive the items.  This "hold" garbage is just another example of PP treating everyone like criminals.

I shipped by USPS, by the way, and they don't issue tracking numbers for int'l. shipments, only customs barcode numbers.  I click those in my PP summary page and it shows the items have cleared customs, but still no funds release.

IF I ever sell on Ebay again, I will definitely state "Checks only" and no shipment until funds are cleared.

No more PP for me.