Advice about selling a car, recieving payment via paypal.

[hasey]

I'm selling my car (not on ebay) and have had someone offering to buy via paypal and send someone for collection. I know all about these scams where buyers say I'll pay with a bankers draft and add shipping fees and the seller has to sort it out with the shippers. I've always disregarded these and said cash on collection only but this one says he'll pay in full via paypal and arrange for someone to collect. I just want to know where I stand on the security of the payment. Do I have to wait any particular time for it to clear? Can he cancel payment once cleared or request a refund?

You hear so many scams going on I just want to be sure, I'm already dubious due to the fact he's saying he'll send someone else to collect. Or am I just best sticking to my guns and demanding cash on collection? Please help.

[canOgrog]

I had exactly the same about 12 hours after I posted my car ad. Did you have a problem whereby you couldn't see the number nor reply to the text message?

Tell-tale signs of it being a scam, aside from the above, were asking three questions that were all clearly answered in the ad, not being able to spell his name correctly, and being generic (using the word "Vehicle"). I don't think I'll even be responding to "Micheal".

[2002ajay]

Hi canOgrog, yes mine was the same. It looked like his number was saved in my phone contacts as it came up as his name but without any number!!

[manireenes]

I just posted my car for sale on craigslist in san jose and I received a text from a person saying that they want to purchase my car. At first he/she asked a few basic questions like, if the car is in my possession currently, if I am the first owner, and if I accept paypal. I said that I prefer a check or cash. The person said that paypal is easy to use, fast and secure. I said that we can discuss the payment methods later, and told him/her that the first step is to view the car and make sure it is what they need. And then I got this message: 
"I just move to TN,and I do have a pickup agent that will handle the pickup after the payment made and you received the payment confirmation .. i will inform you and let you know when they will be coming for the pickup .. so let me know soon and get back to me now with the email to your paypal so as to make the payment soon thanks."
"As for the merchandise it will be  picked up and inspect by my shipping company,they will only come when i pay the seller.They will be accessing that and  also be coming for the pick up,they will be coming with all the information needed,my details and transferring the name of ownership to me will be done by my agent so you don't have to worry about that, let me know the email to your paypal and i can make the payment soon."
I asked why buy a car from San Jose if you live in Tennesse? He/she never addressed that question.
I am so glad that I decided to do some digging on the internet before agreeing to anything and I am glad that I saw all of these posts. 

[butlerglc]

I too had the basic text asking if the car was  still for sale and its present condition and if i was the original owner. then saying they would be willing to pay via paypal and include the shipping cost to give to the shipper. soundeed too good to be true. then i asked that they should call me just to iron out the details and they say well i'm in the military and they dont have a ver y good cell phone for talking. told them to forget it!!!! 

I'm glad i searched  this forum and hope more good sellers can see this so they don't get  scammed!!

[Quisty]

I am so glad I found this thread. I am selling my pickup and received this email. Had to share: Thanks so much for you mail, i am buying this for my Son and i am a petroleum engineer currently on a rig offshore i really want this to be a surprise gift for my Son so i wont let him know anything about this until it gets delivered to him , i am sure he will be more than happy with it.I can only pay with paypal here, i will need you to give me your paypal email address so i can make the payments asap and please if you don't have paypal account yet, it is very easy to set up, go to <a href="http://www.paypal.com" target="_blank">www.paypal.com</a> and get it set up , after you have set it up i will only need the e-mail address you use for registration with paypal so as to put the money through.tell me more about the advert price is okay note well: Pick up agent will come for the pick up as soon as i have made the payments, i would have loved to talk to you on phone but i am a petroleum engineer I work mainly offshore, our phone is down on the rig right now due to bad weather, we can only communicate with our base for now Your PayPal e-Mail Address : Full name: Firm Price: Zip code for pickup Thanks, Cheers. Sarah <removed>

[MarkBryan]

Hi,

I wonder if the guy that contacted us is the same one that contacted me.

I am selling a Firebird Formula car and received about four offers in only two days.  Unfortunately they ALL want to pay with Pay Pal and would be sending someone over to pick up the car.  They seem to be in a rush to complete the transaction. 

I want them to sign an AS IS agreement.  The car is not running and I have no idea as to how much it will cost to fix the car and pass the smog inspection.  The car has been in storage for some time without being started which are the reasons that I need an AS IS agreement signed.  ALL of the people making the offer say that they will be happy to pay what I am asking. However I am concerned that they seem to be ignoring the facts that I am requiring a signature to the AS IS agreement, that the car can not be started being it had been in storage without starting and that it is registered as a NO OP with the DMV.

I am a Disabled Veteran with a heart condition and can not afford a law suit and/or loss of my car and/or the payment.  I have read the posts here and found no answers to the posts.  I hope all your isues were successfully resolved to your advantage.

My question is, should I even consider accepting payment for my car through Pay Pal?  Also are these offers scams?

Thanks,

Mark B.

[jaylemayre]

Hi I too have been contacted about selling my horsebox (advertised on Ebay and elsewhere) under similar circustances but from New Zealand note I'm in UK Essex. They wish to purchase unseen and ship to NZ paying full amount plus commission into my paypal account. I've spoken to Paypal help desk who assured me all seems Ok and if I wish to proceed I'm to contact them once buyer has confirmed money in my account. They will then confirm it's existance and I can transfer into my bank account. I've asked about the shipping arrangement and the possibility of buyer not being happy and again I have been assured I'm protected as long as I have copies of shipping document. 

Having said all this I'm still very warry of going ahead with this sale as it just doesn't seem right.

[BlackDahlia]

Hi everyone I have read every thread I could find on this scam. I spend a lot of time reading about all kinds of scams and fraud and because I do I was able to save a couple of really good friends from scammed  out of what was for them a lot of money. It wasn't this particular scam being used on them but I will remember the details of this scam oin case somone I know has this scam tried on them.

Anyway even though it has been said already several times on this thread I will repeat exactly how the scam works. The one thing to remember is they are not after your car It is the Western Union payment they are after. After you give them your Paypal email address you will receive a fake Paypal email saying the buyer has sent the money but your account will not be credted until you email "Paypal" (you wouldn't really be emailing Paypal, you would be emailing the scammer buyer) the mtcn number from the Western Union transfer. The "payment" email would tell you had to use you own money to pay the pick up agent via Wesrern Union. The email would say you would be reimbused as that amount is included in the fake payment.

From what I have read those that were naive enough to send the WU transfer would get an email saying they would need to send more money via Westtern Union supposedly for insurance and if they sent that the scammers would come up with other excuses for why they needed more money.I have read about people sending 3 or 4 payments before finally realizing it is a scam.

One more thing since this seems scam seems to be originating in Nigeria and I noticed kernowlass has been telling everyone that the payment has to be fake because Nigerians can't have Paypal accounts. Well that is no longer true as ofJune 2014 Nigerians can own a Paypal account. They can't receive money or use the send money tab as far as I know. There is a Forbes article about it. Just Google it and you will find it.

[TybeeKent]

Maybe that is how Boko Harum is getting funded.

[TybeeKent]

I assume the money never arrived in your PayPal account although you might have received 2 emails in your Spam folder purportedly from PayPal.

I've got 2 cell phones and emails of the same or one scammer purporting to be US Army on NATO duty in Germany.

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PayPal Security page says the service does not do motorized vehicles (Cars).