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.

[donaldsc]

So are there any legit buyers out there who want to pay for a car w PayPal?  If so, how do we differentiate the legit ones from the scammers?

DON

[WildBilly]

Thank you for this message board.  I listed a truck today and had an offer within the hour of a guy named Kenneth his text was from the Ohio area code and this site will not permit his phone number and e-mail.   Same story except he said that he was in the military and living in Germany.  He wanted to get the truck for his father and he is a mechanic etc..... he will also have a mover come and pick up the vehicle and handle the title.  He also wants the purchase asap.  

   I found this message board and see almost the exact story over and over.  I replied that I will take cash or bank check that I will deposit first.  So far no reply.   

[dmcrobbie]

Got the same story today from the guy purporting to be stationed in Germany.  No reply since I told him I was wary about accepting PayPal payment from someone I couldn't meet in person.  Glad I checked the boards.

[csfield]

I received a similar request to my AutoTrader ad with an initial text from <removed> asking to communicate over email.  I then received an email from <removed>

-- 

Do you have the extra keys, Do you have the spare tire, Where did you get your car serviced, Have you ever had any transmission repairs and Is there any rust on the vehicle? I'm ready to pay your asking price but not cash in person because I am serving in the US army and currently been deploy to NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen, Germany and calls are restricted at the moment and my only quickest payment option is PayPal, its safe fast and secure and i will be responsible for the PayPal transaction charges so you can get your expected amount. If you don't have an account with PayPal, its pretty easy to open one, Just log onto www.paypal.com and sign up. I hope we can make the purchase as fast as possible? As I am buying the vehicle for my dad and I'm very sure he will love this vehicle, his a mechanic and a handy man, so if there is anything that need to be fixed in it just let me know he will handle it. I have a mover that will come for the pick up once payment clears in your account and he will handle the  title for me. I look forward to hear from you with the information below.

Your PayPal e-Mail Address :

Full name:

Firm Price:

Zip code for pickup:

Cheers,

Kenneth.

[Eli27]

Got this message from a possible (most likely crook) trying to buy my expensive motorhome that I listed on RVTrader.com. They are quick and responded within a couple of hours of posting the ad. I forwarded the email to paypal security.

Thanks for getting back to me regarding my text...I hope it is in good condition? and there wont be any cause of disappointment if i purchase it from you? I want to buy it for my dad and I am ready to pay the asking price. I'm a Marine Engineer and am currently on sea right now which is strictly no calls. My Mode of payment is PayPal because i don't have access to my bank account online, but i have it attached to my PayPal account. Since I'm requesting this transaction to be done via PayPal, I will be responsible for all the PayPal fees/charges on this transaction, if you don't have an account with PayPal, it's pretty easy, safe and secure to open one. Just log on to www.paypal.com I hope we can make this transaction as fast as possible. Less I forgot, I have a Mover that will come for the pick up once payment is cleared in your PayPal account and they will be handling the everything for me, as I look forward to hearing from you with your PayPal information as requested below.

Your PayPal e-Mail Address :
Full name:
Firm Price:
Address for pick up:

Many Thanks

[bootcampsam]

Just got this message about the Harley Wideglide I have listed for sale on cycle trader. I don't understand why people do this crap. Thanks for getting back to me regarding the text...I hope it is in good condition? and there wont be any cause of disappointment if i purchase it from you? I want to buy it for my dad and I am ready to pay the asking price. I'm a Marine Engineer and am currently on sea right now which is strictly no calls. My Mode of payment is PayPal because i don't have access to my bank account online, but i have it attached to my PayPal account. Since I'm requesting this transaction to be done via PayPal, I will be responsible for all the PayPal fees/charges on this transaction, if you don't have an account with PayPal, it's pretty easy, safe and secure to open one. Just log on to www.paypal.com I hope we can make this transaction as fast as possible. Less I forgot, I have a Mover that will come for the pick up once payment is cleared in your PayPal account and they will be handling the everything for me, as I look forward to hearing from you with your PayPal information as requested below. Your PayPal e-Mail Address : Full name: Firm Price: Address for pick up: Many Thanks

[wouland]

Still at it.. the name ken made me find this right away (you'd think they'd at least vary part of the story over time...)... email pasted below for fishing...

Do you have the extra keys, Do you have the spare tire, Where did you get your car serviced, Have you ever had any transmission repairs and Is there any rust on the vehicle? I'm ready to pay your asking price but not cash in person because I am serving in the US army and currently been deploy to NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen, Germany and calls are restricted at the moment and my only quickest payment option is PayPal, its safe fast and secure and i will be responsible for the PayPal transaction charges so you can get your expected amount. If you don't have an account with PayPal, its pretty easy to open one, Just log onto www.paypal.com and sign up. I hope we can make the purchase as fast as possible? As I am buying the vehicle for my dad and I'm very sure he will love this vehicle, his a mechanic and a handy man, so if there is anything that need to be fixed in it just let me know he will handle it. I have a mover that will come for the pick up once payment clears in your account and he will handle the title for me.I would appreciate if you email me with more pictures (if available) too since i won't be able to see this in person. I look forward to hear from you with the information below. I look forward to hear from you with the information below.

Your PayPal e-Mail Address :

Full name:

Firm Price:

Phone Number:

Zip code for pickup:

Thanks

Ken

[Eli27]

That's the same crook that contacted me within 2 hours of me posting the sale of my motorhome on RVTrader.com. Word for word. Best thing to do is not contact him back. He tries to get you to send a text via phone also, then they harvest your cell number and you get more spam calls. 

Best thing is to ignore them (usually "Ken").

[Otiose]

Just had an 'oceanographer ' called Paul <removed> (with vert broken english for such a british name) trying to by my £800 car on Gumtree via paypal payment, and a 'pick up agent'.  Who buys a £800 car without even looking at it, and uses an 'agent' to coolect it.?  A moron or conman.  Very fishy indeed. 

Apparently the scam is to use a stolen credit card, over pay you, then ask you to pay the 'agent' with the extra cash and also try to get a refund via paypal.  

Wouldn't touch it with a bargepole.  

[Franko1]

Just got a text for this exact scenario. from <removed>. Air Force stationed in Hansom Air Base. Said he would have mover pick up jet ski listed on Craigslist, I just needed to provide paypal information. It didn't feel right so I did a quick google search and found this thread. Glad I checked this out, sounded to good to be true.