scam for seller ?

[Temp20240614]

Hi, I have sold some second-hand items on the FB marketplace. Some potential buyers offered to transfer me first instead of when we meet to collect in person. I got an email that said the buyer confirmed that they had sent the money to me, with the message that my payment was on hold and “ We’re writing to inform you that there has been an issue in crediting your £15.00GBP to your account. The status of your is not a business user, which results in an account limit that your amount surpasses. To resolve this issue, we recommend that you fully expand your account into a business account by depositing an additional payment of £100.00GBP into your Paypal Account. Once this is done, we will credit your account with a total sum of £115.00GBP.” that I completely believed that weird and could be scam, do you think it scam?? Also, the email includes a transaction ID that I tried to check on PayPal but did not find.

[kernowlass · Accepted solution]

@Temp20240614 

SCAM

You never pay any upfront fee as a seller or to receive payments into a Paypal account.

Ignore scammers that send fake Paypal emails telling you that you need to pay an upfront fee to verify/upgrade to a business account/or any other reason to accept a payment.

You would certainly never have to send funds especially via another payment processor/bitcoins/ or tokens/vouchers of any sort.

Any fee is auto deducted by Paypal at the same instant the remainder of the payment is credited to your Paypal account balance.

No funds in your balance = you have not yet been paid, even pending/held payments will still show in your Paypal account activity.

[Temp20240614]

Thanks a lot for your advice. This is so helpful. I’ve already ignored the message and have not replied or transferred anything. Again, I really appreciate your help :).

[kernowlass]

@Temp20240614 

You are welcome, I hate scammers which is why I give up my time to help on this forum.

Scammers 0, US 1.

[erandak02]

I faced That situation.
I'm new to PayPal so I don't know much about PayPal. so I did The payment of $100 to that scammers(Actually I don't knew They are scammers when I was doing the payment). So how can I refund My money back? can you help me.

[kernowlass]

@erandak02 

How did you send the funds ie which paypal option goods/services or friends/family (if you have that option in your country)?

Or did the seller send an invoice or money request?

How did you fund the paypal payment?

What does it say on the transaction in your paypal account?

[erandak02]

yeah, I send money under goods and services. seller didn't send any invoice. I funded my fund the PayPal payment form by Bank account.
In my PayPal account that Transaction on completed status.

[kernowlass]

@erandak02 

Then open a dispute for non receipt of goods/services as per link, don't forget to escalate to a claim within 20 days if you don't get the item or a refund?

https://www.paypal.com/cshelp/article/how-do-i-open-a-dispute-with-a-seller-HELP160

[adirf97]

Hi! I'm going through this situation and I would like to know what you did to get your money back? Help please