I am selling a desk on craigslist. I got an email from a buyer that would buy it sight unseen. They sent me an email from a moving company that would come and pick it up if I would verify my address, which I did. Then I got a receipt from paypal stating I had been paid for the desk and $400 for shipping. However, I could not have access to the money until I sent the $400 payment to the moving company.
You have an Instant Payment of $1100.00 USD from Roselia ******
Payment Details
Purchased: ****
Transaction ID: 8S380593UR606674N
Item #
Item Title
Quantity
Price
Subtotal
Not Available
Desk, File Cabinet, Cabinet, Chair
1
$700.00USD
$700.00USD
Shipping & Handling via 1st Move International Removals Company to 03301 (includes any seller handling fees)
$400.00USD
Shipping Insurance (not offered):
--
Sales Tax :
$00.00 USD
Total:
$1100.00USD
Then I received the following email
PayPal Safety Measures Against Online Fraud!
Dear ******
We have received an order from one of our customer to make an instant payment of $1100.00USD to your PayPal account. The payment has been made successfully and the money has been credited to your PayPal account but you will not have access to it . However, since this money is meant for a purchase or a service that involve a Shipping Company.We have to receive a confirmation that you have sent the pick up cost to Shipping Company before the money will be available for spending. This is due to the large increase in the rate of the online scams recorded last year (2009). We have changed some of our rules and regulation to make sure our clients, are safe from scam, PayPal in conjunction with The FBI and The IFCC has invented certain preventive measure to ensure the safety of our customers. Such measure are:
1. Once a payment is made,A confirmation Email will be sent to the seller that the payment has been made to state the transaction details which has been sent to you. Also a confirmation is sent to the buyer that the money has been deducted from his or her account. So once you get this mail,You should take necessary action and get back to us with the confirmation that you have sent the pick up cost to the shipping company. Once we have confirmed the information provided with the shipping company, the money will be available instantly. 2. Once a payment is made and it has been approved by PayPal, such transaction is Sealed (because both seller and buyer must have come to a conclusion before payment is made by the buyer) so therefore neither the buyer or seller can cancel this transaction or ask for the returned to the buyer's account. Also, this is where we generate our income, because the more transaction made through PayPal, the more we generate our Income. 3. Failure to abide by these laid down safety measures by PayPal may leads to suspension from PayPal and further more invitation to an interrogation with the F.B.I
So can you see we are very considerate about the safety of both buyer and seller.
Note: that the pick up cost has been included in the payment.
Then Followed by the following email to further the scam -
My name is Richard ******. I'm a PayPal representative in charge of your transaction with Roselia ******.
Kindly reply to this message if you have any question regarding this transaction and I will be happy to help you.
We thank you for being an asset to PayPal and we hope to serve you better in the nearest future.
Sincerely,
Scott Thompson President
PayPal Inc
So .... hope this helps someone from getting scammed!
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