Hi everyone. I'm new here on the forum so I'm really sorry if I'm breaking any rules or if I put this post in the wrong spot! I'm in Australia. I don't know if that shows on my post or not. I'd really appreciate your help ASAP. I have a lot of conflicting evidence and I don't know if this is a scam or not. I listed a laptop for sale on Gumtree today. Less than an hour later some guy texted me saying he wants to buy it, and to email him on [his email address] with the present condition and firm price. That was a bit of a red flag since both the price and condition was on the ad. I emailed him anyway. He agreed to the price and said he wanted to buy it as a gift for his daughter in the USA. He said he'd check it out or pick it up himself but he's not available right not as he's away for weeks working on the rig, but he said he'd gladly pay for postage. Faint sounds of alarm bells but I push on. He told me to use the Australia Post website to calculate postage charges to the USA using express 4-day delivery so he knows how much he should pay in postage so I do and I tell him how much. He says he can pay me either by PayPal or by a bank transfer. He says his PayPal account can transfer to either PayPal or another bank account without any issues. Now, I have a PayPal account but I barely use it, so I don't know if that's even possible. PayPal has been a hassle in the past so I cautiously opt for a bank transfer and I provide my details. Then he tells me that he's going to send it to his cousin to receive it on behalf of his daughter, and he gives me the full name and full address of his cousin. I search for the house on Google Maps and it's a legit house, but that doesn't really mean anything. Alarm bells are getting louder. He says he'll keep me informed about when he makes the payment. Not long after, he emails me to say he's made the payment, and it's exactly the amount we agreed plus the exact amount of shipping I calculated. He says: "I have just made the payment few minutes ago of $682.87 AUD (including the $82.87 for the shipping cost via Australia Express mail (EMS)). I believe PayPal should have messaged your email address to this effect and what needs to be done in regards to their new security policy to finalise the transfer. Please check your email box for their Confirmation mail, I have received an email from PayPal that the funds have been deducted from my account and it will be credited into your account once you advise them with the shipment tracking number. Find attached herewith, my proof of payment. Kindly confirm this and help me get it shipped tomorrow morning." He attached a screenshot of his own confirmation email from his own email account in Google Chrome, including URL and browser bar, which said: -- Hello [his first and last name] [his email address] This email confirms that your Instant payment of $682.87 AUD to [my first and last name] via PayPal Merchandise Wire Transfer Service has been successfully completed. Reversals: This method of payment cannot be reversed. Status: on Hold. This PayPal® payment has been deducted from your PayPal account [his first and last name] and "APPROVED" immediately but will not be credited to the account of [my first and last name] until the shipment confirmation number is received from the recipient for shipment verification so as to secure both the buyer and the seller. PLEASE NOTE: Once the shipment is confirmed, the funds will become operational in the account of [my first and last name] and you will receive a "CONFIRMATION" email from Merchant Portal PayPal Payment Services. Thank you for using PayPal. PayPal Email ID PP1465 -- He wants me to send him a picture of the packed laptop before I send it, and he also wants a picture of the receipt once I send it. The email that I received went straight to my spam folder and this is what it said: -- Hello [my first and last name], This email confirms that you have received an Instant payment of $682.87AUD from [his first and last name] via PayPal Merchandise Wire transfer Service. Reversals: This method of payment cannot be reversed. Status: on Hold. Beneficiary Account Details: Bank: [my bank name] Account Holder: [my first and last name] BSB: [my BSB number] ACCOUNT #: [my account number] Send the Tracking # to us by replying directly to this email message. This PayPal® payment has been deducted from the buyer's PayPal account [his first and last name] and "APPROVED" but will not be credited to your account until the shipment confirmation number is sent to us for shipment verification so as to secure both the buyer and the seller. PLEASE NOTE Once the shipment is confirmed, The funds will become operational in your account and you will receive a "CONFIRMATION" email from Merchant Portal PayPal Payment Services informing you that your account has been credited. Thank you for using PayPal. PayPal Email ID PP1465. -- The email address that I used to email him is not the email address that I use for my PayPal. When I brought up my concerns that Australia Post seems to prohibit the sending of devices with lithium batteries installed, he said he was aware of that but he was sure that they will send it and "when you get there and they mention it (if they do), just tell them to send it anyways, it will get delivered without any issues". Not too sure about that... but yeah, all sorts of alarm bells are blaring in my mind. Is this a scam? Certainly many elements of this situation fit into common PayPal scams but not all of them do, which is why I'm confused. I'm inclined to say this guy is shady, but I don't know. Something doesn't feel right, but some things do. Have I done the wrong thing? I'm supposed to be sending the package in the morning but I don't know if I should. Please help!
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