I found a fraud paypal email?

[crozali]

Someone wanted to do business with me. I gave him my email to send money to my PayPal (but I'm not sure if that's necessary now when I can just send my username??). As soon as I gave him my email a strange email address [removed] says I've been paid and asking for $200 extra from the person I'm doing business with. So he says he will do that and I received another email from the Gmail PayPal which ask me to send back $200 to him or else I will be under arrest??? It mentioned to attach an invoice when I sent the money and make sure it's under family option. He said he sent the money and wants his $200 back but I don't know how I can do that when I don't see any activity in my dashboard! Can someone confirm that this person I'm dealing with is not just a scammer? His email address is [removed] and he is demanding money from me now.

[kernowlass · Accepted solution]

@crozali 

100% SCAM.

You never pay any upfront fee as a seller.

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

You would certainly never have to send funds 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.

[crozali]

Thank you! I appreciate knowing more about the paypal process. That is reassuring to know what is to be expected and what is not.