Is this a scam?

[paulodivichio]

Hi Guys,

Looking for some advice here, I put my car up for sale last week, and got an email yesterday from a guy about it. He asked what sort of condition the car was in and what was my best price, so I told him it was excellent condition etc. Now today I have had this email from him:


Thanks for the prompt response i will be paying you with my PayPal account because it's attached to my bank account and its safe and very secure way to make payment. If my mode of payment is accepted just send me your paypal email address,(Paypal ID) so i can pay in right away. Make sure you get back to me so that i can make the payment. I have a private courier agent that will come for the pick up after payments has been made, so no shipping included. And if you dont have a paypal account, you can easily go to www.paypal.com and sign up. its very easy.Am presently on a contract trip and i am on the sea can't call or receive calls the only means of communication is by email..I await your reply asap
Regards

dave


It sounds a bit dodgy, but I can't work out if it is a scam how it would work, also his English seems good, not the usual broken English. I haven't replied to him yet so I just thought I would see what the PH massive thought first

Thanks!

[ChiChoAndy]

Barge pole...

[anonymous-user]

SCAM!!

I would never accept a paypal payment for anything of any value. It is too easy for it all to go wrong, even if this were all above board.

SCAM!!

[daveenty]

If you have to ask...

Scammier than a scammy thing on steroids

[Mike Rob]

Plenty of other threads on PH about these and all say the same thing

[skene]

'Best Price' Used in all of those scams, stay well away OP.

[jb9193]

paulodivichio said:

also his English seems good, not the usual broken English.

Not that good; very bad grammar!

Also, don't do it.

[paulodivichio]

Okie Dokie!

Thanks for the advice PH!!!

[anonymous-user]

access the internet? then use voip.

scam scam scam

[uuf361]

As has been said, Scammy McScam Scam and the Scammy Bunch

[MondeoMan1981]

Anyone who uses the phrase "best price" is usually enough to confirm it for me !

[Nick3point2]

If it wasn't a scam why would they go on to explain why paypal is a safe way to pay.

"if my payment method is accepted"? Why not just say: is paypal alright? If so, I'll need your ID.

[marcosgt]

"Courier to collect", "On the sea" - You'd think they'd at least have the decency to come up with something original...

M

[paulodivichio]

Does anyone know how this scam works? Do they
hack your paypal or something? Just cos I'm wondering
lol

[hairykrishna]

Paypal charge back is my guess. Paypal will freeze the funds and return it to the buyer at the drop of a hat. The classic eBay used to be buying high end electrical stuff, like nice TV's, and collecting rather than getting them shipped. No proof of postage so when the buyer disputes they get their money back because there's no way to prove they now have the TV.

[McSam]

uuf361 said:

As has been said, Scammy McScam Scam and the Scammy Bunch

Steady now

hairykrishna said:

Paypal charge back is my guess. Paypal will freeze the funds and return it to the buyer at the drop of a hat. The classic eBay used to be buying high end electrical stuff, like nice TV's, and collecting rather than getting them shipped. No proof of postage so when the buyer disputes they get their money back because there's no way to prove they now have the TV.

Yep - but if you ask him to make the payment as a "personal payment owed" rather than "purchase of goods", then there is absolutely no way for him to recover it afterwards. This is legitimate enough to ask for, since PayPal charges sellers 3.4% of the money sent as payment for goods, but nothing for personal transfers.

Plus, in PayPal's eyes, the "personal payment" method means, by their own rules, it is connected to no purchase whatsoever. So you could just pocket it

[blearyeyedboy]

scammer said:

I have a private courier agent

Scammers seem obsessed with "private" or "special" couriers, or similar.

scammer said:

Am presently on a contract trip and i am on the sea

Beginning "Am" instead of "I am" is a very common feature.

scammer said:

can't call or receive calls the only means of communication is by email..I await your reply asap

Making sure e-mail is the only way you can communicate is a classic.

I think you get the idea by now. Wouldn't touch this with my worst enemy's bargepole.

[odyssey2200]

I bet the "buyer" has a gmail account.

out of country
pay by paypal
agent to collect.

I have had loads of these emails when selling bikes etc.

I usually reply to these emails saying

fk OFF YOU SCAMMING bdS!!!

funny , but I never hear any more from them

[Carfiend]

I wouldn't touch that with a stolen dick.

[B'stard Child]

Late to the party

Quacks like a duck...............