Hi, I just had a person in the US offer me $1500 for a MacBook Pro 13" plus postage which was $278

[leafethers-0]

So this person was offering me $1778AUD all up for the MacBook Pro which works out to $1356 USD but a brand new MacBook Pro in the US is only $1299. I understand that this is probably dodgy, but what could the buyer possibly hope to achieve out of it? Obviously I wouldn't send it until I had the money in the bank...............? So for that reason it makes me question whether it's dodgy or not. I haven't sold anything on ebay for years and this seems a bit ridiculous.

[*tippy*toes*]

It is dodgy, and you risk being scammed. The seller is unlikely to be in the US. Click on their feedback number. Where does it say they are registered?

I can pretty much guarantee that the buyer will say they are buying for a relative in another country, probably an African country. They will send the funds, but they won't be released until you can provide a tracking number saying the item has been shipped. Do not ship. In fact, don't ship even if funds do appear in PayPal. 

Seriously, block this person immediately, and report them to eBay. You have 0 feedback on this account, and selling a high risk scam item. DO NOT fall for it, regardless of how much they sound convincing. Believe me, they can sound convincing, and will try and pull at your heart strings.

Go into your settings and set blocks to block buyers in locations you don't post to.

I will repeat. SCAM. DO NOT POST.

[the4masters2013]

As per Tippy Toes.

It is reading scam to me and I wouldn't touch it with a 40 foot barge pole!

[gutterpunkz05]

So the prospective buyer has offered you above your list price  == SCAM 

What do they hope to  achieve   ==   YOUR ITEM + A FULL REFUND

[curraone]

very dodgy - also your listing says postage only to Australia, so he can't buy it anyway can he?

[countessalmirena]

Scammers cast a wide net, and they fish for a wide yield.

• Any of your contact information
• Any of your ID information
• Any hint of vulnerability on your part so that your details can be added to a "potential mark" list for future scams
• Any of your money
• Any sort of remote access to your computer and other devices (keyloggers, computer viruses, etc.)
• Any of your private photos or messages which can be used to control you or compel you to do certain things

These scammers are involved in any of the following:

• Village-wide scamming operation
• Multiple scamming IDs targeting as many people as possible
• Bot-driven scams
• Bot-driven
• Blackmail
• Criminal organisations
• Sale of ID or other information on the darknet

Techniques involve:

• unrealistic prices / unrealistic offers
• remote location of item being sold / person wishing to buy
• payment method unsafe or unusual, including mention of escrow
• short timeframe designed to rush a decision

The best way to react, in spite of the temptation to play along and waste their time is:

• disengage
• do not respond at all
• block
• do not click onto links
• ensure anti-viral software (AV) is up to date
• run AV etc
• get specialist IT help if there is any suspicion that your computer is compromised beyond your ability to clean
• change passwords on other computer or device if there is any suspicion that your password has been compromised
• don't use the same password everywhere - you should have unique passwords. If you can't remember them, one solution is writing them out on a piece of paper stuck on a wall next to your computer. Electronic theft is far more likely and prevalent than someone breaking into your house and looking for a piece of paper next to your computer to find your passwords
• don't be complacent
• adjust your purchase expectations; if something is too good to be true, it probably is
• don't be catapulted into interest or action if someone sets a quick "must act now" timeframe; it's a classic scammer technique to rush the mark into ill-considered action
• DISENGAGE! - (repeated, in capitals, because that's the very, very best way to react as soon as there are any danger signals).

Pre-emptively, do the following:

• if selling on eBay, in your postage location options you should exclude the countries to which you do not post, and also set up your buyer requirements
• when posting items, ensure they are sent via trackable method
• if buying on eBay, check country in which seller is registered; only pay using a safe payment method (e.g., PayPal, funded by credit or debit card); don't allow yourself to be strung along past the timeframes for opening an eBay MBG dispute if the item hasn't arrived or isn't as described - but most of all, be a wise purchaser and don't buy if your gut says "dodgy".