topic Buyer request for paypal & email info in Selling

Buyer request for paypal & email info

michellejane67 — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 04:59:30 GMT

I have a buyer who sent me this message. Is this a scam? Should that info appear when they click the PAY NOW button?

Simply send me a paypal payment request to my paypal email ; angelafergs ( at ) Hotmail ( dot ) com or email me your paypal email address to enable me effect payment for the item before shipment.

Thanks,

Michellejane67

Re: Buyer request for paypal & email info

audible_gold — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 05:36:37 GMT

Erm, is this for the item you currently have listed? a jewelry item?

Alarm bells are ringing. For one, they are trying to avoid the paypal secure system to scam you. Second, it's a Hotmail account. Afaik, you cant open a paypal account with a hotmail adress (correct me if im wrong) but either way, so far it has all the early signs of a scam.

For example, they pay you from a stolen paypal account. You send item then paypal reverse the unauthorized transaction when the real owner of the pay pal account they used discovers the unauthorized transaction. You loose item and payment and they keep your item.

Thats just one possible scenario.

Stick to the ebay/pay pal system. If you ad listed acceptable payment via paypal/direct deposit/etc, then await payment only by one of these methods.
If they don't pay within a reasonable amount of time, report them as a non paying bidder.
If fact, you should report them now for trying to circumvent the paypal system already.

With that sort of item, take no chances at all doing anything outside of ebay/paypal protection. You will get burnt if you do.

Re: Buyer request for paypal & email info

harley_babes_hoard — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 06:36:34 GMT

There is really not a lot of harm in doing this if they have already purchased an item. They already have your email address if they could be bothered clicking the pay now button.

Re: Buyer request for paypal & email info

harley_babes_hoard — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 06:44:18 GMT

Alarm bells are ringing. For one, they are trying to avoid the paypal secure system to scam you. Second, it's a Hotmail account. Afaik, you cant open a paypal account with a hotmail adress (correct me if im wrong) but either way, so far it has all the early signs of a scam.

For example, they pay you from a stolen paypal account. You send item then paypal reverse the unauthorized transaction when the real owner of the pay pal account they used discovers the unauthorized transaction. You loose item and payment and they keep your item.

If anything they are the ones that will be without any buyer protection if the seller sends through a payment request without saying it's for a ebay purchase. In your example above that can happen even if it's paid through ebay checkout.

Also there is nothing wrong with having a throw away email addy for paypal, mine is a yahoo addy.

Re: Buyer request for paypal & email info

harley_babes_hoard — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 06:46:35 GMT

OP if the item is an expensive one just make sure you send it registered or signature on delivery so you are covered should buyer make a item not received claim.

Re: Buyer request for paypal & email info

davewil1964 — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 06:48:09 GMT

I'd tell them to go through checkout. It DOES affect your seller protection (eg in the case of a chargeback down the line) if the sale doesn't go through eBay. And AFAIK Paypal won't process an eBay sale outside of eBay anymore.

Gold - you can open a Paypal account with ANY valid email address. Mine are gmail, but that is because it is a better system than hotmail.

Until recently, my internet contract didn't provide me with a 'real' email account. And I still don't use it because it is easier to not have to boot up Outlook Express every time I want to check my mail.

Re: Buyer request for paypal & email info

digital*ghost — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 06:50:13 GMT

A little more information would help before I could say one way or another whether it's definitely suspicious - though there's no real need for the buyer to request your PayPal address, and it is something that a scammers often seem to do...

You can register Hotmail, gmail, Yahoo...etc addresses with PayPal, so that in itself is not suspicious.

If they ask you to send to a different address, or give you some story about Nigeria / working on an oil rig / sending to their doctor / soldier son in a remote area...etc etc, then cease all communication and watch out for scam / phishing emails.

The golden rules - if you are comfortable with the request and want Seller Protection - are, send the request for eligible goods that be being posted, making mention of the eBay item number. If a payment notification comes through, check that it is genuine by logging directly into PayPal (not via links in an email) and looking for the transaction on your account, post only to the address provided on the payment notification and using a registered / signature on delivery service that provides you with proof of postage.

Re: Buyer request for paypal & email info

digital*ghost — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 06:53:16 GMT

@davewil1964 wrote:
I'd tell them to go through checkout. It DOES affect your seller protection (eg in the case of a chargeback down the line) if the sale doesn't go through eBay. And AFAIK Paypal won't process an eBay sale outside of eBay anymore.

Last year, PayPal extended Seller Protection to all eligible transactions, on and off ebay. Ages ago, there used to be a "Pay for eBay items" function in PayPal, but that was removed so you can't directly link an independed payment via PayPal to an eBay item, but it doesn't affect buyer/seller protection as long as the invoice clearly shows the payment is for eligible goods that are being posted.

Goods eligible for buyer/seller protection are the same on and off eBay.

Re: Buyer request for paypal & email info

davewil1964 — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 06:54:41 GMT

Okay thanks. I knew the bit about them telling you to go through eBay checkout if was an eBay item.

Re: Buyer request for paypal & email info

silversterio2 — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 07:45:55 GMT

"Is this a scam?"

Presuming this is your current listing, Yes, it's 100% SCAM

Have no further contact with the Scammer and beware of spoof/phishing emails you may receive .

Don't open them and don't click on any links.

Run all your spyware, keylogging and virus protection and change your passwords regularly.

Be sure to have these buyer blocks in place. Go to:

My eBay > Account > Site Preferences > Postage preferences > Show >
Exclude postage locations from your listings from your listings > Edit .......and Select the countries you don’t post to.

Tick … Apply to all current live listings
Click …Apply

And

My eBay > Account > Site Preferences > Buyer Requirements > Show >
Edit .......and tick:

1. Buyers in locations to which I don't post
2. Block buyers who haven't gone through phone verification…
3. Only apply this block to buyers who have a feedback score of 5 or lower(Having a Paypal Account and / or Credit Card details on file overrides this block)

Tick all other blocks of your choice.

Tick …Apply above settings to active and future listings.
Click …Submit

It's not recommended that you sell an item like this as a Buy It Now or with a Buy It Now option although you could require immediate payment. That doesn't prevent a Scammer paying with a stolen credit card though.

Re: Buyer request for paypal & email info

gelandangan — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 06:37:24 GMT

If it is sold through ebay, simply send the buyer an invoice through ebay.

The payment would be linked to the Paypal payment anyway.

Re: Buyer request for paypal & email info

souldropmassive — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 05:30:56 GMT

hi, somebody also sent the same message to me today. it read:

"Simply send me a paypal payment request to my paypal email ; email me your paypal email address to enable me effect payment for the item before shipment."

i did as it said and sent a payment request to them.

is it a scam?

how did your episode end?

thanks.

Re: Buyer request for paypal & email info

davewil1964 — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 05:27:47 GMT

It could be a scam. It probably is a scam.

Why didn't they buy and pay through eBay? That is the FIRST and usually only question you need to ask.

Be wary of requests for additional funds for transport to be paid by you to whoever collects, then allegedly reimbursed by the buyer. Watch out for emails allegedly from Paypal saying the money is being held by them until the buyer confirms delivery. Paypal doesn't do an escrow service in this country.

It's also against the rules to put somebody's contact details on the boards; I'm surprised you haven't already been edited.

Re: Buyer request for paypal & email info

woggirl21 — Wed, 23 Apr 2014 08:00:00 GMT

I have the same email address

Re: Buyer request for paypal & email info

linwin28 — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 18:00:34 GMT

I have been given the same email address.

What sparked suspicion evenmore was offering to pay £4700 for an item that is selling at well under a fraction of that.

Regards

Re: Buyer request for paypal & email info

jpapas01 — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 14:18:08 GMT

As mentioned earlier "If it is sold through ebay, simply send the buyer an invoice through ebay.

The payment would be linked to the Paypal payment anyway.". Totally agree with this statement

personally wouldnt accept offer outside ebay system for extra $$ and just send a invoice via paypal. imo it appears they might be playing you.

Let them bid and buy via the Ebay system. Or create a buy it now lisitng for them 1 day auction. Test the waters if you want to. Twice I have done that and both occassion they didnt buy funnily enough. Blocked them from then. BUT for such an expensive item... ?! I wouldnt do it.

You can cancel the transaction in Paypal too and reverse their payment. I wouldnt send the item if you have doubts either. maybe give Paypal a call if you receive money. I dont trust that offer outside the Ebay system in case there is a loophole the buyer is knowingly trying to exploit (eg like a hacked account)

Re: Buyer request for paypal & email info

silversterio2 — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 14:36:07 GMT

As mentioned earlier , they're 100% SCAMS - Nigerian Scammers

The Sellers should no further contact with them.

Re: Buyer request for paypal & email info

markbaa — Wed, 18 Jun 2014 10:58:08 GMT

Don't touch it - it is a problem.

Re: Buyer request for paypal & email info

game0va — Wed, 18 Jun 2014 16:55:11 GMT

The Scam is back Warning everyone , ive been issued the same exact message

No change at all too the message

@michellejane67 wrote:
I have a buyer who sent me this message. Is this a scam? Should that info appear when they click the PAY NOW button?

Simply send me a paypal payment request to my paypal email ; angelafergs ( at ) Hotmail ( dot ) com or email me your paypal email address to enable me effect payment for the item before shipment.

Thanks,

Michellejane67

Re: Buyer request for paypal & email info

Anonymous — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 03:56:15 GMT

RE: Simply send me a paypal payment request to my paypal email
All the buyer requested is an invoice. This you could of just sent it Via Selling manager. Then if they failed to pay on the invoice Just open the Non payment reminder. in 5 days time. And in 9 days get your FVF refunded. And do not ever just pass on your email address outside of ebay. Keep the transaction within eBays Platform.