Am I being scammed?

[hulbs2012]

Hi

I'm a recently separated mother trying desperately to scrape up a deposit for a house.  A few days ago I listed my engagement ring for sale, and received a message from a buyer in South Africa offering a princely figure (via Fedex), and giving their email address for future negotiation.  I emailed them accepting the offer, and suggested using Paypal for the transaction. 

I have since received an email from Paypal saying the transaction has been approved, but as yet the transfer is still showing as "pending". 

Am I about to be ripped off?  I have already placed a stop of my bank account/credit card to cover me.

[davewil1964]

I don't see how its your fault, as people seem to be eluding to. ?:|

If I get robbed at knife point because I decide to walk home instead of drive, do I DESERVE to get kniffed?

Some of us are automatically aware of scammers and the countries they mostly work from from, but not everyone. It seems a whole heap of people still believe we live in a world where humans act like humans. Its not their fault this isnt the case

It is the sucker's fault. A minimum of research would show that Nigeria ALWAYS equals scam.

If people want to transact online then it behooves them to at least have an idea of the pitfalls. If they don't or won't then, frankly, they deserve to be ripped off. There are many far more subtle scams out there. But as I said above, the Nigerian ones are after the self-selectors.

If I get robbed at knife point because I decide to walk home instead of drive, do I DESERVE to get kniffed?

Yes, if you've been told there are knife-wielding muggers along the route.

[bsal6160]

I hate to say this but i do agree with davewill on this. A mediocom of research does wonders.

[phorum_junkie*]

You would have to live in a vacuum to avoid all the stories on the TV and in the newspapers about the various 'nigerian' scams.

[superscanner4]

Sadly there are still plenty of people who couldn't be bothered picking up a newspaper or even watching tv news to keep up to date with events that might affect them.  They are the ones scammers want to target.

[yegcollectibles2014]

I am new to EBAY and selling.  Today I had 2 of my items sold at BINs.  I recieved a poorly worded message babbling about how the buyer is a 'legitimate collector' and then asking me to send the item as a GIFT.  It reeked of a scam. 

Sure enough the buyer had a US posting address, but the account said it was in South Africa.  I reported it immediately to EBAY.  Infact I sent 2 reports.  I understand that coming into this community, there are scammers, but it is no excuse for their existance. I was defrauded on EBAY many years ago.  He did have alot of positives, hundreds, which made him appealing, but he had a few negatives.

He built up a bad reputation on a collector board I was on as a persisant jerk and scammer.  His name then was <REMOVED>, and his EBAY username was <REMOVED>.  It was discovered by board members there that he did use other names on his shipping/billing.  I don't know whatever happened to him, but he is definately a trickster who will scam people if he can.

We need to be dilligant, and smash out all scam accounts, to protect ourselves and each other.

[davewil1964]

Thank you. I am sure all the posters who last posted in this thread TWO YEARS ago are happy for your input.

By your own admission, you are NOT new to eBay, just with this account. You should therefore be aware that naming another member is a no-no on the boards.

[crypt_keeper000]

As soon as you mentioned the offer came from "South Africa" and that they offered you a "princely figure" for it, I knew it wasa a SCAM!.

I have nothing against South Africa as a country, but that is where a large majority of these scumbag, lowlife, low intelligent scammers come from.

Do yourself a favor and cancel the transaction and block them ASAP.