Nearly fell for a PayPal scam today - beware TRF friends

[Hendrikus]

I am not sure if this is a well known scam, but thought I would post it, just in case.

I am selling a watch on EBay (Tudor Pelagos LHD) and woke this morning to a message that a buyer had purchased it (I have a 'buy it now' price available). The buyer quickly thereafter messaged providing his email and postal address, asking if I could send a PayPal request through to him for the total sum and he would pay immediately. Lots of exciting content about how he could not wait to receive the watch, hoped I could post it same day etc etc.

I sent the PayPal request and maybe 30 minutes or so later, the buyer messaged me to say he had sent the funds. I checked my email, and sure enough PayPal had emailed. Or so I first thought....

The email said as follows:

..............

Dear [ IT SAID MY FULL NAME CORRECTLY ],
We wanted you to know that you have received payment of £2,410.00 GBP from ianlly66@outlook.com, and we are currently on the final stage of releasing your funds into your account, you will receive an email notifying you of this changes. However, you do need to post the irrelevant item and enclose tracking number on eBay to access your funds. We are currently processing your funds and it should be in your account as soon as we verify postage reference number.

Please contact us via our telephone number 0014029352050 if you would like to cancel this transaction.

Yours sincerely,
PayPal.

..........................

The email had all the right logos and at quick glance seems authentic. However, I did spot two issues immediately - one was the typo. It says "irrelevant" item, rather than relevant! The second was the email came from "donotreply@paypayservice.co.uk" - and a quick check reveals that PayPal emails come from paypal.co.uk or paypal.com etc.

I checked with PayPal who of course confirmed this is a scam, that I have not been sent the funds, and I am being encouraged to send the goods on false pretences. Have reported to EBay also, who said this is a common scam.

Ironically, whilst I was talking to PayPal and Ebay on the phone, the fraudster sent two messages chasing the tracking reference!

So there we go, what a sad world we live in.

[antrolexsub]

These scammers are scum of the earth. I’m glad you didn’t fall for it.

[dxbtousa]

Originally Posted by antrolexsub

These scammers are scum of the earth. I’m glad you didn’t fall for it.

+1 Can't imagine how many people fall for this daily... sad world

[RHJ]

Thanks for the info!

[jrs146]

Always always check for funds directly in PayPal. This is a known scam. Good thing you caught on!!

[Cryten]

Irrelevant? How apt. I'd post him a brick.

[royvoss]

+ one for the above, send him a pile of crap, to bad you could not be there in person to see him open it. would be epic.

[beshannon]

Originally Posted by jrs146

Always always check for funds directly in PayPal. This is a known scam. Good thing you caught on!!

Exactly

And then wait three days. I had funds hit my Paypal account and get removed two days later because the scammer had scammed Paypal with an uncashable instrument.

[VintageVagabound]

I’d have some fun with them and send the “tracking” number they so desire. Flip the script and have them feeling scammed. If you really want to go all out send a magazine advertisement of a watch so they can “track” it and then get the package only to see their “watch”.

[CorradoBrit]

Ebay will close the account so they probably already know they've been busted and will email anyone they have contacted on the platform informing the recipient of the scammer's activities.

[derklink]

May the scammers rot in hell!

[Brew]

Wow, glad you caught on before any damage was done. And thanks for alerting the rest of us!

[antbkny]

Scumbags. Thanks for the heads up.

[usling15]

Originally Posted by royvoss

+ one for the above, send him a pile of crap, to bad you could not be there in person to see him open it. would be epic.

[BNA/LION]

Scum Bag Scammer!

Glad to hear you dodged that Scam!

[Bizcut1]

+1 Thanks for posting.

[BisonHead]

Good post, glad you didn't get ripped off. Always somebody out there trying to get one over on their fellow man. They need to try doing a honest days work, scum.

[holdtime]

Thank you.

[SpeakWithMichael]

Their mothers must be so proud. F'ing scum.

[CarrJ]

If you have the mobile PayPal app on your phone it will alert you when you send and receive funds.... just FYI


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[ocwatching]

good info and thanks for the post..glad you were sharp eyed...

[Noonan]

Never rely on email confirmations. Always check your PP balance via their site/app (not using links which could be phishing) before processing.

[chro.nic]

I'm happy to hear you caught this scam in time.
Incorrect spelling and grammar are a dead giveaway. Besides the word "Irrelevant", they also wrote "of this changes", and "We are currently processing your funds (plural) and it (single) should be in your account...".
You are correct, it is a sad world we live in, but fortunately it is an illiterate one as well!!
Niko

[Rogeroger]

OP, thank you for the post.

[TempusTortus]

Guys, both eBay and PayPal have pretty good rules in place to protect both the buyer and the seller. If you don't violate the rules, you'll be very safe. If someone was to ask me to try to cheat eBay by going around outside the system, it would send up a HUGE red flag. What do I have to gain by giving up the protections set in place? The scammers count on people letting their baser instincts overcome their intellect. Keep your common sense active (yes, I know - common sense ins't so common) and THINK before you act! Maybe you've heard this one before: "you can't cheat an honest man". To that I would add: "- especially one who thinks before he acts".

[CorradoBrit]

Paypal and Ebay are known to side heavily with the buyer. Do not rely on them have your back if you are unlucky to fall foul of a buyer looking to scam you.

[Frankie9]

Originally Posted by CorradoBrit

Paypal and Ebay are known to side heavily with the buyer. Do not rely on them have your back if you are unlucky to fall foul of a buyer looking to scam you.

What I do on my watch sales if paid by PAYPAL is I bring the watch and packing material to post office. I then make a video of packing and labeling with the post office worker I then end the video after passing to postal worker and I get the postal worker as my witness of what it was and that it was in the package when shipped. I live in a town of 30,000 so my post office know me well for always shipping watches. No way I’m loosing 15k more or less give or take.


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[3PS]

Always go to the PayPal website and check your balance before ship anything .
The emails are for notification only.
This scam is so old I am surprised people are still getting scammed that way.
Glad you catch it on time.

[GADNYC]

This is a real oppty for TRF to act as a clearing house. For a small fee, buyer and seller send watch and wire to TRF. Once vetted, release watch and funds.

[Welshwatchman]

Originally Posted by GADNYC

This is a real oppty for TRF to act as a clearing house. For a small fee, buyer and seller send watch and wire to TRF. Once vetted, release watch and funds.

Simple.