I was asked to send a PayPal invoice by the buyer (which I thought strange)

I have just listed my item, and have no bids as yet, and was asked to send a PayPal invoice by a buyer (which I thought strange) and when I suggested they just use the buy it now button, they said their buy it now link doesnt work (strange again!)

 

Am I being paranoid (I am not an experienced seller on ebay) of someone appearing to wnat to do things "outside" of ebay or is this normal?

 

Regards,

Andy

Accepted Solutions (1)

Accepted Solutions (1)

Well done for coming here for advice !

 

You have a scammer on your tail.

 

Immediately add them to your blocked bidder list.........here is a link https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/selling/resolving-buyer-issues/blocking-buyer-ebay?id=4082&st=3&pos=1&qu...

 

You must never give any buyer your Paypal email or Whatsapp as this is usually the start of a SCAM and against Ebay rules pre sale.

 

The way the scam works is someone contacts you asking for your Paypal details as they come up with some excuse why they cannot do things properly and through Ebay.    Often they will ask you to send the item to an alternate address as  its some "ficticious persons" birthday and often in another country.

 

They want your paypal details so they can send you a FAKE but very real looking email pretending to be from Paypal saying you have been paid.   When you sign into Paypal you will indeed see that you have NOT been paid.   Or they will try to convince you that  you have to post the phone and give them the tracking number and only after you have done this will the payment be released to you.  This is all LIES.

 

A new inexperienced member selling an expensive item (usually a phone) unfortunately does tend to attract the scammers 😞 

 

Whenever you sell an item you MUST before even thinking of posting it sign into your actual Paypal account to make sure the payment is there and the status of it.   Paypal will tell you when it is ok to post.

 

Only ever post to the address given to you by paypal on checkout to maintain what little seller protection you have.

 

Always make sure that you post an item by the correct method.    Go to Royal Mails website online to check how to post items of value to make sure you will be covered if the item gets lost or damaged in the post.

 

Hope the above helps.

 

Well done for coming here and asking for help before you acted 🙂

 

 

Answers (3)

Answers (3)

Just to add that you've been seen as an especially easy target because your chosen postage service is totally inadequate. Standard 1st and 2nd Class post is for items valued at up to £20. If the item gets lost or damaged in transit, you won't be covered, but will have to refund the buyer in full. Anything valued at over £50 must be sent using Special Delivery Next Day Guaranteed.

 

@aorr3778 

Scammer do not do it.
Wants paypal address to send false payment details to.
Block them here.
http://offer.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?BidderBlockLogin

It's a long-running and well-known scam. If you supply your PayPal email address, you'll receive a fake PayPal payment confirmation email, saying it's safe to ship.

 

This scam, operated by criminal gangs who target inexperienced sellers of electronics and other valuable items, still works after all these years because some sellers don't bother to check their PayPal account to see if the payment is actually there - which it won't be, of course.

 

Ignore the message, and add the Ebay ID to your Blocked Bidders List.

 

@aorr3778