Paypal - How safe is it?

never_again_2

I've just sold an item on ebay for a reasonable amount of money (about £100). I specified that I would only post to the UK unless I was contacted before the auction ended to establish extra shipping costs. Anyway it was won by a guy from America. The other thing that is a bit unusual is he emailed me directly and didn’t message me through ebay. The email he sent me is below:

Good day seller,Pls as you can read my profile I live in United States,.Also you can see am not new to Ebay as you can see,I have bought few things on this site.

This item is going to my son who is currently in is university in Nigeria.Iwill be paying you for this deal to be conclude very fast with my paypal account and you will receive your payment confirmation immediately.I would have love to send the item to Nigeria myself but i'm not presently in US.Pls i know you stated UK specifically but I scout for young players and i'm presently in india to be precise.Please let me have the total cost of the item...SHIPPMENT INCLUDED VIA REGESTERED ROYAL MAIL, which I found to be more secured and efficient.

Please get back to me with your paypal email address and the total amount including shipping fee to Nigeria as required for the payment.Do get back to me as soon as possible thanks.


He has about 25 feedbacks but hasn't used the ebay account since April.
I sold a PS2 and I would have thought that they could be purchased in India/Nigeria for less that £100 + postage. Also they won't be able to buy any games for it as it is a European Region. I just think it's a bit fishy. I don't want to give out my email/ paypal details if it's possible for them to do something fraudulent with them. I’m so paranoid about fraud (I have a friend who had her identity stolen and it’s not an easy thing to move on from).

Any advice will be gratefully received?

LJD1_2

I'm sure someone will come up with more information but if you look in the ebay chat rooms I seem to remember seeing something about a nigeria / send it there for me scam. I'll see if I can find it again.

LJD1_2

http://forums.ebay.co.uk/search.jspa?objID=f3002&q=nigeria+scam

Just found it. Hope this helps.

Red_Fraggle_3

Sorry to say it but I have been dealing with online payments for a company and nearly all the payments which have come via Nigeria - have been a pain and many with stolen credit cards - Don't want to tar everyone with the same brush but it has been a nightmare

southernscouser

Anyone asking you to post to Nigeria should be avoided like the plague! They are always con artisits! :mad:

I refuse to post outside the UK because I got fed up with people wrecking my auctions thinking I would post them the sodding item! :wall:

Anything electrical like PS2's or mobiles they will always try and scam you! Barstewards! File a non paying bidder with ebay as soon as it allows you to through the dispute console!

postingalwaysposting

scam, please don't allow this sale

edit: sorry that wasnt a very good post if you put a dispute in you should get all your fees back, and hopfully the seller will be naur'd soon once you have your fees back you are free to relist

D&DD

Forward the email to spoof@ebay.com and they will deal with it.Do make sure you get all your fees for listing and final value fees refunded too.

never_again_2

Thank you for replying.

I didn't want to dismiss it just because Nigeria is involved because obviously not everyone is out to scam people - but I just don't see what someone living outside Europe would want with a European player (I assume it works in the same way as a DVDs do).
If the buyer is genuine, I feel bad for mistrusting him.

Thanks D&DD for the link - I'll do that. And LJD1 - I'll read the info through link.

never_again_2

Blimey I just read through LJD1s link and there are so many reports just like mine. I didn't realise it was so widespread!

joolz43

I received exactly the same email when I was selling something there a few months ago. What is more, e-bay picked up that something unusual might have happened and emailed me. Luckily I had sold it to someone else in the UK!

crawley_girl

Scam... avoid!

:heartpuls CG :heartpuls