Sold an item on ebay, but I am a bit unsure about the buyer

[j0nb0y]

I have just sold an electrical item on ebay for £200.00, the buyer contacted me to ask for my paypal email address as \"they had experienced problems paying trough Ebay\", but I noticed that the ebay account was only set up the same day as the purchase and as such the buyer has no feedback.
I emailed them to tell them I would not give my paypal details and they have now paid through paypal.

I am more than a little bit concerned about the buyer and their authenticity. Does anyone know what my options are?

[ELVIS68]

Are they Nigerian?

[j0nb0y]

I believe they are, yes!

[snags]

You're buggered then.

[Nosha123]

I had my paypal account hacked into and money taken.. which yes I got back.. but I was unnerved and worried as to how they got the details.

Close your paypal account immediately!! If you need one again you can always do a new one with different details

[ELVIS68]

I had this problem when selling a mobile phone on ebay, it sold for £60 and they wanted to pay me double that and were asking for my paypal details

I even got an email from "ebay" which began... " Hello, how is you my friend"

Only contact ebay through the site itself

The only thing you should send to these people is a bagful of dogsh!t

[Pigletion]

Contact eBay and Paypal. Also if they have paid you, withdraw all of your Paypal funds into your bank account (and get a new Paypal account if you're worried).

If they have paid and it's all ok, then send the item.

[Nosha123]

"The only thing you should send to these people is a bagful of dogsh!t"

haha hilarious!!!!
Love it!!!!

[TTG]

Post their email address on any forums that are associated with "dodgy" African countries...also sign them up for spam.

[Nosha123]

They can have my spam... I seem to get an awful lot of 'colon cleansing' and viagra emails!!!!
They deserve some kind of punishment for this.. someone less suspicious would easily have handed the info over!

I believe there is also a big scam with renting out flats to people.. it involves a potential tenant proving a deposit via Western Union. But you dont get asked to send the money to them you send it to YOURSELF then show them the proof that you have done this - as some kind of proof that you can afford the deposit and rent.
they then go into Western Union with a fake ID and take your money out of your account.
B*****DS

[danchip]

if they have paid then send the item but make sure you send it recorded/special delivery and keep proof of postage,

a popular scam is buying something on ebay waiting a few days and emailing the seller saying it hasn't arrived, this goes on for a couple of weeks and eventually they make a claim for the money to be refunded, if the seller was sensible then they kept proof of postage and dont have to refund the money, however these people are hoping that you haven't kept the proof of postage and get the item (which they did receive) and their money back so they have got the item for free to sell on and make a huge profit

[Ankou]

if you have paypal all set up on ebay then they only need to click a link on the sale page to confirm their 'own' email address and then send payment electronically - never give such information away.

i agree with the others, block the account nget in touch with ebay about them asking for your email address. ebay own paypal

[j0nb0y]

I didn't give them any details at all, but even though they have paid, if I send the phone, if they are not autorised to use the card they have paid with, the bank may claim the money back, in which case paypal claim it back off me and I am left with no phone and no money. I have bought and sold off ebay for years, never with any problems, but this just seems a little suspicious to me. I have tried report it to ebay, but I just get the "virtual" woman, who is of no help at all.

[Ankou]

have you transferred the money from paypal to your account ?

[DEN53]

Did they pay through Paypal using an E-Cheque? if they did this will take 7 days to clear. Only send the phone when you are absolutely sure their money is in your account. I would also send it Special Delivery considering the amont of the item (£200.00).

[jenymarlow]

I agree with ankou!! never give your details out, even though they hve paid. They dont need them to buy from ebay or anywhere else that uses paypal. Make sure money is in ur own personal account before sending tghe item, get the postage recorded and post a suspicious or malicious behaviour complaint to ebay.