How does this scam work ?
Discussion
I’m trying to sell a Frogeye for restoration on eBay just now. I get a reasonable offer on it, which I accepted, and spelled out how I wanted paid, plus some other details. The “ buyer” came back and said he wanted to pay by PayPal credit. Before I said no, I phoned the eBay helpline. They didn’t see anything wrong with PayPal credit, and were more concerned about the possibility of taking the deal off eBay. I’d heard of people paying by PayPal then claiming not to have received the item, hence getting a payment reversal. The eBay rep said that the buyer should have a qr code that I could scan- least I think that’s what he said !
I told the buyer that PayPal credit was not acceptable and he withdrew.
Still for sale 😆
I told the buyer that PayPal credit was not acceptable and he withdrew.
Still for sale 😆
PayPal has better protections for a buyer than a seller (despite the seller paying their hefty fees)
As you say above they can collect and then cancel the payment saying they haven’t received the item or claim the money back saying that it’s been mis-described or most likely the money will come from a hacked account
I don’t often sell stuff on eBay and when I do I usually ask for cash on collection (smaller amounts) or bank transfer. That way the buyer can inspect before the deal is finalised and there’s no issues down the line but I’ve noticed that eBay no longer give you the option of opting out the buyer using PayPal to make payment- probably because they own paypal !!
As you say above they can collect and then cancel the payment saying they haven’t received the item or claim the money back saying that it’s been mis-described or most likely the money will come from a hacked account
I don’t often sell stuff on eBay and when I do I usually ask for cash on collection (smaller amounts) or bank transfer. That way the buyer can inspect before the deal is finalised and there’s no issues down the line but I’ve noticed that eBay no longer give you the option of opting out the buyer using PayPal to make payment- probably because they own paypal !!
Rockettvr said:
PayPal has better protections for a buyer than a seller (despite the seller paying their hefty fees)
As you say above they can collect and then cancel the payment saying they haven’t received the item or claim the money back saying that it’s been mis-described or most likely the money will come from a hacked account
I don’t often sell stuff on eBay and when I do I usually ask for cash on collection (smaller amounts) or bank transfer. That way the buyer can inspect before the deal is finalised and there’s no issues down the line but I’ve noticed that eBay no longer give you the option of opting out the buyer using PayPal to make payment- probably because they own paypal !!
PayPal has not been owned by eBay since 2015.As you say above they can collect and then cancel the payment saying they haven’t received the item or claim the money back saying that it’s been mis-described or most likely the money will come from a hacked account
I don’t often sell stuff on eBay and when I do I usually ask for cash on collection (smaller amounts) or bank transfer. That way the buyer can inspect before the deal is finalised and there’s no issues down the line but I’ve noticed that eBay no longer give you the option of opting out the buyer using PayPal to make payment- probably because they own paypal !!
To be fair, Currys online gave me a PayPal option when I bought a few grands worth of kitchen stuff so I used it rather than have to input all of my card details, when the website passed me through to PayPal they gave me the option of PayPal credit up to £6k at 0% for 48months. I started to think of all the cars that I could buy, drive around in and then sell to pay back the loan within that time 
Absolutely nothing wrong with Paypal, it's completely normal for eBay and many other purchases. By not accepting Paypal you are severely limiting your market on eBay at least.
Especially, as a buyer any seller that wanted bank transfer for anything other than a car would be straight off my list. Zero protection from anything.
Especially, as a buyer any seller that wanted bank transfer for anything other than a car would be straight off my list. Zero protection from anything.
Cliftonite said:
Rockettvr said:
PayPal has better protections for a buyer than a seller (despite the seller paying their hefty fees)
As you say above they can collect and then cancel the payment saying they haven’t received the item or claim the money back saying that it’s been mis-described or most likely the money will come from a hacked account
I don’t often sell stuff on eBay and when I do I usually ask for cash on collection (smaller amounts) or bank transfer. That way the buyer can inspect before the deal is finalised and there’s no issues down the line but I’ve noticed that eBay no longer give you the option of opting out the buyer using PayPal to make payment- probably because they own paypal !!
PayPal has not been owned by eBay since 2015.As you say above they can collect and then cancel the payment saying they haven’t received the item or claim the money back saying that it’s been mis-described or most likely the money will come from a hacked account
I don’t often sell stuff on eBay and when I do I usually ask for cash on collection (smaller amounts) or bank transfer. That way the buyer can inspect before the deal is finalised and there’s no issues down the line but I’ve noticed that eBay no longer give you the option of opting out the buyer using PayPal to make payment- probably because they own paypal !!
Rockettvr said:
Cliftonite said:
Rockettvr said:
PayPal has better protections for a buyer than a seller (despite the seller paying their hefty fees)
As you say above they can collect and then cancel the payment saying they haven’t received the item or claim the money back saying that it’s been mis-described or most likely the money will come from a hacked account
I don’t often sell stuff on eBay and when I do I usually ask for cash on collection (smaller amounts) or bank transfer. That way the buyer can inspect before the deal is finalised and there’s no issues down the line but I’ve noticed that eBay no longer give you the option of opting out the buyer using PayPal to make payment- probably because they own paypal !!
PayPal has not been owned by eBay since 2015.As you say above they can collect and then cancel the payment saying they haven’t received the item or claim the money back saying that it’s been mis-described or most likely the money will come from a hacked account
I don’t often sell stuff on eBay and when I do I usually ask for cash on collection (smaller amounts) or bank transfer. That way the buyer can inspect before the deal is finalised and there’s no issues down the line but I’ve noticed that eBay no longer give you the option of opting out the buyer using PayPal to make payment- probably because they own paypal !!
So for me as a seller :
Small cheap item (less than a couple of hundred ) I’ll allow paypal
More expensive or something that requires collection then cash or bank transfer
healeyneil said:
The eBay rep said that the buyer should have a qr code that I could scan- least I think that’s what he said !
I told the buyer that PayPal credit was not acceptable and he withdrew.
Still for sale ??
I think that's to cover off the "I'll send a courier for it" which for a scam means themselves or known third party. Then the "genuine" courier turns up or they deny receiving it. They then instigate PayPal reversal. Happens a lot with pedal cycles I believe. I told the buyer that PayPal credit was not acceptable and he withdrew.
Still for sale ??
_Rodders_ said:
I think you did the right thing.
Ebay only interested in their cut and PayPal protects the buyer very well, the seller less so.
If the offer was around the going rate there will be another buyer along eventually.
There are many pointers to any particular buyer being a scammer or intending to rip you off.Ebay only interested in their cut and PayPal protects the buyer very well, the seller less so.
If the offer was around the going rate there will be another buyer along eventually.
The use of Paypal is not one of them.
Vehicles are one of the very few things you can insist on cash or bank transfer payments for on eBay, because of the possibility of fraudulent transactions, i.e. It can't really be shipped and be tracked in transit!
You used to have to make Paypal available as a payment option for almost other products (for several years now), although it is now been replaced by direct payments from a debt or credit card. If they spot you putting 'cash only' in a listing that is other than a vehicle, it will get removed.
You used to have to make Paypal available as a payment option for almost other products (for several years now), although it is now been replaced by direct payments from a debt or credit card. If they spot you putting 'cash only' in a listing that is other than a vehicle, it will get removed.
healeyneil said:
I’m trying to sell a Frogeye for restoration on eBay just now. I get a reasonable offer on it, which I accepted, and spelled out how I wanted paid, plus some other details. The “ buyer” came back and said he wanted to pay by PayPal credit. Before I said no, I phoned the eBay helpline. They didn’t see anything wrong with PayPal credit, and were more concerned about the possibility of taking the deal off eBay. I’d heard of people paying by PayPal then claiming not to have received the item, hence getting a payment reversal. The eBay rep said that the buyer should have a qr code that I could scan- least I think that’s what he said !
I told the buyer that PayPal credit was not acceptable and he withdrew.
Still for sale ??
Why do you think it is a scam???? Sounds more like a misunderstanding on your side tbh.I told the buyer that PayPal credit was not acceptable and he withdrew.
Still for sale ??
You've listed on an auction site. Have you said you'd accept PayPal? If so, then you don't really have a say how PayPal would process that. Ultimately PayPal credit is nothing different to a credit card, only you use the PayPal app rather than a physical card.
Call me old school but if selling a car or anything of value (not very often) I want the buyer stood physically in front of me. Then payment by either bank transfer (ideally) otherwise cash if they must. If it’s the latter they’ll have to accompany me to the bank where the cashier can check all the notes for forgeries and pay it into my account. Either way, only once I’m satisfied that the money is in my account will I let the goods go.
Far too many scare stories involving PayPal, Western Union, non existent couriers and other scamming ‘middle men’ for my liking.
PayPal in my experience are a bunch of total
s anyway.
Far too many scare stories involving PayPal, Western Union, non existent couriers and other scamming ‘middle men’ for my liking.
PayPal in my experience are a bunch of total
s anyway.shih tzu faced said:
Call me old school but if selling a car or anything of value (not very often) I want the buyer stood physically in front of me. Then payment by either bank transfer (ideally) otherwise cash if they must. If it’s the latter they’ll have to accompany me to the bank where the cashier can check all the notes for forgeries and pay it into my account. Either way, only once I’m satisfied that the money is in my account will I let the goods go.
Far too many scare stories involving PayPal, Western Union, non existent couriers and other scamming ‘middle men’ for my liking.
PayPal in my experience are a bunch of totals anyway.
Far too many scare stories involving PayPal, Western Union, non existent couriers and other scamming ‘middle men’ for my liking.
PayPal in my experience are a bunch of total
s anyway.
Whenever I sell on eBay it is always things I don't want anymore and even though it may be high value I'm not trying to run a business so if the odd very rare transaction goes wrong just I suck it up.
On eBay if the buyer pays using PayPal and the item is to be posted then you MUST use a signed for delivery method otherwise the buyer can deny that it was ever delivered and they can claim an automatic refund. The seller will ALWAYS lose in these circumstances.
For an item that is paid for using PayPal and the buyer makes a personal collection then you can use the eBay app to scan the QR code the buyer receives through email which proves that the buyer has received the item.
However as far as eBay and PayPal go there are still so many more reasons and ways that the buyer can screw over the seller.
On eBay if the buyer pays using PayPal and the item is to be posted then you MUST use a signed for delivery method otherwise the buyer can deny that it was ever delivered and they can claim an automatic refund. The seller will ALWAYS lose in these circumstances.
For an item that is paid for using PayPal and the buyer makes a personal collection then you can use the eBay app to scan the QR code the buyer receives through email which proves that the buyer has received the item.
However as far as eBay and PayPal go there are still so many more reasons and ways that the buyer can screw over the seller.
tapkaJohnD said:
Credit, for a classic car? That you have sold online? with the debt 'guaranteed' by an online money merchant? Pull the other one!
Don't even consider it. Tell the buyer to get his own loan, you want cash.
JOhn
Don't even consider it. Tell the buyer to get his own loan, you want cash.
JOhn
Paypal, one of the world's largest financial institutions, an "online money merchant".
Again with the
deckster said:
_Rodders_ said:
I think you did the right thing.
Ebay only interested in their cut and PayPal protects the buyer very well, the seller less so.
If the offer was around the going rate there will be another buyer along eventually.
There are many pointers to any particular buyer being a scammer or intending to rip you off.Ebay only interested in their cut and PayPal protects the buyer very well, the seller less so.
If the offer was around the going rate there will be another buyer along eventually.
The use of Paypal is not one of them.
I used PayPal to buy an expensive tent from GoOutdoors.
After the first use one of the tie-downs partially detached along a seam, not a major issue but needed sorted.
GoOutdoors were being a pain insisting I take it to be inspected at one of their special stores (I.e. not the one I bought it from), it weighs 55kg.
After a few messages backwards and forwards and not really getting anywhere I just requested £250 back from PayPal with a description and photo. Was sorted very quickly, never heard anything from GO.
The protections for the buyer are insane.
After the first use one of the tie-downs partially detached along a seam, not a major issue but needed sorted.
GoOutdoors were being a pain insisting I take it to be inspected at one of their special stores (I.e. not the one I bought it from), it weighs 55kg.
After a few messages backwards and forwards and not really getting anywhere I just requested £250 back from PayPal with a description and photo. Was sorted very quickly, never heard anything from GO.
The protections for the buyer are insane.
tapkaJohnD said:
Credit, for a classic car? That you have sold online? with the debt 'guaranteed' by an online money merchant? Pull the other one!
Don't even consider it. Tell the buyer to get his own loan, you want cash.
JOhn
You don’t understand how PayPal Credit works. The seller gets the cash immediately, the buyer owes the money to PayPal. Don't even consider it. Tell the buyer to get his own loan, you want cash.
JOhn
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