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Thread: PayPal fraud in prograess (have you smelled this one before)?

  1. #1
    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    Default PayPal fraud in prograess (have you smelled this one before)?

    I have a dude saying he wants to buy an instrument. Doesn't want to directly pay a PayPal invoice, says his insurance company will pay, and then I'm to ship it to Wyoming and his insurance company will ship it to his nephew in Paris. (Why he thinks I can't ship it to Paris myself is beyond me.)

    This is starting to sound like a scam. Maybe they have some way of getting a refund without sending the instrument back? It's very odd.

    Here's his latest email:

    ===============

    Alright be informed that you would have it shipped to my insurance company's courier agent who would take care of the delivery to Paris.
    Here's the delivery address:
    Name: xxxx xxxxx
    Address: xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx
    City: Cheyenne
    State: Wyoming
    Zip code: 82001, United States
    They would be responsible for the delivery to Paris. So I will be placing a payment for the guitar along with an additional postage fee which you would send to the courier agent.
    I will keep you updated regarding the payment as soon as I can.

    ================

    I sure as heck will not send any additional postage fee to any courier. The buyer can jolly well do that himself.

    Going to let this play out a little longer, but certainly won't send out the instrument until PayPal reviews the transaction and assures me it's legit.

    Anyone encountered this before?
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  2. #2
    Teacher, repair person
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    Default Re: PayPal fraud in prograess (have you smelled this one before)?

    Sounds a little peculiar.

    Insist that the insurance company contact you directly, get the rep's name and phone number, then verify that the rep is legitimate by contacting the company's home office.

  3. #3
    Administrator Mandolin Cafe's Avatar
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    Default Re: PayPal fraud in prograess (have you smelled this one before)?

    Would appreciate if you would state publicly where the ad was hosted when someone responded to it. You have two ads on the Classifieds at the moment and neither has a reply. By not stating such the implication is it occurred here. I do not believe that to be the case.

    This is 100% a scam. Anytime someone is asking YOU to send money as the seller that should set off sirens and flashing lights.

  4. #4
    Registered User John Van Zandt's Avatar
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    Default Re: PayPal fraud in prograess (have you smelled this one before)?

    Ignore all future communication as you run for the hills? It smells foul to me.
    Kentucky KM-380

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  6. #5

    Default Re: PayPal fraud in prograess (have you smelled this one before)?

    Scam.

    "that is all..."

  7. #6
    harvester of clams Bill McCall's Avatar
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    Default Re: PayPal fraud in prograess (have you smelled this one before)?

    Quote Originally Posted by mrmando View Post
    I have a dude saying he wants to buy an instrument. Doesn't want to directly pay a PayPal invoice, says his insurance company will pay, and then I'm to ship it to Wyoming and his insurance company will ship it to his nephew in Paris. (Why he thinks I can't ship it to Paris myself is beyond me.)

    This is starting to sound like a scam. Maybe they have some way of getting a refund without sending the instrument back? It's very odd...............
    Starting to sound like a scam? What more would it take to see its a scam?
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  9. #7
    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    Default Re: PayPal fraud in prograess (have you smelled this one before)?

    Quote Originally Posted by Mandolin Cafe View Post
    Would appreciate if you would state publicly where the ad was hosted when someone responded to it.
    Quite so. This was a Reverb ad, and it was not an ad for either of the instruments I have listed on the Cafe at the moment. It certainly wasn't my intention to imply that the buyer contacted me through the Cafe.
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  11. #8
    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    Default Re: PayPal fraud in prograess (have you smelled this one before)?

    Quote Originally Posted by Bill McCall View Post
    Starting to sound like a scam? What more would it take to see its a scam?
    I am cursed with the gift of understatement.

    I'm just curious whether anybody's encountered this one before, and how the scammer plans to extract the money.
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  12. #9

    Default Re: PayPal fraud in prograess (have you smelled this one before)?

    Quote Originally Posted by mrmando View Post
    I'm just curious whether anybody's encountered this one before, and how the scammer plans to extract the money.
    LOTS of people have (luckily I have not, though I'm familiar with it).

    Google 'overpayment scam' or 'shipping scam' to see the various ways the scammer separates you from your money using it. The 'pay extra to the shipper' version is one of the more popular ones.

    Or just check this out: https://www.paypal.com/us/smarthelp/...t-them-FAQ3176

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    Registered User mandolinstew's Avatar
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    Default Re: PayPal fraud in prograess (have you smelled this one before)?

    This has happened to me twice about six months apart on different mandolins.I couldn’t believe it.Who is doing this?

  14. #11

    Default Re: PayPal fraud in prograess (have you smelled this one before)?

    Three thoughts....

    The term "courier" is not used by legitimate buyers.......(red flag similar to "inheritance from Nigerian Prince")

    If you send the item to other than a Paypal confirmed address, Paypal will not protect you.

    I often ask myself, "why do the people attracted to my merchandise always have issues?"

  15. #12
    Innocent Bystander JeffD's Avatar
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    Default Re: PayPal fraud in prograess (have you smelled this one before)?

    Run. Run run.

    When I was a kid I in NY City and momentarily got separated from my parents. I was watching a small crowd around a 3 card monty scammer. I knew it was as scam but i was so curious. I remember my Dad found me and pulled me away.
    A talent for trivializin' the momentous and complicatin' the obvious.

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  16. #13
    Registered User slimt's Avatar
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    Default Re: PayPal fraud in prograess (have you smelled this one before)?

    Yup Run for sure.

  17. #14
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    Default Re: PayPal fraud in prograess (have you smelled this one before)?

    Quote Originally Posted by Jeff Mando View Post
    red flag similar to "inheritance from Nigerian Prince"

    Whew, I was worried there for a second . . . the Nigerian prince who contacted me didn't have an inheritance, he just needed me to funnel money through my account so that he could collect his royalties on all of the Star Wars movies that George Lucas begged him to invest in. I'm sure I will get my 'brokers commission any day now - and finally be able to afford that 2-point Weber that I have been waiting to buy!

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  19. #15
    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    Default Re: PayPal fraud in prograess (have you smelled this one before)?

    Quote Originally Posted by Jeff Mando View Post
    I often ask myself, "why do the people attracted to my merchandise always have issues?"
    Yep! Gotta get some merchandise that won't attract criminals!

    My boss was trying to sell a DIY rug-hooking kit on Craigslist and somehow got the attention of a scammer ... they will seize upon almost anything, doesn't matter what it is.

    I haven't heard back from this dude since I took rcc56's advice and asked who his insurance agent was and what insurance company he or she represented. I sent him an email this morning saying that if he didn't hurry up and pay, I would sell the instrument to the guy in Yemen who offered me six camels for it.
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    Registered User Gunnar's Avatar
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    Default Re: PayPal fraud in prograess (have you smelled this one before)?

    Quote Originally Posted by mrmando View Post
    I would sell the instrument to the guy in Yemen who offered me six camels for it.
    I wonder what cites restrictions are in place for international camel transport
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  23. #17
    harvester of clams Bill McCall's Avatar
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    Default Re: PayPal fraud in prograess (have you smelled this one before)?

    Not all the clams are at the beach

    Arrow Manouche
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    Arrow G
    Clark 2 point
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    Gibson A-4
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  24. #18
    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    Default Re: PayPal fraud in prograess (have you smelled this one before)?

    Quote Originally Posted by Gunnar View Post
    I wonder what cites restrictions are in place for international camel transport
    Good question. Maybe I can trade the camels for half a pack of Lucky Strikes.
    Emando.com: More than you wanted to know about electric mandolins.

    Notorious: My Celtic CD--listen & buy!

    Lyon & Healy • Wood • Thormahlen • Andersen • Bacorn • Yanuziello • Fender • National • Gibson • Franke • Fuchs • Aceto • Three Hungry Pit Bulls

  25. #19
    Registered User mandolinstew's Avatar
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    Default Re: PayPal fraud in prograess (have you smelled this one before)?

    Quote Originally Posted by JeffD View Post
    Run. Run run.

    When I was a kid I in NY City and momentarily got separated from my parents. I was watching a small crowd around a 3 card monty scammer. I knew it was as scam but i was so curious. I remember my Dad found me and pulled me away.
    Maybe it was three chord Monty.

  26. #20
    Registered User Zigeuner's Avatar
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    Default Re: PayPal fraud in prograess (have you smelled this one before)?

    This is definitely a scam. The OP doesn't mention why an insurance company would be involved, but the whole deal is a non-starter. Run away.

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