Paypal scams?

clsCorwin

I'm selling some car parts, and I've had a couple people call me about them. One of them sounds kinda fishy to me, so far hes on the up and up. He hasn't said if he is going to purchase yet, so I'm not sure what payment method he will want to use.

I already know to avoid Western Union like the plague, but what other scams, paypal in particular, should I look out for?

Deusfaux

if you've sold over ebay or something you must include an online form of tracking

if you dont and they dispute you ever sent the parts, they'll look for that and if you dont have it, BAM you're instantly on the hook and now he's got the parts and his money back from paypal.

clsCorwin

Tjhe parts are not being sold over eBay, I had classified ads posted on zcar.com.

Deusfaux

you'll have to look into their policy to see if it still applies...

my guess is that if they just send as "quasi cash" then no... they're jsut sending you money for all paypal knows or cares and it's not contingent on anyting (like you sending them parts)

but there is an optiong to send money for "goods" and maybe in that case you are held liable for proof of actually sending goods

anyways with anything of some real value you'll want to be sending it with tracking anyways.



otherwise you cant really be screwed too bad. as long as you get the money in your account, then download it to your bank account, its not ilke paypal can reach into it at that point and take it back

they can only ever take money thats in the paypal account itself, so at the worst if you wait for it to clear, they'll only be able to freeze the account - in which case you can make a new one. this is assuming the guy has some way of screwing you which I am unable to see

AtomBomb

Paypal's pretty good. The one I always run into is the "buyer" trying to send you a money order for more than the purchase price and asking you to send them the product and the difference. I've never responded to those, but I assume they send you a bunk money order.

Western Union is more dangerous for buyers, but I don't know why you would be wary of it as a seller. Years ago I sold some CD's to a guy in Russia, and he always sent me money thru Western Union. I would go down to the grocery store, walk out with CASH, and then send him his stuff. The risk is if the seller is dishonest, there is no way to get your cash back.

With paypal, just make sure you're sending to a "verified address". If you do that and track it, I think you're pretty safe.

clsCorwin

Word. I thought as much, but paranoia and all, never can be too sure these days.