Person from Kijiji wants me to ship the item instead of a meetup

[Gebraroest]

After agreeing on the price, the customer then went on to inform me she's buying the phone for her Navy friend and she's willing to pay $80 for the shipping. I asked her, to avoid any problems it would be better if I just meet up with her and she can ship off the item herself. She replied saying she is actually out of town and "Presently out of town for work otherwise would have meet upo with you but since i can't , you dont have to worry cos i will specify the shipping option i want to you and will also name it in the PayPal payment. Hope you understand ?."

I don't know why, but its either her terrible spelling or the fact she is looking at a local ad from a different city that is throwing me off. If I do ship it off and include a tracking number is there anyway I can get scammed here?
Thanks guys

[Drew87]

After agreeing on the price, the customer then went on to inform me she's buying the phone for her Navy friend and she's willing to pay $80 for the shipping. I asked her, to avoid any problems it would be better if I just meet up with her and she can ship off the item herself. She replied saying she is actually out of town and "Presently out of town for work otherwise would have meet upo with you but since i can't , you dont have to worry cos i will specify the shipping option i want to you and will also name it in the PayPal payment. Hope you understand ?."

I don't know why, but its either her terrible spelling or the fact she is looking at a local ad from a different city that is throwing me off. If I do ship it off and include a tracking number is there anyway I can get scammed here?
Thanks guys

I'd say scam - and find another buyer.....

[r1lee]

I would have to agree.

[mrperfect]

Too much of a risk to go for. If you are looking to take chance and deal with the hassle then its your call, personally I would sell local even for less.

[DarkMasterMX]

Yep, don't bother. A tracking number proves they got something or didn't to some degree... could simply be someone saying "someone else must have signed for it". That being said too many complications to worry about and I would waste the time and go through the hassle of trying to deal with possible issues later. Find someone else!

[Myv]

Scam most likely, they will do a PayPal chargeback/dispute.

[Simaahoy]

Tell her you do deals only locally

[The_Madz]

If you are going to so ship, have them send you money via something like interac e-mail money transfers.

if she doesn't want to do that, then it's not worth the risk for you.

[althetrainer]

Just don't do it. I tried that once; it dragged on for weeks and it didn't end well. I can't say this is a scam or not. But it would be a lot easier to just do it locally for cash, much lesser chance for headaches.

[Ottomaddox]

Scam most likely, they will do a PayPal chargeback/dispute.

or use a stolen PP account, or use a stolen CC to fund the transaction, or send you fake information saying the transaction has gone through, or suddenly she'll have trouble with PP and request you take a certified check, or yadda yadda yadda.

It ain't worth the hassle. Schemes like this prey on the greedy people that see the extra money for the shipping and lose their common sense.

[TheRequiem]

If you are going to so ship, have them send you money via something like interac e-mail money transfers.
if she doesn't want to do that, then it's not worth the risk for you.

This. EMTs are supposed to be irreversible once deposited.


Once a transfer has been deposited, it cannot be cancelled or reversed.
Like using cash, you should send money transfers only to parties you know and trust. For most uses of the Interac e-Transfer service (sending money to family and friends, repaying IOUs, sending monetary gifts, etc.), you know the recipient well. For uses where you may not know the receiver well (e.g., online auction purchases), take the precautions you would take when making cash purchases. For auctions and online purchases, be sure to read and follow steps as recommended by operators of these websites to protect your money.

http://www.interac.ca/consumers/faqs.php#A_55

Really your best best is probably to find a local buyer. The headache that may follow just isn't worth it.

[at1212b]

Just stop responding and forget this whole deal.

[Fantaz]

If it's those multi-message (1/2) ... (2/2) SMS message guys that respond instantly (automated) that ask you for a paypal invoice for 25% more amount than you're asking for, and wants you to send to their cousin in Nigeria, then do it! Totally legit...

[CRAZYBUBBA]

The shipping is too expensive for this to be legit. However, I frequently travel and have had many RFDers mail merch to my home. A few insisted on dropping it off in person, which I gladly accept (cheaper for me, but I always pay by paypal regardless. Take these on a case by case basis.

[yao416]

A v o i d!

[dragon_drift]

Obvious scam. Same story. Same scam.

[kindred_99]

Seems like a scam to me. I often get people (usually with horribly broken English) asking for items to be shipped and after pressing them a bit it becomes clear that they are scams. I did have one guy offer to buy some old magazines I had listed, I am in the GTA and he is in Montreal. He seemed legit but I didn't take any chances. I asked for his exact address so I could figure out shipping costs, I figured it out and gave him a price which he was ok with. He said he would send me a money order as I wouldn't take any other payment. He ended up sending a money order done through Canada Post, I wasn't even aware you could do that. It saved me a trip to the bank and I shipped the items from Canada Post at the same time as I received my payment. We ended up doing many other transactions afterwards but always with him paying up front.

If this person is serious tell them to send you a money order and once it clears it clears, there shouldn't be any way for the bank to recall it afterwards. If in doubt double check with the bank before doing anything. If the buyer is serious they will do it, chances are you will scare them away which means they were scammers.

[Corleone187]

you've probably been caught up in one of these


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3vRhLDs0wI

[Xeros]

Would having them pay by Western Union make it less risky?

[Corleone187]

Would having them pay by Western Union make it less risky?

nah western union is scam central for scammers

[i6s1]

Obvious scam is obvious.

[kingrukus]

Recently, someone wanted to buy an item from me via kijiji, however they lived in Ottawa, I am in Toronto. They asked to ship, I said sure as long as I receive payment via paypal or EMT first. They sent me an EMT, I shipped the item the next day, all was well. I have shipped several items to buyers on kijiji/craigslist - you just need to use common sense and look for obvious signs of a scam.

[Siefer999]

if you are selling an item that is commonly found elsewhere, then it is a scam for sure (unless you are selling it at a fraction of what it should be priced at for the condition it is in). don't waste your time

[aplayaz2000]

well i sold my printer to some guy in Ottawa

payed a lot for shipping... and it wasn't a scam

[Xeros]

nah western union is scam central for scammers

I meant if OP asked for payment through Western Union. Once he gets the cash, what scam is there left?

[diggler649]

Here's how to do it. Open up a Paypal account, get her to pay you for the phone as well as shipping. When the money is transferred into your Paypal account, you then transfer the money into your bank account. Wait until the money shows up in your bank account and then ship the phone. Even if she tried doing a chargeback, which I don't think she can because it's a direct money transfer, it's not like Paypal can come after you for the money.

According to Paypal, I owe them $800 for a laptop I Ebay'ed and the buyer subsequently did a chargeback saying they never authorized the purchase. Yet, I have a copy of emails going back and forth regarding the item, plus a Canada Post signature indicating receipt of the laptop. Yet, Ebay/Paypal sided with the buyer and did a chargeback on me. I was smart enough to have transferred the money out so my Paypal account was left with a negative balance of -$800. They threatened to send collections after me. I said go ahead. Nothing ever came about it. This was 7 years ago.

[zatnaf]

Here's how to do it. Open up a Paypal account, get her to pay you for the phone as well as shipping. When the money is transferred into your Paypal account, you then transfer the money into your bank account. Wait until the money shows up in your bank account and then ship the phone. Even if she tried doing a chargeback, which I don't think she can because it's a direct money transfer, it's not like Paypal can come after you for the money.

According to Paypal, I owe them $800 for a laptop I Ebay'ed and the buyer subsequently did a chargeback saying they never authorized the purchase. Yet, I have a copy of emails going back and forth regarding the item, plus a Canada Post signature indicating receipt of the laptop. Yet, Ebay/Paypal sided with the buyer and did a chargeback on me. I was smart enough to have transferred the money out so my Paypal account was left with a negative balance of -$800. They threatened to send collections after me. I said go ahead. Nothing ever came about it. This was 7 years ago.

I thought Paypal can take the money out of your Bank for a chargeback if they wanted to??

[IamToronto]

After agreeing on the price, the customer then went on to inform me she's buying the phone for her Navy friend and she's willing to pay $80 for the shipping. I asked her, to avoid any problems it would be better if I just meet up with her and she can ship off the item herself. She replied saying she is actually out of town and "Presently out of town for work otherwise would have meet upo with you but since i can't , you dont have to worry cos i will specify the shipping option i want to you and will also name it in the PayPal payment. Hope you understand ?."

I don't know why, but its either her terrible spelling or the fact she is looking at a local ad from a different city that is throwing me off. If I do ship it off and include a tracking number is there anyway I can get scammed here?
Thanks guys

lol at you even considering it.. obviously a scam
even if its not, who cares. youll find another local buyer
dont give in