How does this scam work?

[syntex101]

I am trying to sell my iphone online, and I keep getting people who ask me to ship them overseas/within Canada, but they say they will pay me first via paypal, and then ask me to send item.

My question is once I receive the money in my paypal, is there a way for them to take back the money? Cause the only way I see this scam working is if they wire me the money, I see it in my account, send them the product. Then later on they withdrawal the money back again. So I am out of an iphone and have no payment.

Can anyone comment on this?

[cmge]

they can file for a charge back or say they never received the item

my suggestion.. deal locally

[Crazy Canuck]

If you're dealing with a fellow Canadian, only accept EMT (email money transfer).

You got a 85-90% chance of getting scammed via Paypal, unless it's with a trusted member here (or at another BST type community).

[RedBaronXP]

One way might be using the Canada Post service COD (collect on delivery) if within Canada.

[Crazy Canuck]

One way might be using the Canada Post service COD (collect on delivery) if within Canada.

Haha, yeh. I read a funny post on Kijiji about someone complaining how they got scammed that way. He bought a PS3 with loads of games like 2 years ago....the box showed up, about 10-15lbs right? Yeh...paid for it, bon-voyage, he opens the box ten mins later..............

some paper, some 2L pop bottles filled with water, some more paper, paper with writing on it saying: "Thanks"

Beautiful :-0

[heymanwuzup]

just be patient, there must be someone locally who is in need of an iPhone. if you really want it gone quick, perhaps lower the price? reduce the chances of your getting scammed :)

[zhewie]

Recent posting on kijiji toronto about a Iphone 3GS for a low price.

Emailed, as who doesn't love a good bargain.

Only thing is...
Person lives in another city
Has a friend who works for fedex, so free shipping
But need to send money first via email money transfer.
Even if legit, I wasn't going to risk $400 for a 3GS when everyone else is selling $700-800 locally.

So for a buyer, best to pay with paypal..

Best to sell and buy locally...

[Crazy Canuck]

EMT isn't even nearly as safe as Paypal, as much as I hate to say it. I was exchanging cash from my online banking to a site through a guy I've known for a while, he told me to just mark the name as " ***** Johnson", obv not his name...he said he can deposit it through the email even if the name doesn't match.

So unless you can get a lawyer to force the banking info out of the bank(s) involved, you're obviously screwed...:-0
Recent posting on kijiji toronto about a Iphone 3GS for a low price.

Emailed, as who doesn't love a good bargain.

Only thing is...
Person lives in another city
Has a friend who works for fedex, so free shipping
But need to send money first via email money transfer.
Even if legit, I wasn't going to risk $400 for a 3GS when everyone else is selling $700-800 locally.

So for a buyer, best to pay with paypal..

Best to sell and buy locally...

[olympic]

Overseas shipping is 99.9% scam. If you are paid with Paypal, and ship to a CONFIRMED address in North America then you should be OK. Just use trackable shipping with insurance plus signature on delivery.

[JAC]

Overseas shipping is 99.9% scam. If you are paid with Paypal, and ship to a CONFIRMED address in North America then you should be OK. Just use trackable shipping with insurance plus signature on delivery.

Which still doesn't prevent the seller from removing the funds and closing his PayPal account, then not shipping.

[olympic]

I was referring to the OP's post and speaking from a sellers standpoint. Of course anything done online or involving shipping can turn into a scam but you can minimize the risk by following the rules. Having said that, an expensive electronic item like the iPhone is a high risk thing to sell through Paypal and shipping. The OP appears to be from the GTA so he would be best off to sell it in person, for cash.

[BazookaWorm]

Some people will send you a fake e-mail from paypal stating "NOTE THAT THIS PAYMENT WILL NOT APPEAR IN THE "PENDING" TAB IN YOUR ACCOUNT UNTIL YOU SEND THE SHIPPING REFERENCE NUMBER TO US.
This is due to new policies at PayPal to protect both the buyer and the seller in the face of the growing number of fraudulent activities perpetrated via the internet. Your payment is intact. You are encouraged to complete this transaction."

[madman604]

fund your paypal with a credit card, NEVER link it to a bank account. if you get scammed, do a chargeback through your CC. paypal wont do **** for you.

paypal sided with my friend and they STILL TOOK his money back when the scammer did a chargeback. deal locally. saves grief.

[noob666]

cash local deal only, it work perfectly fine

i would rather do a cash deal face to face and sale it maybe $20 less to prevent any kind of trouble.