Jeremy Greiner
11-03-2010, 6:44 PM
This is an informative post about my recent experience with a scammer on paypal as a warning for others.
I posted a laptop on craigslist to sell so I can buy more power tools, I recieved an email about someone interested in buying the item. After talking he wished to do the transaction through paypal and ship it to him. This immediatly throws a red flag as every craigslist email states avoid scams involving shipping etc. So I proceeded with caution.
I expected the scam would be the buyer would try and dispute the item (ie damaged or incorrect) and found that with shipping insurance and having the buyer sign for the item allows for legal recourse.
I told the buyer my paypal email, which I recieved an email immediatly from paypal informing me that the buyer has escrowed the money and I need to click a link and enter in the tracking number of the shipped package to recieve the funds.
The trick is, this email is fake. The link does not go to paypal, but another site designed to look like paypal and have you enter in your paypal login information so they can log in and steal your money.
As an avid world of warcraft player I get about 10 of these type of emails a day (I wish I was kidding) so I generally inspect every email I get with scrutiny.
I called paypal, and forwarded them the fake emails, I still have my laptop and have decided only local sales, even if the person is legit it is just too much hassle.
Just passing on the info.
-jeremy
I posted a laptop on craigslist to sell so I can buy more power tools, I recieved an email about someone interested in buying the item. After talking he wished to do the transaction through paypal and ship it to him. This immediatly throws a red flag as every craigslist email states avoid scams involving shipping etc. So I proceeded with caution.
I expected the scam would be the buyer would try and dispute the item (ie damaged or incorrect) and found that with shipping insurance and having the buyer sign for the item allows for legal recourse.
I told the buyer my paypal email, which I recieved an email immediatly from paypal informing me that the buyer has escrowed the money and I need to click a link and enter in the tracking number of the shipped package to recieve the funds.
The trick is, this email is fake. The link does not go to paypal, but another site designed to look like paypal and have you enter in your paypal login information so they can log in and steal your money.
As an avid world of warcraft player I get about 10 of these type of emails a day (I wish I was kidding) so I generally inspect every email I get with scrutiny.
I called paypal, and forwarded them the fake emails, I still have my laptop and have decided only local sales, even if the person is legit it is just too much hassle.
Just passing on the info.
-jeremy