I don't know if this is the right place for this but, yesterday I posted some gear on craigs list and this morning I got a hit by text. It went back and forth a bit and then the guy seemed like he was pulling the trigger. He had me request payment to him through PayPal and then I got this odd email from (so called ) PayPal. (I have ****** out any names to protect the innocent lol ) Transaction ID: U-5K5539459S366673S *****************t******* ******************************************************************************************* Estimated funds availability This payment is currently PENDING as it await shipment verification, so you're to get the item(s) shipped then mail us the tracking details for verification and the money will reflect in your account as soon as the shipment has been verified. How to ship your buyer's item(s) and Payment assurance Pick up the item(s) and go to the nearest USPS to ship out the item(s). Get a tracking number with a receipt and Manually enter the shipment tracking details to us for verification of shipment to our tracking center at trackitpay@post.com Instant funds to your PayPal account after shipment has been verified. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************************************************** Supposedly money had been put into my PayPal account but was frozen until "trackitpay" got verification that I had shipped something (tracking no.) Then I googled "trackitpay" It is a scam.
Looks like a scam. Below is the google search results of others with similar situations. Google search The best advice I read from the whole search was... "You only ever send items if you have the money showing in your PayPal account. Even if it was on a PayPal hold the money would still show as pending in your PayPal account."
The money never did show in my wallet. I texted the guy that I would not ship anything until the funds were in my account. (no response)
From what I can get from the trackitpay@post.com email it is not registered with eBay or paypal in any way. I'd bet a beer you'd be out your product had you shipped anything.
Just a closer look at the writing will tell you it's dodgy. The inappropriate colloquialisms ("you're to do X..."), the random capitalization (..and Manually enter"), the subject-verb errors ("...as it await shipment..."). Nope nope nope nope. (PS - Also, I'm going to scoot this thread over to Discussions.)
Thanks for moving it to the proper forum. Yes, I noticed that too. The thing stunk to high heaven the 1st time I read it. I read in one of the searches that I should forward it to "spoof@PayPal.com" I did and here is what they replied. "Thanks for forwarding that suspicious-looking email. You're right - it was a phishing attempt, and we're working on stopping the fraud. By reporting the problem, you've made a difference!"
SCAM... 100% certain. Why would you pay him? Cash only, in person, and in a public place like a McDonalds or Police station. Simple.
Any sale I do craigslist it's face to face or nothing at all,Craigslist warn about not accepting PayPal and shipping items for this very reason.
I am not opposed to shipping or PayPal. We do it all the time with ebay and from this site. My point is to tell readers that if you are selling something and a buyer tries to get you to ship before you see the money in your account, RUN