Ebay Buyer scam

[Tanuki1100]

A few weeks ago I posted an item on Ebay for sale and withing 10 or so minutes someone had clicked to buy it. Naturally I thought that it was good as on Ebay the buyer was listed as living in London and wanting it delivered there. The next day however warning signs started as the buyer wanted me to change the address for shipping to Nigeria.
I then got an email that was rather demanding from the buyer.

Kindly get back to me now with the PayPal email account

- powelliza

I kind of let this one slide at the time because I was a first time seller. That was until I got an email from Paypal ( which I regularly check anyway). Then of course I got a message supposedly from Paypal stating that because of the change of address that I would be get £30 more for the postage and packaging. I t was then I realised that this was a scammer as The footer of the email was mispelled, something which Paypal has never done as they employ people to edit and check the emails before sending them. The email below contains the scammer's mailing address and the fake name they used.

[email protected] <[email protected]>

Jun 11

to me
Images are not displayed. Display images below - Always display images from [email protected]
PayPal logo Ended: 10 Jun, 2013 11:59:47 BST
Transaction ID: 68F8034528382432U
Dear **************,


You received a payment of 90.00 GBP from Mrs Monaliza Powell

It may take a few moments for this transaction to appear in your account, after we confirmed the shipment.
Merchant
**************
********@*****.com Instructions to merchant
Have made the payment has I promised. Regards
Ajani Julius
11 Benco St,
Agbelekale,Ipaja,
Lagos, Nigeria.
23401
West Africa
confirmed Help

Shipping details
Royal Mail
Item Description and Postage Unit price Qty Amount
Persona 2 PSP: Innocent Sin w Mini Soundtrack. £55.00 GBP 1 55.00 GBP
Royal Mail International Signed For £35.00 GBP 1 £35.00 GBP
Subtotal £55.00 GBP
Shipping and handling £35.00 GBP
Total £90.00 GBP
Payment £90.00 GBP


Issues with this transaction?
You have 45 days from the date of the transaction to open a dispute in the Resolution Center.
Note : Please get the item post out before 24hrs in order to complete the payment procedure and to receive your full fund.

Questions? Go to the e-mail Center at: [email protected]

Please reply to this email [email protected]. This mailbox is monitored and you will receive a response.

To receive email notifications in plain text instead of HTML, log in to your PayPal account, go to your Profile, and click Notifications.


PayPal Email ID PP120 =

So I naturally ignored the scammer's mail as I knew it was fake. Later followed by this one. With yet another fake name of Thomas Green.

Dear **************,

A payment of £90.00 GBP has been made to your PayPal account (********@*****.com) by Mrs Monaliza Powell for an eBay item #(261228537835), in which it will get into your PayPal account as soon as we verify and confirm that the item has been shipped within 24hrs. This confirmation is due to the new standard PayPal payment method adopt by PayPal. We request that you should send the item to the buyer's shipping address since she has made the payment to your PayPal account and the fund has been initiated to your account, otherwise the payment will not be credited to the account as specified. We need the item shipping tracking or reference number to verify the shipment of the item to the buyer's provided shipping address. Shipment tracking numbers should be send to our payMerchant: [email protected]

This is to reduce the high rate of fraudulent activities going on eBay and to ensure that both buyers and sellers are satisfied, because it is all about our services to serve the worldwide, for the two parties to enjoy mutual benefits. Please follow the protocol of the payment so that the money will be credited straight away into your account. Respond to this mail within 24 hours and get back to us with the genuine reference number.It is on a very rare occasion that problem arise on eBay transaction and we are here 24hrs to make amendment if such occur. Your fund is safe and intact with PayPal.

***PLEASE NOTE***
THE BUYER OF THIS ITEM HAS REQUESTED THIS ITEM TO BE SHIPPED TO THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS BELOW:
BUYER'S SHIPMENT INFORMATION:

Ajani Julius,
11 Benco Street,
Agbelekale ipaja
Lagos,
23401,
Nigeria.
Confirmed Help



Internet Merchant Accounts - MerchantPlus.com



ATTENTION! Only PayPal is eligible to information on Tracking Number, do not send the tracking number to the buyer after shipment until you have your account credited. This terms is to secure and to assure you a better safe transaction with the Buyer.
Sadoun.com is PayPal Verified since July 2000
Do not hesitate to reply to this email. This mailbox is monitored and you will receive response as soon as we receive your message.
Thank you for using PayPal ® ................. We look forward serving your online auction payment needs in the future..
Sincerely,
Thomas Green
PayPal Customer Care
PayPal Email ID PP205

Thank you for using PayPal!

And another.

Send Us Proof of Shipping.

Dear **************,

From PayPal confirmation department, we inform you again that the payment sent from Mrs Monaliza Powell account has not yet reflected in your account due to our terms and policy to confirm shipment before your account can be credited. This condition is only in use for eBay purchase, if you receive this email on direct payment option please do contact our customer care service [email protected]

-----------------------------------------
Details of Transaction
-----------------------------------------

Transaction ID: #68F8034528382432U





-----------------------------------
What to Do Next
-----------------------------------
You are to send the shipping tracking number to us for verification so as to secure buyer's purchase as well as yours.The funds have been deducted from Mrs Monaliza Powell account and shall be credited into your account immediately the shipment is confirmed by our management as eBay/Paypal terms and policy to verify international shipping before account credit due to fraudulent sellers who don't post out item after their accounts have been credited. Below are requested shipping details.

Name /Shipping Address:
Item Number:
Name Of Courier:
Tracking Number:
-----------------------------------


PayPal Order Confirmation and approval. The shipping address below is a PayPal confirmed international address. You are required to carry out the postage within 24 hours before your account can be credited.

***PLEASE NOTE***
THE BUYER OF THE ITEM HAS REQUESTED THE ITEM TO BE SHIPPED TO THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS:

Delivery Information:
Ajani Julius
11 Benco St,
Agbelekale,Ipaja,
Lagos,
23401.
Nigeria
Confirmed

I kept on ignoring the emails. Then about a week or no later this scammer sent me a private message which stated that "if you do no send item i willtake actions again you". So that gave me a giggle and I kindly told them where they can shove their so called actions.

I sent all the emails to Paypal's fraud contact email [email protected] and they confirmed what I already knew to be fake emails.

So I implore anybody seller on any website to keep an eye out for this scammer, they will do anything to try to convince you that they are genuine.

Here is their email addy too.

[email protected]

[Tanuki1100]

I thought I would share this even though it happened way back in June as I haven't come across this scammer being posted about anywhere.

[Painful Truth]

Thanks for sharing your story. Paypal never holds money in escrow.

It's too bad I never get ebay scammers in my catcher account. *sad*

[Tanuki1100]

I caught them before they were successful and reported them both to Paypal and Ebay who have permanently blocked the ip address. And will be keeping an eye on any new registerees using that particular name. I am aware that all they have to do is reset their ip and they can start again, but well at least it means I stopped someone else from being scammed for while. Not perfect or ideal but it was something at least.