• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

This seem fishy?

Rickenmonster

Rickenmonster

Guest
Apr 5, 2013
683
122
Vancouver,B.C.
#1
I had a local ad posted for my bass head. $1000. After one mail a girl agreed to buy it, unseen or tested. She wanted my Paypal mail and my home address so she could send the shipper"right away". Now, I know that you guys would probably engage in more correspondence than one mail before giving $1000 to a total stranger for an amp you didn't even have the opportunity to try first. I mailed her back suggesting she have someone local at least give it a cursory check before spending her money and she has not gotten back to me. Thoughts?
 
#5
Yep, sounds like a scam. Although they usually want to pay by cashiers check, and "can't come by, personally, because they are currently out of town on business."

Another good indicator is when you put something up, late at night, and get a response within minutes. Most people with legit business will wait until morning.
 
#6
I have an online business of very individual items, vintage watches. I get this kind of thing quite frequently. You can't allow a paypal payment on an item being picked up by anything other than a major shipper, since you would have no proof of transferring the item to them. If she calls back ask if she wants to send Western Union. And if she is local she can just have someone show up with cash.

It sounds fishy. You need to control shipping, tracking and insurance if you allow Paypal payment, as they will generally side with the buyer. You don't want to be minus an amp and minus $1000.
 
#7
It's a fraud, I absolutely guarantee it. Don't give any more information and block that sender.

To prevent this, what most people on Craigslist are now requiring is a working local phone number in the response to the ad; no phone number = no reply. This has worked well for me to weed out the scams.
 
#8
I had exactly the same scam routine tried on me here on Gumtree in the UK a few months ago - unfortunately I've deleted the details since then, but a woman's name was used and they were very insistent that I should give them my PayPal details. Luckily I didn't - checked the net and discovered this is a common scam. Cut all communications with them, and report their details to eBay or whoever you were advertising with.
 
#9
You could fill a box with Bass fish heads,
and let them pick it up.

At least she will be getting a bass head as expected.

images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ782pBLwbkfpBW63ONtGxOTa8NGX-ag9P7GXEIQOb2xRwgP7zJ.jpg
>
tumblr_lqwvj1Yubb1qlj5dr.jpg
> Link Removed > Here is Your Bass Head
 
#14
Its a fake paypal payment email you get. The claiming money back from no proof of sending is too easy to get round, if someone wants to pay you by paypal and have collected, you can just invoice them and have 'to be collected by buyers arrangement'. I've had someone try and claim their money back after they had an item collected, I got tracking, I just called paypal, pointed out the text on the invoice, they closed case immediately.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back