Is this a Nigerian scam?

Question

My boss has sold a computer on eBay to a businessman in Nigeria.

This is what they wrote:
Greetings to you.I am Eastwood Matt from VA,I'm contacting you concerning your item on Ebay which i eventually became the winning bidder for your item.Morever i'm presently in UK on a business trip and i intend sending this item to my Daughter who works with the American Embassy in Lagos,Nigeria as a surprise birthday gift,I will be making my payment to you via PayPal and also will be paying you 300 USD for the shipping cost,So get the package ready for immediate or next day shipment okay?and don't forget to send me your PayPal Email Address so i can immediately make out my payment.Please i want the item to be shipped via USPS.If you wish to ring me here is my contact number 07024017725.Do mail me asap.

Answer 1

I just read about situations that sounded eerily close to yours on Snopes! Below is the link with details on others who have been scammed by Nigerian frauds:

http://www.snopes.com/crime/fraud/cnp.asp

Scary quotes from that link also:
"Nigeria is recognized as one of the most corrupt places on Earth, having become notorious as a hotbed of international theft, chicanery, and fraud."...
"...and it has been estimated that seventy percent of the goods entering Nigeria are smuggled in."
"...seven of every ten Nigerian citizens earn less than $1 a day."
"...chicanery has become a way of life..."
"...theft has become so much a part of Nigerian culture that those who perpetrate it do so with little fear of punishment..."

Answer 2

Not typically because you can hold shipping until paypal clears . Do not ship until then !

The usual scam is a letter saying they work for a bank and there is a large inactive account (usually because someone died) and they want to use your bank account to move the $$$$ and will share the $$$ with you if you pay certain fees . Or you deposit a check they send you & then you send them 1/2 via wire transfer (the check bounces about 10 days later and you are out the $$$$ you sent them ).

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Answer 3

yes it is a scam