I'm selling a laptop on eBay and I received this offer, is it a scam?

Question

I'm selling my laptop on eBay. I got several offer via emails, one of the email is as follows:

Hello seller,
I\'m interested in the immediate purchase of this item, i will be offering $2000.00 USD for the total cost including shipping & insurance via USPS Global Express Mail(3-5days), i will be paying via PayPal. Kindly reply me with your full name and paypal email address of where you want the money to be credited to. please include your email address in your reply for effective contact.i will be glad if you can end auction for the item now. You can chat or send me an email via this yahoo id Bellow, Am online now on both Yahoo and MSN([e-mail]) IM me on
yahoo screen name=officiallykellvin
Msn/window live messenger = [e-mail]
Thanks

Is this a scam? I mean, he's paying much more than what it's worth?.... I think it's a scam since I got similar email (almost exact words) from different person but how this scam works in reality?

Thanks. I think it's a scam and no, I have never sold things outside eBay. But I wonder, how does it really works? I mean, would they really send out the money?

Answer 1

I would give him my paypal account, and if the money comes thru send hiim the laptop. Actually why don't you call paypal.com, ive spoke to them on the phone, they will tell you if it is a scam or not.
Good luck.

Answer 2

I am an experienced eBay seller but not ever dealt or been in the same situation u are. What i think is if u do accept the payment via PAYPAL. once he/she has received the Laptop he/she will probly open a dispute on PAYPAL and obviously try and get their money back and you will probably not see your laptop again. PAYPAL, give most sympathy to buyers as i have learnt and read. if u do go through with this i reccomned you don.t...as the dispute will be currently standing the money will be held by PAYPAL then they review your communication and that scammer would probably make you life a living hell. and get paypal on his side..but on the other hand you can only open a dispute like this 3 times a year(in UK not sure about USA) so i don't know to be honest if this is a scamming scheme or not..but from what i have read it probably is...so what i reccomend you do is if that buyer is serious don't accept PAYPAL..complete it through bank transfer or postal order,cheque.

Good Luck. you done the right thing posting an unsure matter on a public site like this.

Answer 3

Yes it is a scam and needs to be reported to Ebay so they can let others know about this. Any time you are selling something, don't EVER take any offers outside of Ebay. It is a sure sign that it is a false offer. It even says in their policies that they ask that you never accept an offer outside of Ebay. Only use the Ebay email system for answer questions and such.
Good thing you were smart enough to catch this! There are some stupid people out there that will be dumb enough to fall for this. At a really high price!
http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/rfe-spam-non-ebay-sale.html

Answer 4

If he sent the offer by E-mail, why does he need you to give him your E-mail address? If he is offering significantly more than the item is worth, that is usually a sign of a scam. I also notice that there is no indication in the E-mail that he actually knows what you are selling. Global Express Mail seems to indicate that he is not in the US. There are enough signs of a possible scam that I personally would avoid dealing with this person.

Answer 5

Do not go outside of ebay for payment. When you do that, you do not get any of the protections that ebay provides. Seeing as Ethiopia is known for its scammers, I would cancel the sale and send the money back. Next time, specify that you will only sell to people within your country. Don't do business over the internet with Nigerians. You will get ripped-off.

Answer 6

I don't know the details of how PayPal works ... and if PayPal connects to your email address, I'd be very, very careful.

Lets just suppose someone could get a hold of your real email address, not the yahoo/gmail one, and then use a computerized program to try and find your email password.

If that's enough to let them access your PayPal account, they can then run all the ads they want offering great deals with your name and PayPal account. Of course, they loot the cash out of the account and delete the emails before you see them. Sometime later, you discover that 37 angry people think you ripped them off [no merchandise was ever sent] and they all want their money back from you!!


oh.

is that how it works?

Answer 7

You can adjust your auction while it is still open. I think he is saying he wants to buy the laptop, but doesn't want to get into a bidding war with someone. You can make the laptop a buy it now item and he could purchase. It doesn't sound sketchy to me as long as you send the package with delivery confirmation (only $.65 extra) to prove you shipped it. Or even with signature confimration.

Answer 8

It's a scam.
Tell him to purchase it via the ebay auction, and then forward the email to "[e-mail]".

And, btw, you reallllly arent supposed to end your auction early by allowing someone who SAW the item via ebay, buy it OUTSIDE of ebay.

Answer 9

I don't know if its a scam but it sounds like it. I also believe your not suppose to end sales to make deals with someone. Email him back and tell him if he wants it he has to win the bid. Don't deal with this person.

Answer 10

Don't do it. Sell it rightfully on eBay. That way the purchase can be guaranteed on eBay(I believe the policy is up to $2,000 but I'm not telling you where I live) If you don't get any bids, sell it locally on craigslist.org. Good luck!