Receiving Paypal payments from scammer

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Hello I'm New here! Joined: 12 Mar 2009 Posts: 3

Hi, I'm new to this site. And I'm glad to have found it, because I've been emailing back and forth with a scammer. I think this is something of a Fake Shipping Agent or Money Order Scam. He will pay me first, and I will use western union to transfer the remaining amount to his shipping company.

At this point scammer had sent a check with UPS overnight, and I made up a long story about not being able to cash it. He is now suggesting to pay me through paypal.So the question is... Is that safe? Would he be able to retract the payment?

Couldn't I just keep the money, not pay the shipping company and then ignore him?

Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2009 7:56 pm

Any documents you get from him, checks, money orders, Paypal verifications, will be FAKE. Absolutely do NOT cash the "check" they sent; YOU will be held liable when the bank finds out it's counterfeit. Destroy it or at least mark it up as fake; in many jurisdictions it is a crime to be in simple possession of forged instruments.

I strongly suggest you end communications with this person immediately, especially if they have any of your personal information. Ignore their emails and they will go away eventually.

Please see A Basic Guide to Scams at Scamwarners.com. Best of luck.

Baiting Guru Joined: 19 Apr 2007 Posts: 3123

I seem to be tracking Bohigal around tonight, if only to re-enforce her points.

Scammers are career criminals. They have no difficulty in spoofing e-mail addresses and creating 'real' documents. They have many dangerous contacts. Do cease communications with this person.

If you keep the money, that makes you a possible target - scammer has your real info, and if you keep his money, he may have contacts that will NOT be friendly.

Hello I'm New here! Joined: 12 Mar 2009 Posts: 3

Thanks for the fast responses and watching out for me. I read the FAQs and I was ok in giving my address because I am moving out in a week. I won't be cashing the check cause I know it is fake. I haven't found much info on paypal though, so if he pays me through paypal and I can verify it being in my account? What happens then?

Or is it just not a good idea like you mentioned?

Baiting Guru Joined: 19 Apr 2007 Posts: 3123

Once again, bad idea giving out your address. What about the pour soul that moves in right behind you? They may be a potential target too. They are ITPs( Innocent Third Parties).

If you keep the money of a criminal, to say the would not be impressed is an understatement. You (or I) have no idea how far their criminal reach is. They may be a petty scammer, or they may be low down in an international gang, and a spare horse's head might make it's way to your pillow.

Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2009 8:23 pm

Payment would be through a stolen CC#, and once they find out, Paypal would try to claw back the money from you. Remember that Paypal is not a bank, they are not subject to banking regulations, so they can try anything they want with you to get their money back.

If you keep the money it's also possible you would be charged as an accessory to fraud. Walk away.

Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2009 8:25 pm

I would listen to Bohigal on this as she is %100 spot on. Walk away from this one, get a new email account not tie to your RL, and then rebait them.

Good luck. Be safe~!