Guidance on a sale

[matnueh-0]

I had a buyer place an offer that was reasonable but wanted me to contact him outside of ebay. I have not accepted or rejected the offer. I would like to know what risks I would face as a seller if I accepted the offer. They asked for my paypal email and ebay username as well as pictures of the item. I did not provide the information and told them that I would only accept payment through ebay.

[pargran3]

Delete and ignore.

There is no question whatsoever of whether you should pursue this any beyond reading the offer.

Just plain NO. Do not respond.

Block the potential buyer that made that offer.

Radine

[pburn]

Oh, for goodness' sake, It's a scam. If the person used the "Best Offer" feature on the listing, just decline the offer (or let it expire) and don't have any further communication with that person--and put their member id on your Blocked Buyer List immediately.

Oh, and, let me guess: it's an offer on that $600 gaming pc, right?

[pargran3]

Whoops. you already responded.

Seriously? Contact me outside eBay. And you responded?

No offense intended, but sellers need to use a little common sense. EVERYBODY knows offers and communications like this are scams, against policy, etc. etc. Do not respond.

Radine

[bonjourami]

he wants your email so he can send you a fake Paypal invoice that he paid.

[matnueh-0]

I have a burner number that I use to respond to scams to gather more information to file a report with

[bonjourami]

Why bother? Your scammer is probably in Nairobi and will just get a new id.

[fern*wood]

---

@matnueh-0 wrote:
I have a burner number that I use to respond to scams to gather more information to file a report with

---

So you wanted to gather more information on the scam but asked here what your risks would be if you took the offer?

[kensgiftshop]

---

@matnueh-0 wrote:

I would like to know what risks I would face as a seller if I accepted the offer. They asked for my paypal email and ebay username as well as pictures of the item.

---

They will send you a message that looks like it's from Pay Pal saying you have been paid and as soon as you ship and enter tracking details, the payment will be released into your Pay Pal account.

While you are waiting for the payment to show up, your item is headed overseas somewhere.

[pburn]

---

@fern*wood wrote:

---

@matnueh-0 wrote:
I have a burner number that I use to respond to scams to gather more information to file a report with

---

So you wanted to gather more information on the scam but asked here what your risks would be if you took the offer?

---

Good point. Let's run through some of the risks for the OP could face as a seller if s/he accepted the offer.

• You could risk never getting your money for the transaction.
• You could risk never seeing your item again.
• You could risk getting charged the Final Value Fees (FVF) by eBay because you conducted the transaction off eBay.

Can anyone think of any others?

[calntom]

---

@matnueh-0 wrote:

I had a buyer place an offer that was reasonable but wanted me to contact him outside of ebay. I have not accepted or rejected the offer. I would like to know what risks I would face as a seller if I accepted the offer. They asked for my paypal email and ebay username as well as pictures of the item. I did not provide the information and told them that I would only accept payment through ebay.

---

Good that you came here and asked questions

[mam98031 · Accepted solution]

Always decline this kind of thing.  It is a sure fire way to waste your time or worse get scammed.

Absolutely ALL communication with a buyer before or after a transactions should ALWAYS be within the Ebay system.  The ONLY reason someone has to communication outside of Ebay is to do something that is against the Ebay policies.  Don't do it.  You lose all protection from Ebay and are at risk for losing your time and money.

Not even that burner phone of your.  Besides it is AGAINST Ebay policy to supply a member with outside contact information BEFORE you have a transaction.  So if you decide to do this, you risk getting a policy violation on your account.  Not a good idea.

[myjunqueyourtreasure]

---

@pburn wrote:

---

@fern*wood wrote:

---

@matnueh-0 wrote:
I have a burner number that I use to respond to scams to gather more information to file a report with

---

So you wanted to gather more information on the scam but asked here what your risks would be if you took the offer?

---

Good point. Let's run through some of the risks for the OP could face as a seller if s/he accepted the offer.

• You could risk never getting your money for the transaction.
• You could risk never seeing your item again.
• You could risk getting charged the Final Value Fees (FVF) by eBay because you conducted the transaction off eBay.

Can anyone think of any others?

---

Their account can be suspended in a heartbeat.

[a_c_green]

---

@matnueh-0 wrote:
I have a burner number that I use to respond to scams

---

Well, so does your scammer.  If you did contact them as requested, they would probably sound extremely honest, helpful, etc., etc., right up to the point where you've got their fake payment notice, shipped off the item, and then realized that you have not really been paid. At that point their phone number will go unanswered and your item will be gone forever.