Unusual request to buy my product? SCAM???

[paulpep12]

Hello, and thanks in advance for any insight of this behavior.

Im attempting to sell my son's laptop (Macbook). He listed it first on his ebay account (he's in college and of age to sell) and he received alot of offers to buy the macbook, but they all wanted him to ship immediately, adding $100 or $150 for the overnight shipping.

I just listed it for him and now I have a request, and the buyer, though a member since 2015 has no additional information. His profile shows he's in Michigan, yet, he wants the laptop shipped to Indy (that can easily be explained, but adds to the suspicion?) below is the body of the email. Thanks for any insight-Im surprised Ebay doesn't provide an easier way to flag what looks like Fraud. 

[numisnorway]

Run away.

[corvettestainless]

All Scams; if not already, list it with 'buy it now' 'immediate payment required' (a true buyer will just 'buy it').  Include Free USPS Insurance, signature and postage (you can figure true costs of all the above at usps website). Anything else, ie. 'offers' for 'more' and you getting a 'paypal' receipt are all fake scams. 

Note that computers and 'low to no' selling experience makes you ripe for these scammers to try. 

[jameshen1]

Scam.  They can pay right through the listing itself after buying it.  If you send them a money request,  they will have your email address.  You will then receive a fake email claiming to be from PayPal, telling you that payment has been made and to ship.  They hope that you will ship without checking to make sure you have the money first.

[1grandmashope_1]

Where to start.....stop...block...and roll forward blocking this person...Also do not add email or names in posts.

Hope that you think about how this is clearly not a reputable buyer.

Grandma

[cityslickercreations2004]

S.C.A.M.

If possible, perhaps your son should try to sell the computer at his school. He could post the item for sale in the Student Commons area. If he lives in a dorm word of mouth may work.

There are some advantages to this. Buyer gets to see, ask questions and try out computer before buying. Cash in hand (or at least PayPal.)

If not possible just be sure to check your PayPal account before you ship. Electronics are hot items for scammers and it is that time of year again....

Good luck.

[fab_finds4u]

This is a scam. 

Paying by a money request voids buyer protection. If he doesn't pay on eBay you could keep his money and not ship and there's nothing he could do to get his money back.. So  of course nobody in their right mind would pay through a PayPal invoice with no recourse for a refund. What they are attempting is a well know scam. They want you to send a money request because they will be able to respond with a FAKE PAYMENT when they have your PayPal info. 

If they really wanted it overnight they can request an eBay invoice for overnight shipping and pay on eBay and be covered.  But they really aren't interested in doing that because they have no intention of paying. The account they're using was probably jacked. They're looking to send you a fake payment that says the buyer paid and you must provide the tracking number to get paid.  Which tracking is never required but a good idea to have for protection against  item not received claims. Signature delivery for payments over $750.

[southern*sweet*tea]

This is so common I have a standard reply.

Anytime a buyer wants you to text or email them, it is a SCAM.
Do not engage with them at all. Give them no information.

Report the "buyer"

Block https://offer.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?bidderblocklogin

Ignore

The whole idea is for the seller to be blinded with greed, or just stupidity, and for the scammer to get the seller's phone number or email address. Once that happens, the seller receives a very real looking, but very fake email stating that they have been paid, and in order to receive their funds they need to ship the item right away. Sometimes these emails will also have a phone number, for the seller to call and "verify" the transaction. That phone number is a direct line to the scammer.

These scammers depend on a seller's greed/naivete/ignorance/stupidity to ship the item without checking to see if they have actually been paid. It works surprisingly well, even with established sellers, because for some strange reason people want to "trust" emails.

There is no reason on this planet for a buyer to need a seller's email address, phone number, or any sort of financial/payment information. Everything a buyer needs is right there when they click the buy now button on a listing.

In addition to the above, anyone asking for a gift card to be included is a SCAMMER. Anyone offering to pay more for an item than the listing price is a SCAMMER. Anyone making an offer higher than the buy it now price is a SCAMMER.

Don't fall for it. You will NOT GET PAID. You WILL BE ROBBED of your item.

[nkmipgolf]

scammers use new and compromised accounts, that's why the different shipping address. They send a fake PayPal PAID email and request FedEx overnight shipping to avoid detection.  A new seller last week lost a $3000 laptop plus shipping $$  to a scammer this way.  Wondered when their money will be in PayPal, never.

[ashb0623]

Yes! scam! I had something similar. I told the buyer all sales can be made through eBay. He replies and says “the buy it now button isn’t working... can you just send me a request through PayPal?” I just stopped responded and blocked them.