I have done this before, being as the buyer from out of town. I found an item in CL in the next city, same state, it was a small item and it will cost me more to drive around 75 miles compared to being shipped for less than 5$.
I offered the seller his asking price, plus the shipping, plus the 3% PayPal charge and he accepted.
If it is this simple, it could be fine. If the shipping address is out of the country and he is paying way too much and more complications then it is a scam.
Why do people ignore Craigslist's very clear scam warnings telling users to ONLY deal with people face to face, AVOID ALL transactions involving shipping and NEVER give out your PayPal details?
http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams
"Deal locally, face-to-face ―follow this one rule and avoid 99% of scam attempts.....
Beware offers involving shipping - deal with locals you can meet in person....
Don't accept cashier/certified checks or money orders - banks cash fakes, then hold you responsible....
Never give out financial info (bank account, social security, paypal account, etc)."
This article from 2008 explains the scam but greedy and gullible people still fall for it every day despite Craigslist's scam warnings page, the warning on the bottom of every Craigslist listing and the warning on the bottom of every Craigslist email
http://consumerist.com/2008/10/30/how-a-...
Craigslist is ONLY for face to face CASH transactions or you will always get scammed. There are no exceptions
NO!!! These ppl will tell you that they have sent you the money paypal and it will be deposited in your account after you give them shipping confirmation. Most are in Africa. They will send you a email saying they sent you the money but your paypal will show Nothing. The confirmation they send from paypal looks real but its from like a @yahoo account. I called paypal last time and forwarded them the email I was sent and it was fake. Craigslist is full of ****.
SCAM.
They will send you a fake PayPal email. The email will state that the money is pending and will be released when you enter the tracking info of the shipment. However, as the email is fake, there is no money.
With Craigslist, dealing only locally and in cash.
Craiglist is for cash and in person delivery.
If legit, after you get the email go into paypal and see if the money is there. Many scammers send fake emails, claiming they are Paypal and the money is being held until you provide proof of shipment. When you can't see the money *in* Paypal, it's a scam.
NEVER ship to Africa.
Paypal payments are usually instantaneous. Just make sure the money is in your account before you ship it and you'll be fine.
Is this an Ebay listing, or Craigslist? You are astute. No buyer offers more than they have to for an item. He will want to go outside Ebay to do the sale so you can avoid Ebay fees, but he will not really pay you. If he wants to go outside Ebay just say no. There is no reason to use Paypal and pay you more than you are asking. That is what a Nigerian scam is, by sending a fake money order.
It's a scam for sure.
