Now I know why I hear less about people selling on eBay. There is so much illegal activity, you can’t trust that you’ve really sold an item. Here is a little bit about my experience so that you can protect yourself and prepare yourself for a frustrating experience. UPDATE:  Included is the 2nd fake email.  This came with a scathing email from the crook who is trying to get money from me.  I checked my paypal (separately in a browser window).  There are no “flags” nor anything in my resolution center.  As I had problems with a buyer in the past (a misunderstanding), I know that any complaints show up in the resolution center.  Do not be bullied by crooks!

Telltale signs that something might be off:

• If you are notified to send your item internationally, specifically to Nigeria . Beware.  There is no Paypal in Nigeria
• If a seller has sent you funds in paypal, those funds will appear in your account as being held even if you haven’t received them. Don’t believe any emails that say money is in your account (see below).
• When you receive a paypal payment notification it will come from service@paypal.com  - there will be no email aliases

Tips:

• FIRST THING. DON’T SEND ANYTHING UNTIL YOU ARE SURE YOU HAVE THE MONEY.
• Don’t believe an email that the money is in your paypal account until you have logged into your paypal account in a separate internet window and checked it yourself!!!!!
• DO NOT CLICK ON ANY LINK IN THE EMAIL!
• Don’t accept other forms of payment unless you are comfortable with it (other credit cards, etc.) Be sure you have the funds in your hot little hands…and that you have recourse if things turn out to be fraud or a scam. Paypal offers protection.
• Check the notification email address.  It will be from service@paypal.com  If there is any other address like <pay-seller@officemail.net> or anything else (you can click on the address in the “from” field on your email and that will usually tell you the actual address).
• Read everything in the notification email carefully.  Companies like Paypal, eBay, etc. have lawyers that make sure all the wording is correct. If there is poor grammar, it is a telltale.  The email I have posted is very shrewd.  It was simply a noun and verb that didn’t match (see circle).
• If in doubt, contact Paypal and/ebay (ebay live chat is good at resolving issues).

If you have been victim to a fraudulent buyer, you will probably be eligible to relist your item without having to pay fees again. Contact ebay at http://pages.ebay.com/help/confidence/ato-livehelp.html to get a live chat person.

For questions or to report suspicious activity on paypal call: 1-888-221-1161.

Please pass this on to all of your friends.  Anyone might sell on eBay; especially the selling novice can be easily duped.  This all looked very real.

Also, if anyone out there wants to buy my son’s almost new PSP -Go please bid on it!  ;)

IF YOU have any suggestions, experiences, etc. about eBay and Paypal, please please please share it in a comment below.

And if you like this at all…please become a fan on my facebook page!