As long as there is a internet, scammers and frauds alike will always try to find new inventive ways to cheat you out of your hard earned money.

This is a sample paypal scam email I have encountered.

SAMPLE SCAM EMAIL

From:
service@paypal.com <payppa@gmail.com>

Dear *****

This email confirms that you have been paid $2,000.00 USD by Anna Mendelson. We hereby request you to ship the item and forward the tracking number to Paypal. This payment is pending and will not reflect on your paypal account until we have confirmed the shipment tracking number. We apologise if this will inconvenience you in any way but these are temporal measures set aside to control transactions involving international shipping because of the recent experiences we have had involving transactions like this.
The Paypal team are working to provide a lasting and easier means to check this kind of transaction. Your money is safe with us and will reflect in your Paypal account as soon as your tracking number is confirmed. When sending the tracking number make sure to include the transaction ID from the Instant Payment Notification which was sent to you. To send these informations, go to the Instant Payment Notification which was sent you and follow the guidelines, once we receive it we will get back to you immediately.



Thank you for using PayPal!
The PayPal Team

***These emails have become more and more sophiscated by using Paypal images and watermarks and fake transaction numbers*** Log into your paypal account and check. It will sometimes even forward you to your paypal log in page when you click on the logo.

BUT PAYPAL WILL NEVER TELL YOU TO SHIP AN ITEM SO THEY CAN RELEASE THE FUNDS. NEVER BELIEVE IN STORIES like: PLEASE SHIP THE ITEM TO AFRICA TO MY DAUGHTER... they can ship it them selves.

Update:  If you paypal account is restricted by ebay or paypal you may be required to ship the item out with tracking in order for paypal to release the funds to you. But the safest way is to confirm this by calling paypal or ebay via their toll free number.

How to avoid them:

Never ship an item until you have the money in your bank or your paypal account.

Even then, if might be someone using illegally using another person's account so always wait a couple days before shipping to an unconfirmed address.
Ebay will tell you not to ship and cancel the transaction.

Always check your paypal account to see if you actually received the money.

Even when you receive the money always wait a couple days just to be safe if you are shipping to an unconfirmed address.

When checking your email, click on more details to reveal the actual senders email address. Ex. service@paypal.com <payppa@gmail.com>

This is a example of a fake scam email.   It's not sent out by paypal but someone trying to impersonate paypal by setting up an account on gmail and naming their profile service@paypal.com.


*Forward these emails to the Paypal fraud division at: spoof@paypal.com immediately. Also if you are unsure whether or not the email is fraudulent they will let you know within 24hrs.


ALSO WHEN SHIPPING ANY ITEM MAKE SURE YOU WAIT A COUPLE DAYS.  WHEN A BUYER SEEM EAGER TO GET THE ITEM AND EMAILS YOU AND CONSTANTLY BADGER YOU TO SHIP THE ITEM OUT IMMEDIATELY.  THEN BE CAUTIOUS... 9/10 THE BUYER IS FRAUDULENT.

PAYPAL IS NOT HELD RESPONSIBLE IF YOU SHIP YOUR ITEM AND BUYER FILES FOR IDENTITY THEFT OR FRAUD ON THE ACCOUNT.  PLEASE BE CAREFUL. SHOPPING/SELLING ONLINE CAN BE DANGEROUS... ONE IS ALWAYS TAKING SOME SORT OF RISK.


Also if you have any questions please feel free to contact paypal or ebay directly.