A favor requested by the buyer cost Richard $6,500.

Richard of Houston listed a decent 1966 T-Bird for $4,000 with a "buy it now" of $5,000. A buyer in Europe emailed he would push the "buy it now" button and send payment via Paypal if Richard would agree to a few "favors."

The buyer saw Richard was only miles from the Port of Houston. Would you deliver the car to the port?  No problem. The container fee was $1,500. Once the $6,500 deposit was in your account..would you pay the container fee. Seemed reasonable. Lastly, the buyers country has extremely high import duties on American antique cars. Would Richard sent title to the buyer and a bill of sale for $1,000? Richard did not see how that could possibably affect him and did as instructed.

The car arrived to its European destination. The customs inspector challenged the value of the car and went to Ebay completed sales. He found the transaction and confiscated the car for smuggling. The buyer went to Paypal and claimed his purchase was confiscated by his government because of fradulent documents provided by the seller...the fake bill of sale. Paypal agreed and reversed the $6,500 deposit and would not do anything prior to a legal resolve of the smuggling issue.

Favors are like gambling...only play what you can afford to lose.