Scammer on offshore rig

CC33

CC33

Senior Member
Didn't someone complain recently of being scammed by a guy on an off shore rig? Offering more than asking price as well. Will have agent come pick it up, blah, blah, blah...:mad:
 
Told me he could only pay me with paypal for my truck - said i should set up an account & send him the address so he could deposit the money.
 
Isn't that a good thing? If it's through PayPal, isn't that a pretty good sign it's legit? Or am I missing something?
 
I have made several buys using PayPal but no large transactions. Have not had an issue. I still think a bank transfer is the safest way to go on a large purchase. Once the money is safe in your account, ship the car...
 
Think paypal is guaranteed, but not sure of what the max amount of coverage is. It is about all I will use most of the time, fast (as in instant) and easy. Also use it to transfer money between family members, love it.
 
JSeery said:
Think paypal is guaranteed, but not sure of what the max amount of coverage is. It is about all I will use most of the time, fast (as in instant) and easy. Also use it to transfer money between family members, love it.
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When I listed my '40 on EBay the buyer could only use PayPal for the $500.00 deposit. The remainder had to be cash or certified funds. Don't know if it was an EBay or PayPal rule. I think that the scammer is trying to get a mark without a PayPal account to set up one on a fake PayPal account. Regardless if it doesn't pass the smell test, run don't walk away.
 
51504bat said:
When I listed my '40 on EBay the buyer could only use PayPal for the $500.00 deposit. The remainder had to be cash or certified funds. Don't know if it was an EBay or PayPal rule. I think that the scammer is trying to get a mark without a PayPal account to set up one on a fake PayPal account. Regardless if it doesn't pass the smell test, run don't walk away.
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I've moved a lot more that $500 with paypal (several thousand), but no idea what the limit is. Good info on ebay, don't think I have ever exceeded $500 on ebay.

Edit: OK, did some research -

1. PayPal is guaranteed against fraud and identity theft.

PayPal guarantees 100% protection against unauthorized payments from your account. Every transaction is confirmed by email to the PayPal account holder. Any transaction you wish to dispute will give you access to a 24/7 support team of analysts who will sort out your problem for you.

2. eBay purchases can also be insured up to $1000 through PayPal. A service called "PayPal Buyer Protection" is another way that PayPal will certify that certain sellers are trustworthy.

3. PayPal's Anti-Fraud Team works 24/7 Using sophisticated risk models and advanced technology, the team is able to detect, and often predict, suspicious activity to help eliminate identity theft. The anti-fraud team’s sole job is to make every PayPal transaction as safe and seamless as possible.

So, looks like $1K is the insured limit.
 
Mine was on a cable laying ship, said he was happy with the price for my 46 Ford Chassis and he would send an agent to pick it up. I told him the it had to be in Cash US dollars and his agent could bring the cash and pick up the chassis. He kept insisting I set up a paypal account. I again told him no way had to be in cash US dollars. I had two replies for my chassis using the same tale of being on a ship at sea. Didn't do business with either and still have my chassis.
 
Marvin/TN said:
Mine was on a cable laying ship, said he was happy with the price for my 46 Ford Chassis and he would send an agent to pick it up. I told him the it had to be in Cash US dollars and his agent could bring the cash and pick up the chassis. He kept insisting I set up a paypal account. I again told him no way had to be in cash US dollars. I had two replies for my chassis using the same tale of being on a ship at sea. Didn't do business with either and still have my chassis.
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Must have been up to something that's for sure. Be interesting to know how this scam works. I agree with everything that is being said about if it sounds fishy walk away. I will only deal with U.S. individuals (sorry overseas folks) because once it's off-shore it's hard to get anyone to help with your issues. Glad this info is coming up, we all need a heads up!
 
I think it is deffinatly a smell test issue . I sold flathead to a guy in swedan . I told him I would ship it "as far as the end of my drivway" . it worked out fine . the only thing I had to do is download and print a packing slip for the truck driver . I took photos of the motor on a pallet in my drivway ,,,being lifted into his truck ,,license plate of the 18 wheeler as well as the name on the side , and the truck driving away ! see ya later goodbye ..of course I was paid in advance through paypal . Iwould do it again but Iwould get more than 50 bucks to palletise the motor ,,,2 1/2 hours an 30 bucks at homey depot :o mp
 
ya..PP is guaranteed...

Okay...so I have something for sale...say a trailer for 1000.00 bucks

Buyer says "I'll PP you the money and me or a friend will pick it up..."

You get the 1K in your PP account, you think all is fine...right?

So,a few hours later, a pickup rolls in to get the trailer..hook it up...trailer gone, what do you care?...You have the money in your account...you are happy!

So, an hour or so later, you go to put the funds into your checking / saving /etc account, and find out the person has file a clain the "the property was not as described"...

Ya, ask me how I know...


So...with paypal, my advice is to open a new checking account for PP trans actions, open a saving account at the same place.

Link you PP to your checking account, not the savings account...so as soon as the money ge's in your checking, transfer to your savings...PP can not withdraw it.

Yes, I am out a trailer...I learned the hard way...trust is BS.
 
I think the game is to get your name, address, PayPal email address, and phone number, then try to access Paypal to change the PIN to empty your account. If your account is attached to your savings account, well they could effectively withdraw everything.
This is what I just received as a text for a vehicle that I am selling.
"Do you still have it for sale? Also I will like you to send me your home address so that we can arrange for pick up scheduling as I will like it to be picked up following day after the - back to me now with your Pay Pal email account and your full name so as to make the payment as I currently offshore RIG on a ship, so I will not be able to come and pick it but my agent will do so on my behalf, Thanks for the response, I agree with the condition, I will give you ($500 more) to keep any other offers off, it my offer is accepted by you I will like you to get payment has been made, so no shipping. Please get back to me now so as to make the payment asap."
 
Sounds like the guy I had wanting my 36 Ford. He did make a deposit thru PayPal of $25000 but put a hold on funds being released to me until I wired him $1500. I reported him to PayPal. I had insisted on a bank transfer initially, told him all he needed access to was a telephone but he insisted on PayPal.
 
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I haven't worked on the riggs in the gulf but I've known white a few that have. They work a schedule that gives them more time off than I get for sure. My uncle was a merchant marine as part of the sparky union for ship board radio operation & repair. He sometimes took 6-months off at a time.
 
Mike B said:
ya..PP is guaranteed...

Okay...so I have something for sale...say a trailer for 1000.00 bucks

Buyer says "I'll PP you the money and me or a friend will pick it up..."

You get the 1K in your PP account, you think all is fine...right?

So,a few hours later, a pickup rolls in to get the trailer..hook it up...trailer gone, what do you care?...You have the money in your account...you are happy!

So, an hour or so later, you go to put the funds into your checking / saving /etc account, and find out the person has file a clain the "the property was not as described"...

Ya, ask me how I know...


So...with paypal, my advice is to open a new checking account for PP trans actions, open a saving account at the same place.

Link you PP to your checking account, not the savings account...so as soon as the money ge's in your checking, transfer to your savings...PP can not withdraw it.

Yes, I am out a trailer...I learned the hard way...trust is BS.
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This is the same as I do, have a separate checking account so no one has access to my savings account. Ebay and PayPal go out of there way to protect the buyer, not so much the seller. I wondering since you have a credit card tied to your account will PayPal automatically withdraw the funds from that?
 
This is very good information! Thanks for the inputs. And, yep there is away around almost any system, doesn't seem to take them long to figure it out. I would not see why a buyer would need anything other than an email address, so there is one clue. On a pick up I can see the need for an address. Guess I would be leaning toward cash in hand on a pick item or a high dollar item.
 
I am surprised that PayPal would be so easy to beat. I would have thought they have protections to prevent such fraud.
 
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