Help me understand PayPal and be safe from scams, please

[MummyNeedsCoffee1]

A buyer is pushing to pay me via PayPal, I don’t have an account and told them so. I’ve offered them to either pay cash or I send them my bank details and they make a transfer, but they say that they’d not be protected and only PayPal is safe for them. Surely a bank transfer would also prove that they’ve paid me? They also said that I don’t need an account and they have my mobile number already so they’ll just use it to pay me via PayPal. Is this legit?

What are they buying off you? It could be a scam but they could also just want the safety of PayPal goods and services dispute option depending on what you’re selling and if you are posting it type thing

PayPal isn’t complicated to set up and it’s very handy. Everyone’s bank details are hidden. It also protects a buyer from scams because they can open a case to have their money returned, if an item isn’t what they ordered or goes missing.

Ok good to know, thanks. I’m selling furniture on Gumtree and they want to send someone to collect it.

To be honest, I think you are right to be wary.

I do use PayPal and have done for years, but a stranger buying stuff off Gumtree, pushing you to accept PayPal and sending a 3rd party to collect could well be a scam. Have a read here before deciding:

https://www.gumtree.com/info/safety/p/trust-safety/safety-advice-trust-safety/paypal-scams-on-gumtree/

Be careful. A stranger 'sending someone to collect' stuff on Gumtree is nearly always a scam.

They can’t pay you with just your mobile number. You either need a PayPal account or they need your bank details.

Don't do it.

I did with a legitimate buyer because his online banking was down.

PayPal saw me as a business and wanted proof of invoice etc. It was all computer generated responses and no arguing.

Didn't get my money for 28 days and at one point it was going to be 90.

But my seller could have lodged a complaint and they'd have refunded him. Fortunately he was nice and didn't but I hadn't realised how vulnerable I was.

I wouldn’t know whether it is a scam or not, but if I was selling something online I would definitely insist on cash at collection.

Or just donate via Freecycle or Gumtree. For most things it’s probably not worth the hassle of trying to get money for used things.

Sounds too risky to me, I use paypal and no issues with it but they could claim they never received the item and Paypal will side with them if you have no proof of postage.

It is a scam in this case 90%. Not because of the paypal but the someone will collect part.
Cash on collection in these cases only.

This is a scam. Sorry. They will take your stuff then get a refund.

Agree, scam. PayPal will refund them if they say the item was not as described/broken etc. They do have to 'prove' this but the bar is not high!

Even if they are genuine, you will be charged a percentage by PayPal (unless you use the Friends and Family option, but a genuine buyer wouldn't want to do this because it doesn't offer them protection).