Got a message today from a buyer

[saltire]

Got this email (through my messages) from a buyer today

Hello
i have some problem with my paypal account ..i dont no why...anyway if tomorow im not able for payment, i send the money in other way,money order wire tranfer western union etc...sorry about this...
have nice day tks for all
regards

This is the second one, the first one said something about not being able to get into work to access their paypal account.
II've never heard of Western union or a money order wire transfer. Should i email him/her back and say that i just want paypal, or should I contact ebay?

No it hasn't happened to me but a lot of people have been scammed over the years.

Remember:

• If money from a cheque you paid in shows up in your account that is NOT any kind of indicator or endorsement that the cheque was kosher.

The bank can still be checking it, particularly if it's an overseas cheque, and if it is a forgery they WILL want their money back, up to weeks later in some cases.

• If you pay someone by Western Union it is about as secure as giving them a bundle of twenties in Iceland car park. Which is why the scammers like it so much.

there has been problems with paypal lately, soemone is sending me a cheque for £35 because paypal is being a pita.

if they are gueniiune then i think you may be safe accepting an internationalmoney order only.

He finally paid on the afternoon of the 6th by paypal. So of course I couldn't send the things to him because the PO was shut over Easter. The bu**er has now decided he is going to report me to ebay for an unreceived item!

vimfuego -

This isn't e-bay based but a similar con

One of my colleagues asked me about a person who had come to our bank to query about one of our cheques.

She was selling a horse box for £3000 and someone had shown an interest but had a cheque for £6000 from a friend made payable as CASH. He wanted her to take the cheque and wire the remaining amount to an account. The horse box seller was suspicious but took the cheque and was wondering if she should take it directly to the police.

We did a check on the account and the account was closed, so we knew that it wouldn't go through.

I phoned my legal dept and they said that we could not tell the horse box seller this information as it contravened the data protection act. I made an executive(and seemingly illegal) decision and told the woman to take it straight to the police.

So, sellers beware!