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Buyer wants to buy iPhone but is in Africa? Scam?

Maverick1337

Maverick1337

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Nov 4, 2008
1,303
2
I have a question. I know I've read all the scams about people buying phones and shipping them to Africa and how it's a scam. How is it a scam if they are willing to pay me through PayPal? I mean I have the money and I ship it to them how would I get scammed? Do they contact PayPal saying they never received the item and get their money back? How does all this work? Thanks guys in advance.
 
1. They are smarter than you, or you wouldn't be here trying to rationalize shipping it off.

2. Since 1 is true, you will get screwed.

3. If you still want to do it. give the iPhone away, you will feel better.
 
I don't know the ins and outs of how these scams work, but I wouldn't sell anything to a buyer in Africa. Just not worth the risk.
 
As everyone says, just do yourself a favor and ignore any requests like that. Don't waste time thinking about how it could work. If you are really desperate to sell lower the price and you'll sell it to someone legit and you'll at least have gotten something as opposed to losing your phone and having to deal with a whole bunch of Paypal headaches.
 
if continent = "Africa" then scam

The PayPal scam works like this.

They pay you thru PayPal.

You ship.

They reverse the charges ("claim you never shipped, it was broken").

You fight PayPal and lose.

They keep the phone.

You are bitter and hate PayPal.

Have a nice weekend. Deal locally and sell it for CASH.

That is what I did.
 
There have been quite a few scams on ebay. Be vary wary of any offers/transactions from Africa. Do a google search and have a look. If you do proceed make sure the money is in the bank and funds are cleared before sending the item. Honestly my advice is stick to selling in your on continent as sometimes it is not worth the headache if anything goes wrong.
 
Alright thanks guys. It's a def. no for this buyer since i have about 10 people locally that want it. Thanks again for all the help and saving me a lot of headache
 
Maverick1337 said:
I have a question. I know I've read all the scams about people buying phones and shipping them to Africa and how it's a scam. How is it a scam if they are willing to pay me through PayPal? I mean I have the money and I ship it to them how would I get scammed? Do they contact PayPal saying they never received the item and get their money back? How does all this work? Thanks guys in advance.
Click to expand...


Definate no go, even if it is legit!!
 
I own a business that sells audio/video cables and such. I sell mostly wholesale to stores in my region and retail through my website. But I also have an eBay store.

I once received a very large and enticing order through eBay from a buying in South Africa. I had some email correspondance to arrange shipping, etc. It all seemed on the up and up.

Finally I did some Googles searches on the client, shipping address, etc. and found many, MANY people had been scammed sending product to that person or that location.

I did not proceed.

Google is your friend!
 
Tell them to send a money order/cashiers check whatever. Also tell them
you will wait 30 days to ensure good funds BEFORE shipping.

The response will answer your question. But I agree its not worth shipping overseas imo. Too many insurance/shipping hassles.
 
or they pay for it with a stolen credit card number...

or they send a convincing but fake email from "PayPal" saying payment has been received and you must send the item immediately or face a penalty, so you run out and send it off only to find the payment notice was fake...

or....
 
Can someone help me with this? Someone is very interested in buying my MBP to the point where they sent money to my PayPal.

I feel reluctant to accept the payment because of one reason that has me saying hmmmm. He has 3 or 4 different addresses, one being a PO Box.

His feedback on eBay is good, though.

Just a couple weeks ago, someone sent me money through PayPal. An hour later, eBay told me it was a hacked account.

Sorry if this seems like a hijack, but the subject is pretty similar to the OP's. Perhaps it can help someone else also.
 
JajoPGH said:
Can someone help me with this? Someone is very interested in buying my MBP to the point where they sent money to my PayPal.

I feel reluctant to accept the payment because of one reason that has me saying hmmmm. He has 3 or 4 different addresses, one being a PO Box.

His feedback on eBay is good, though.

Just a couple weeks ago, someone sent me money through PayPal. An hour later, eBay told me it was a hacked account.

Sorry if this seems like a hijack, but the subject is pretty similar to the OP's. Perhaps it can help someone else also.
Click to expand...

eBay feedback can be inflated and/or faked. Don't let that figure into your reasoning.
 
Anything from Africa is a scam.

The only way I would even accept mail from Africa (I would never send anything) is if it came from johannesburg, anything else and i'd be afraid if it was a bomb or something :p
 
JajoPGH said:
Can someone help me with this? Someone is very interested in buying my MBP to the point where they sent money to my PayPal.

I feel reluctant to accept the payment because of one reason that has me saying hmmmm. He has 3 or 4 different addresses, one being a PO Box.

His feedback on eBay is good, though.

Just a couple weeks ago, someone sent me money through PayPal. An hour later, eBay told me it was a hacked account.

Sorry if this seems like a hijack, but the subject is pretty similar to the OP's. Perhaps it can help someone else also.
Click to expand...

Let me respond by asking you this: When have YOU ever been so incredibly interested in buying something used from someone else that you resort to throwing money at them unsolicited?

Exactly.
 
To sum up loose ends, it's a scam. You hear about the same things on craigslist everyday.
 
The best way to deal with it would be to tell the buyer you will release the iPhone to the buyer's agent if the agent will meet you in person and cough up cold hard cash on delivery and let the agent worry about shipping it to the buyer.
 
Friend of mine was stupid enough to send his XBox360 to Nigeria via eBay. The guy sent him a fake PayPal email saying that he'd paid and my friend, like some kind of muppet believed him.

£50 shipping as well!!
 
Maverick1337 said:
I have a question. I know I've read all the scams about people buying phones and shipping them to Africa and how it's a scam. How is it a scam if they are willing to pay me through PayPal? I mean I have the money and I ship it to them how would I get scammed? Do they contact PayPal saying they never received the item and get their money back? How does all this work? Thanks guys in advance.
Click to expand...

Africa is normally a scam.
 
Eric S. said:
What's special about Johannesburg?
Click to expand...

One of the largest financial sectors in the region with a couple of companies headquartered there. I'm saying, if I'd HAD to receive something from Africa, it'd feel more comfortable to have it be from there i.e. semi traceable.
 
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