| Anonymous
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
2013-06-19 02:33:07
Classified Ads Scam
Other Classifieds Site |  jewellery sale PayPal scam Initial contact from \"buyer\" Stephen Mackenzie via SMS replying to a classified advertisement on www.tradingpost.com.au and www.gumtree.com.au selling a diamond engagement ring. Stephen sys he is in Queensland and requests I send him a PayPal invoice for $7200 - the $200 will cover the postage and insurance for the ring that is to be sent to his son in China. I send a invoice via PayPal saying that I will receive another email as soon as the money is received. I receive this official-looking email from \"PayPal\" within one day from support@paypal.com addressed to me (using my full name) saying the funds are in my account as \"pending\". The definition of \"pending\" has been changed from the real PayPal description to \"waiting clearance of an e-cheque\". \"PayPal\" assures m the money is in my account and cannot be withdrawn by the buyer. I post he ring to the buyer using Australia Post Air Express (insured) as requested. This costs $258. I am instructed to photograph the satchel\'s EMS tracking number and email the image to \"PayPal\". Once I do this \"PayPal\" replies that my money will clear in 3-5 days - as soon as the parcel is received. Four days later I receive an email saying that Chinese customs has seized the \"illegal\" jewellery and is holding it. A payment of $500 to Customs is required to clear the package. \"PayPal\" instructs me to use Western Union to clear the package by now, I suspect I\'ve been had. But having already lost the ring I attempt to get clarification as to why this is the seller\'s responsibility and not the buyer\'s. I am told all sorts of reasons - the main one being \"PayPal does not endorse Western Union, however we are not responsible for how Chinese Customs asks for excise to be paid\". And so I pay this final amount to: Zhaoyue Zhang, Chuang Tun Lu, Beijing, 100024, Beijing China. The money is withdraw within the hour. One day later \"PayPal\" assures me it the money will be deposited into my account as soon as I pay an additional $750 for VAT. The scam begins to fall apart when I request monies already paid be credited into my account. \"PayPal\" says this will happen as soon s I pay the additional $750. Oddly, \"PayPal\" also states that they have also billed the seller $750 on my behalf. By this time, the many emails I have sent to the real PayPal via phishing@aylcom.au and spoof@paypal.com over the previous week are still unanswered - note: PayPal only replies to submitted emails if they are legitimate, not fake. A incredibly unhelpful facet of the site\'s service. |
