Is this a scam?

youcancallmeal

My parents put up an old Samovar (Russian tea pot) for sale. A buyer contacted them by email and offered a little less than asking which they accepted (Around €150). The buyer wants to pay by paypal and have it inspected and collected by their "Agent" as they cannot do so themselves.

Is there anything to be worried about here? I only ask because the buyer has very poor English and the email reads a little like a traditional scammer wrote it but maybe I'm just too paranoid?

The only thing I can think of here is if the sale goes ahead fine and then after they open a bogus paypal dispute to get their money back?

Judgement Day

If it was me - Little Englander that I am - I would agree to the sale but insist that the foreigners 'agent' pay in cash. Tread carefully.

L1011

Probably. They'll open a non delivery dispute and you'll have no proof. Only take cash for direct pickups.

youcancallmeal

Yeah good advice, I'll get them to insist on cash on pickup otherwise no sale.

wobbles

If you have to ask, it probably is.

Onus is on you as the seller to make sure its delivered. You could allow the agent to inspect it only and then post it, but cash on delivery is the only option here id go for.

col.in.Cr

Sounds very dodgy to me.

RossieMan

sounds awful dodgy. tell us how it goes.

tricky D

Not in country, collect by agent, the 'item' as opposed to the tea pot = 99.9% scam

Gerry069

Be very careful about letting strangers into your parents home, thinking might be if they have one valuable object they will have many others, meet well away from the home. An "agent" for an item worth 150 euro??? While it is a lot of money one has to think WTF !50 for item and then pay the agent. If the deal was done off line, by that I mean not through an auction site it will be very simple for the buyer to recover their money with no recourse for your parents as they would be breaking the auction site rules ( IMHO Pay pal really only offers any descent protection through an e-bay sale)
Meet the "agent" away from the house and make sure to check the notes if you are paid in cash.
Let people know the outcome too please

discombobulate

As was said already will most likely collect themselves pretending to be agent then open a not received case. You'll have no proof of postage so they'll be refunded

youcancallmeal

Well thanks for all your replies. I went home and got more info last night such that I am fully convinced it's a scam. A few things that confirmed it for me:

- Buyer actually offered more than the advertised price.
- Buyer has a very English sounding first name and surname is Smith!
- Buyer sent a text message which doesn’t have a number attached?

I've told them to reply and say this is a cash on collection sale only. If they are happy with they plan to meet them in a public car park.

I doubt the buyer will reply but if they do I'll report back.

allthedoyles

Smith is about the 6th most popular surname in Ireland

What website did you advertise this item -?

the groutch

discombobulate wrote: »

As was said already will most likely collect themselves pretending to be agent then open a not received case. You'll have no proof of postage so they'll be refunded

this is exactly what will happen, one of the oldest scams in the book

A Dub in Glasgo

There are always newer sellers who will fall for it though. Rule number 1 is never to accept Paypal unless you can prove delivery through a courier / postal website as Paypal will side with the buyer.