Craigslist and Paypal. Is there any risk?

When it comes to Craigslist.. I am very skeptical about any method of transactions, unless it is done in face to face.

That being said, here is my current dilemma..
I am selling some equipments on the Craigslist (and yes I had a bunch of scammers trying to sweet talk me into a trap..) and I was approached by this one person offering to pay me with Paypal.

Here is the content of the emails we have so far exchanged.

HIM:
"Do you still have your listed item for the sale?
I am okay with the listed price,
Whats the present condition?
Kindly let me know how to proceed
Thanks"

ME:
"The item is still availble and in a very good condition. (In perfect working order)

I will only meet in person and I will also only accept cash as a payment.
(Personal check or cashers check are all too risky for me.. I hope you understand.)

If we agree to meet, we will meet in public place like StarBucks or any other place like it.

Please let me know."

HIM:
"Good to read from you... Well i will like you to get back to me with your Paypal email address so that i can send the payment to you via my PayPal account and you can help me ship it to the confirmed address from PayPal, cos i cant really pick the item up from you due to my busy schedules at work. Furthermore, i will be responsible for the shipping of the item in which i will add the shipping and handing fee via USPS Mail signed..
I really Hope this works
Get back to me ASAP
Regards"

What do you guys think?
Is this another form of scam?
I know Paypal is pretty safe as long as the money is cleared, but is there any way the buyer can reclaim the money after getting the good?
Funny thing is.. I never mentioned anything about having a paypal account..
I guess one could assume that everyone has Paypal account, but still..

Thanks.

From the way your reply read, I'd say the guy is either an idiot or scammer!
NEXT!!
What part of CASH ONLY, STARBUCKS, MEET IN PERSON, didn't he understand.

I'm selling a 10d on Craigslist with the "cash only " statement and some idiot sent me an email asking about the the price which was posted twice in the original post!
Then sent another email with the scam!
I cursed him out with my reply!
End of story.

I would rather throw what I'm selling away rather than ship anything out at the request of someone on CL. The best part about CL is the ability to meet with the seller or buyer in person. It's a WIN-WIN situation for both parties since the buyer can check out the equipment and the seller can get cash.

This is the scam I saw on the TV NBC or MSNBC investigation ......run away from those people .

Thank you for the replies.

I will heed your words and run away.

Thanks again.

/Rant on

It's called a reversal or a chargeback. If you sell an item via paypal, and the buyer reverses payment after the money has already been transferred into your paypal account, YOU are responsible for paying Paypal back.

To quote a line from lock stock and two smoking barrels:
"If the milk turns sour... I aint the type of pussy to drink it"

/rant off

Its a scam. Its really not hard to tell. When someone with a loose grasp on the english language, that has no time to meet you in person, contacts you on craigslist: delete the email.

Since it seems like you're curious; here is how the scam works. They attach a stolen credit card to a Paypal account (or even use an existing account that has been phished or stolen), purchase your item and once you've sent it, the owner of the credit card/account realizes they've had money stolen, they file a chargeback and you have no camera or money.

If they cant talk like a normal person then it is a scam, easy.

Glad you didnt go through with it

btw, once he/she/it has your paypal address they can try to get into it.

Pasukun wrote in post #5564442
HIM:
I am okay with the listed price,
Kindly let me know how to proceed

Everyone on CL negotiates! "Kindly" - that's scammer speak

Pasukun wrote in post #5564442
HIM:
"Good to read from you...

Good to READ from you????

Pasukun wrote in post #5564442
Well i will like you to get back to me with your Paypal email address so that i can send the payment to you via my PayPal account and you can help me ship it to the confirmed address from PayPal, cos i cant really pick the item up from you due to my busy schedules at work. Furthermore, i will be responsible for the shipping of the item in which i will add the shipping and handing fee via USPS Mail signed..
I really Hope this works
Get back to me ASAP
Regards"

poor poor grammar

I made the dumb mistake of accepting a personal check at a garage sale and i've been trying to cash it each of the last 4 weeks. from now on, it's cash.

Okay, put yourself in the buyers shoes. If you wanted to buy something off of craigslist that you could go see with 10 spare minutes of your time, would you really want to take the risk of Paypal'ing and shipping?

Another thing that screams scam is that they always try to make things rushed, you know ASAP and that kinda thing.... steer clear!

Sigh.. so there is a way to scam with Paypal..

Scam with personal check, money order, casher's check.. and now even Paypal.
This is too much.

I would have to agree with others.

I always do face to face cash sales on CL. Yep, I get these people who want me to ship it to them. Regardless, it's a no.

Unless you have some obscure gear, you would have no problem selling the way you want to sell it...face to face.

Almost got a 10s + 35-80 + 28-105 for $70 until I explained to this owner of a 5D/40D/24-70 and other gear that the lenses would fit her Dslrs...oh well

I have sold on craigslist, using paypal, and shipped from Nevada to California. I spoke on the phone with the person I was buying from, and she agreed to pay he paypal feels and shipping fees. Not all of these are scams, but you are running a risk. I agree that the idea of craigslist is to get paid cash.

Cash only, face to face only. Craigslist is a sewer.