Could this be a scam?

[Dew itt right]

I listed a 780i board on the Akron/Canton (Ohio) section of craigslist (and HERE as well) and got an email from somebody interested in it. I emailed them more info and got this email back...

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Hey Brian,
I like and want to buy the motherboard but i am not present to see it cos am on a national duty in the middle east and its an item am shipping to my younger sister who works with Red Cross in west Africa. I dont mind including an extra $100 for shipping in the payment due to its urgency. I will pay you through paypal, pls get back to me as soon as you can or sum the total money and send a Money Request if you have one to my paypal ID > [email protected]

Evelyn

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...I checked the Paypal account and it was just created on June 3rd and is (of course) unverified. I asked for an exact shipping address first so I can get shipping prices.


If I send the request, they actually send the money, and the payment clears - am I in the clear to send the package or could I still be dooped after that point somehow? I typically don't mind international shipping but too often if it sounds too good to be true - it is. Any suggestions?

 

[legendz411]

Ill tell u now.

It seems like a scam 100%, but it could just be a guy who is deployed.

If you send the request and they send the money. You can withdraw ALL funds in your paypal acct and untie all Creditcards/Banks and then ship. If he tries to reclaim the money, they'll freeze your paypal acct but you won't lose anything, (other then the acct).


Up to you.

 

[Kuyt]

From the looks of that grammar and the fact he's trying to do that "I'm in a foreign country" bullshit and even ties Africa into it, it looks like a scam 120%.

legendz explained it well.

 

[Crosshairs]

No way in hell I would do it......nobody and I mean nobody offers an extra $100.00 for shipping...
Unless that is, they plan on doing a chargeback or are going to pay with an unauthorized credit card.

 

[Lepke]

Scam. Don't do it.

 

[Oldie]

Guys, this board is supposed to be for things going on at hardforum. If you want to discuss other stuff, check out our off topic section:

http://www.hardforum.com/announcement.php?f=75&a=50

That said, why take a chance when there are others easier to deal with? Claiming to be a soldier so he can draw on your sympathies, and throwing in the extra $100 to play on your greed pretty much seals the deal that it's a scammer. If you were uneasy enough about it to post a thread here, you obviously know on some level that it's too good to be true.