Buyer scam at Flippa?

[greggb]

I just sold a domain name at Flippa. The buyer PayPalled me directly instead of using Flippa's escrow service. The buyer isn't verified with PayPal, and PayPal shows there's no seller protection for this transaction. The buyer is really pushy about me sending the domain. It all smells really fishy to me. I'm going to notify Flippa about this.

Does this sound like a scam to anyone else here?

Thanks,
Gregg

 

[shiftaction]

I'd ask them to verify first since they are so pushy, if they complain further just tell them it's for your security, or else someone could pay with credit card, call back the transaction once the real person realized they've been had, and then your PP will be charged back with the full amount. Watch out for that.

 

[iowadawg]

Second that one.

 

[thekiller]

Should tell Flippa. He may be using PayPal invoice generator to pay you using someone's card.

 

[forge]

I'd refund the payment. But alerting Flippa first is probably the smartest course of action.

 

[vdonline]

You should tell the buyer first, ask him to use Flippa Escrow service, and refund Paypal payment.
If the buyer doesn't accept to use Flippa Escrow, notify Flippa about that.

 

[greggb]

Thanks for the replies! Though, I had to explain to explain to him how to get a GoDaddy account. It seems like a seasoned scammer would have one of those all ready. I guess we'll see what happens.

Gregg

 

[Beezy]

I think we're jumping to conclusions here. None of that is necessarily fishy.

I've done $40k in transactions with my unverified paypal account.

EDIT: just to be clear i have nothing to do with this transaction. But i have a personal paypal account i use with no bank account attached and a separate verified business account.

 

[forge]

Yeah, Rule #1, don't assume he's NOT a scammer.

 

[The Group]

PM Sent.

 

[FlippaDomains]

If feeling uneasy, do not go through with anything. Also, utilize the Customer Success team's help via [email protected].

Flippa Escrow is good for lower-value transactions, and it's within your right to request any payment method you prefer (albeit, if you said "PayPal only" or something in the auction, then that's trickier...)

Still, hold and wait and we're here to help.

 

[chloe321]

There's also still a small chance that its not a scam.

 

[Domainace]

I would drag it out a couple days if suspicious. Besides pushing for a quick transfer, was there something else that triggered your suspicions? Does he write broken English, for example, even though he has a typically Anglo-Saxon name? Have you Googled his Paypal email to find discrepancies?

Depending on how much money is involved, you might want to refund and ask for a more secure payment. If you can risk it, go ahead and accept Paypal.

 

[NameOmnia]

For all my transactions on Flippa I have always used PP both as a buyer and as a seller and I have never had a problem.
So happens for pretty much 90% of my other transactions so using PP doesn't mean being a scammer.

As for the fact that he is pushy about having the name, we can all agree that wanting what we have already paid for is a pretty normal and understandable attitude
PP doesn't cover digital goods and transactions, true. Let's not forget though that the latter applies to both buyers and sellers so he too is not covered for the purchase he made and if you decide not to push the domain he will have to go through a bit of a process to have his money back.
He might be thinking you sound fishy too!!!!!

I am not saying he is not a scammer as I don't know who the buyer is but sometimes it's worthy trying to put ourselves in the counterpart's shoes.
That said good luck and congrats for your sale

 

[equity78]

Whether you want to deem someone a scammer or not makes no difference. You need to run your business with as much security as you possibly can, and when you accept Paypal from someone you know nothing about, you are taking an unnecessary risk. Someone could be the greatest person in the world and has done $1million in business with Paypal You don't know that, you know nothing about them so you are putting yourself at risk. Verified or Non Verified if someone does a chargeback they will honor it, I have been on the phone with Paypal above the customer service level, the manager told me, "It is an intangible product, it's not us, it's the banks" I said what if I showed you screenshots and invoices of when I purchased a domain and it in my account, and then show you it in their account ? Doesn't matter sir there is no protection to the seller of an intangible item, the bank will honor the chargeback.

You use FlippaEscrow, Sedo Escrow Only, Escrow.com, EscrowHill.com etc... But every time you do a paypal transaction for a domain name with a stranger, if you get to keep the payment, you got lucky. If you get scammed no one is going to back you, not Paypal, the banks or the registrar.

 

[Mat Heri]

I read about this somewhere on the internet, buyer pay using paypal and after the domain has been transferred, buyer charge back seller. Hopefully it not happen to you. Just a precaution.

So, your next auction listing, perhaps put Flippa Escrow as the only payment option to potential buyer.

 

[Nerevar]

If you have selected Paypal as a payment that you accept in that auction, and you have approved the buyer's bid, I think you will have to accept the payment. However, you could try to work it out with the buyer, perhaps he will be willing to compromise.

 

[Optimal Names]

I think Nerevar said it all.

I realize there have been plenty of successful transactions with Paypal but I got screwed really bad once by a scammer, Paypal would not have my back. And that was for a physical item. I would never accept payment for a domain name with Paypal. Escrow services all the way.

 

[ivansy86]

Use flippa escrow. That will be much better.

 

[thekiller]

I read about this somewhere on the internet, buyer pay using paypal and after the domain has been transferred, buyer charge back seller. Hopefully it not happen to you. Just a precaution.

So, your next auction listing, perhaps put Flippa Escrow as the only payment option to potential buyer.

In that case if the domain is at GD, you can email them to get back the domain. Here is what they say:

If for any reason this information is incorrect or you feel this change of registrant request was made in error, please contact us within 15 days at [email protected].

If he transferred to some other registrar then I'm not sure what will be the result.