Possible Reverb/Paypal scam

[fivestringdan]

https://www.johnfoxbass.com/free-money?fbclid=IwAR0fabTLSCvwWBGtPbvoOztlp3ko51S5HVXb3dJIPEEMHgdD7RiKGiYCF74

Read about this and thought I would pass it on.

[Jonny]

Yes, this is happening. It also happened to me. Same exact thing that John Fox describes.
Fortunately, I was able to get my money back from PayPal but it entailed filing a crime report with the IC3 (Internet Crime Complaint Center), uploading a ton of documents to PayPal and dealing with phone trees for hours. Terrible experience!
This is going on over at Talkbass, I made a post about it last month I believe.
In general, PayPal has become more and more difficult to deal with. They are now holding "reserves" on accounts and other things.
They own venmo now as well. Hmmm.

[keith_h]

Sounds like a good case for a class action suit.

[flavofive]

Thanks for the heads-up.  Must be extremely frustrating to lose all that money even when reasonable steps were taken.

Does anyone know what "better" method exists?  Are Reverb Payments safer?  (Even if they are, obviously that only applies to Reverb purchases though.)  For better or worse, PayPal is still seen as a pretty standard payment method.

[fivestringdan]

Pay with a credit card direct.

[KR]

I agree about only using a credit card for online. Paypal is not so great in this scenario. Same thing happened to me with a company that showed a legit address, but who's actual hidden address was in China. My CC company paid me quickly, after I was sent a box with, oddly, childrens plastic shoes??

[flavofive]

Pay with a credit card direct.

Gotcha, many thanks!

[StephenR]

Credit card direct, use PayPal or any other service only with friends. Best is buying face-to-face if the option exists. People actually bought and sold instruments for years before the advent of the internet.

[dannobasso]

I had my account cancelled for no reason. I hadn't made any transactions. Perhaps they didn't care for my then social media views.
I ask for a bank check when selling. I realize it's not rapid but it does make it more secure. If someone is close, cash is king.

[cozmik_cowboy]

If someone is close, cash is king.

I hope you meet in a safe place away from both dark corners and your home.......

Our local cops encourage meeting for online sales in their parking lot.

Peter

[keith_h]

If someone is close, cash is king.

I hope you meet in a safe place away from both dark corners and your home.......

Our local cops encourage meeting for online sales in their parking lot.

Peter

Several of the police departments, including ours, in our area provide monitored parking spaces specifically for the purpose of online sales.

[pauldo]

I miss the old days.

[edwardofhuncote]

I guess I don't have a criminal mind enough to understand... how does the scam work?

I'm asking, because I have sold a handful of basses and guitars on other Forums, including Talkbass. Just sold one this past week and shipped it out Monday. Received payment from PayPal. Once it hits my bank account, I haven't questioned the transaction. I haven't asked for the F&F thing either, I just ate the fee myself. I priced to cover it; cost of doing online business.

So what's the racket?

[edwardofhuncote]

As for Craigslist, I think I'm done. Too many crazies in the world. I had some little goofball try to rob me over an Epiphone Les Paul. A modded one, at that. I ain't going to the local Police Station to sell a geetar. Heck, I know two guys who run perfectly respectable geetar shops who will sell them for me. And I don't have use an Epiphone Les Paul for a weapon. 

[cozmik_cowboy]

And I don't have use an Epiphone Les Paul for a weapon. 

Though they do make fine ones.

Peter