PayPal triangle fraud: what is it and how do you protect yourself?

The new scam via the PayPal payment service is triangular fraud. We show you what it is and how you can protect yourself against it.

PayPal triangle fraud: how the mesh works

The new mesh, which is processed via the PayPal payment service, is well thought out.

1. You post a product for any value (100 euros in the example) on the Internet. The "thief" buys your item.
2. Your PayPal e-mail address will be sent to you to make the payment. At the same time, he sells another item (e.g. a cell phone) for 100 euros, which he himself doesn't even have.
3. A third person buys this cell phone for 100 euros. The thief does not transmit his PayPal address for payment, but gives yours.
4. You will receive 100 euros and now want to send the article to the thief. However, the address for shipping differs from the address that was communicated with the PayPal payment confirmation. In an intermediate step, the thief requests the Siw to send the goods to another, different address. This is also the reason why PayPal seller protection cannot take effect here.
5. After the third person has waited a long time for your cell phone and it did not arrive, they withdraw the money - your money. Since this unknown person apparently did not get the cell phone, according to PayPal she is right and will receive the money back thanks to buyer protection.
6. Ultimately, you are left empty-handed: the thief has paid for your item and nothing, the unknown person gets the money back.

PayPal triangle fraud: how to protect yourself

The PayPal triangle scam is a nasty trick. However, if you pay attention to a few things, something like this will not easily happen to you.

• Follow the seller guidelines very carefully to secure yourself. In this case, this means: The goods should always be sent with proof (shipping documents) to the address that also appears on the "Transaction details" page.
• If the buyer asks you to ship to a different address, you should be suspicious. Always send to the address listed under "Transaction details" and refuse to send goods to other addresses.
• Always carefully check the transfer of your money to PayPal. That means: Above all, check the intended use so that it also fits your sale.
• Send your sold goods by registered post and not to packing stations. In this way you will receive a legally valid proof with the delivered address and a signature. In case of doubt, you have the address and signature of the fraudster.
• Since there is never a 100% guarantee, the personal exchange "money for goods" is of course the safest.
• If the PayPal transfer is a little strange, report it immediately using the PayPal conflict resolution.
• If you fall victim to this scam, you should immediately file a criminal complaint with the police, presenting the entire purchase transaction.

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If you have no experience with PayPal conflict resolution, we will explain in the next tip what PayPal conflict resolution is.