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Paypal and Flippa Scam

by wilsonm
15 replies
Hi.

I am interested in listing a website on Flippa for sale. If I request payment via Paypal, is there any way as a seller I could get scammed? Is it possible for the buyer to request a refund (I think they call it chargeback) after receiving the domain and website content such that as a seller I end up being scammed?

Thank You.
#flippa #paypal #scam
  • Profile picture of the author BacklinkExcellence
    Originally Posted by wilsonm View Post

    Hi.

    I am interested in listing a website on Flippa for sale. If I request payment via Paypal, is there any way as a seller I could get scammed? Is it possible for the buyer to request a refund (I think they call it chargeback) after receiving the domain and website content such that as a seller I end up being scammed?

    Thank You.
    You can't prevent anyone from charging you back but you can improve your chances of winning the case by not simply sending a payment request but rather an invoice. Then, on the invoice, state something like "by paying this invoice you agree that the website you purchased is an intangible good and therefore not eligible for any kind of refunds".
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  • Profile picture of the author GotLiveChat
    What other payment options are available? Wiring the payment at least ensures no claw-back if the buyer decides to try to scam you after sending them the website/scripts/etc.
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  • Profile picture of the author ejb2059
    Depending on the sale / purchase amount, you may want to consider having an attorney draw up a sales contract for added protection ...
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  • Profile picture of the author cashcow
    Suzanne had a great way of beating this - just mail the website files out on a CD with tracking and that way you will have the delivery proof for paypal in case a chargeback does happen.

    If the site is going to sell for a lot of money, it could be worth your while to use escrow.com

    Also, while I haven't flipped any sites in over a year I used to sell several a week and never once had a paypal chargeback.

    Lee
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    • Profile picture of the author TryBPO
      Originally Posted by cashcow View Post

      Suzanne had a great way of beating this - just mail the website files out on a CD with tracking and that way you will have the delivery proof for paypal in case a chargeback does happen.

      Lee
      Hey Lee,

      We thought this was a pretty cool idea, but when we asked PayPal about it they said it doesn't offer any additional protection and that you're still at risk. This might have been an uninformed PayPal agent though...take it for what it's worth.

      We've done quite a few mid-level sales (4-figure sales on Flippa) and have used PayPal each time but haven't had an issue yet. I don't know if we're lucky or what....but I'd like to think it's due to the fact that most people are good/decent and truly not looking to rip you off.
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  • Profile picture of the author lisaann
    Originally Posted by wilsonm View Post

    Hi.

    I am interested in listing a website on Flippa for sale. If I request payment via Paypal, is there any way as a seller I could get scammed? Is it possible for the buyer to request a refund (I think they call it chargeback) after receiving the domain and website content such that as a seller I end up being scammed?

    Thank You.
    If you do it this way you can definitely be out the money and your site. Anything over $1,000 you should use escrow.com.

    Lisa
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  • Profile picture of the author Tim_Carter
    Send it as a downloadable product - then you are covered.

    Paypal buyer protection won't give them their money back.

    If you ship it you can lose the money.
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  • Profile picture of the author onegoodman
    Based on what I understand the only way you guarranttee your money not to fly away with your website is escrow payment
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  • Profile picture of the author Jake Gray
    Depending on the amount of the sale, you can use Escrow for higher
    bids. As Cashcow said, you can definitely mail out the web contents to
    your buyer that way you will have delivery proof.
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  • Profile picture of the author londoncoffee
    Anyone ever request a Cheque, they do still exist!
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  • Profile picture of the author bagpuss0001
    Look into the sellers feedback/history.
    They wont get good scores if they are scammers. Bit like Ebay really in that respect
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  • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
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    If the sale is large enough, it is well worth it to use escrow.com. It protects both the buyers and the sellers.

    The CD idea mentioned is also a good idea. Flippa's rules are not dyed in stone. I just won a dispute that I opened on a digital product because I showed a screenshot of their Guaranteed Money Back blurb on the site. If you have a shipping address and send it via certified mail and get a receipt, that is also proof that you delivered the site. You can also do a screenshot of the domain name in your registrar account and then the new whois info to show that the domain was transferred.

    Paypal generally will take all the documentation into consideration and if you have nothing to show, it's much more likely that you can lose the dispute. A website sale contract is also a good thing to have. Gives you more documentation to prove your case with Paypal.

    More tips on not getting scammed on Flippa

    http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...-new-post.html
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  • Profile picture of the author Jake Gray
    Well, I learned this from an earlier post. You can send them a CD
    of the contents and then if they open a dispute, you have proof of
    sending the website over to them.
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