Need advise

Involving money transfers and domain parking

[cygnus]

Hello,

I need advise and I think this is the right place to ask. I know this 20-year old guy from Romenia who does Domain Parking and makes quite a lot of money with it, with TrafficZ, especially the last months: between $3000 and $4000. Unfortunately, this is his only income, he does not have a job, no parents, no friends, 1 room apartment, no credit card (because no job), no bank loan (because no job), ...

He really needs money now because he almost has none left. So he is asking me to receive the money from TrafficZ (around $3500) with my PayPal, withdraw it to my bank account and send 90% of that to his bank account. He had a similar deal with another guy last month, but that guy robbed him for $4000, so he's really desperate for money now.

What do you guys think? Is this a scam?
I would think it is, but I can't see how he can scam me. I've been talking to the guy for a few months, but I don't know him that well. He tells me he has nearly no friends, so he's asking me.

I'm going to check with PayPal and my bank and ask them what the risks are.

[collymellon]

Just don't bother.

[mikesmith76]

Just don't bother.

Agreed. Sounds like a load of garbage

[andye]

I agree, this sounds like complete BS. If he's making $4000/month then how can he have no money?

For that amount it would easily be worth him setting up a UK or US bank account and remitting the payments into that.

I can't see how he can scam me.

One possible way:

1) You receive payments using a repudiatable payment system such as PayPal - i.e. one where payments can be charged back in case of fraud.

2) He gets you to pay him via a non-repudiatable payment system, e.g. Western Union, where there's no way to reverse the payment after the event.

3) The Paypal payment is charged-back, and you're out of pocket.

E.g.:

1) You get $4000 via PayPal
2) You pay him $3500 via Western Union.
3) Paypal reverse the payment due to credit card fraud.

$4000 - $3500 - $4000 = -$3500, i.e. you're out by the amount that you transferred to him.

Of course if you really do know this guy and he's not a con artist, then you can just help him to open a bank account in your country - then he can receive the payments himself.

HTH, a.

[cygnus]

I thought paypal chargebacks only apply to goods, not to services?

[BetterSEO]

There was something like this in the news the other day. A lady responded to an ad on one of the big job posting websites. The job was to receive money from U.S. customers and then wire that money (minus her commission) to the company's overseas account. She was arrested and charged with fraud. I think the company was posting things on eBay and not sending the items to the winners. The lady served as a U.S. address to trick bidders into thinking it was a "safe" transaction.

Since you will be getting money from TrafficZ for domain parking, I'm not sure this applies, but this type of scam does exist.

[kevinpate]

walk away, fast, don't look back, don't feel guilt, just walk away.

[mikesmith76]

walk away, fast, don't look back, don't feel guilt, just walk away.

I think as you said the main thing with these scammers is to never feel guilty. They are scum, it's that simple, and they will say anything to get you to fall into their trap.

[LifeinAsia]

I thought paypal chargebacks only apply to goods, not to services?

Chargebacks apply to all.