Selling on FB Marketplace and Buyer is insisting on making PayID payment. What could go wrong?

Selling my old graphics card on FB marketplace and after numerous low balling attempts (as expected), someone finally offered last night to buy it at my asking price + $10 for me to deliver it to him (2 suburbs over, 15 min drive). The only issue is he is asking to pay by PayID. Initially, I agreed but explained that I would need payment to be cleared first before delivering the card to him in the morning, which the buyer was happy with and said he would pay in the morning before I reach his house.

However, this morning, I had second thoughts and decided to do some quick googling and found that apparently PayID payments can be reversed if the request is made within 24 hours? I proceeded to tell the buyer this and insisted that payment be made by cash. For his trouble I was willing to deliver it free to him. Buyer said he would try to cash out but 15 minutes later messaged back and said that he couldn't for some reason. He asked me to reconsider PayID again and sounded really desperate. As a compromise, I suggested that maybe he could make payment now and I would deliver 24 hours later (i.e. tomorrow morning) which he agreed with.

The buyer has since made payment and I have received it in my account as cleared funds. I have also tried to transfer it to a different account with no issues. Is there anything that could go wrong if I deliver to the buyer's address 24 hours later as promised?

Thanks in advance for all insights.

UPDATE 28/01/2023: Card delivered. No signs of transaction being reversed so far.

Also as requested by Marty131, a poll:

Have you ever had a PayID payment that you have received, reversed?

Poll Options

  • 138
    No, never, and I receive PayID payments all the time!
  • 44
    No, but hardly ever receive PayID payments
  • 1
    Yes, but the funds had not cleared
  • 4
    Yes, even after the funds had cleared

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Comments

        • +1

          Plenty of sentiment here where even if you've lost several hundred $, and it requires police to look for someone, people tell you to suck it up and don't expect anything. Sometimes you'll see a comment implying you deserved it.

          Knowing the person's address and name doesn't even guarantee you getting the stolen item back.
          In the imaginary situation where cops intervene in this civil matter, they'll turn up to the residence and have a search and can't find it. Now it's a fight between your word and their word.

  • +3

    Maybe it's a kid with access to parents internet banking

    • Or the poor 85 year old grandparent who once asked the kid for help setting app their commbank app! Good thinking though..

  • +5

    Maybe the buyer is someone who currently has no access to a car to pick up the goods or to go to an ATM to withdraw cash.

    • his brother-in-law also doesn't drive, who is suppose to be home to accept the card?? sounds suss.

  • +10

    Personally I have never had issues with people paying via PayID (Touch wood).

    I have my own security measures to ensure that I don't get screwed over… I usually get them to do a PayID upon pickup while we both stand approx 10 feet in front of a 1080p security camera to ensure I get their face or licence plate (or both) so if they do decide to do a dodgy and/or they're using a hacked account then straight to AFP I go. I'm sure if their intention was to 'do a dodgy' then they would be inclined to scope out security cameras and either try to evade the camera (Which would be obvious) or would get back in their vehicle and driveaway.

    Cash is also good but cash does also carry its own risks regarding Counterfeit Denominations, below are a couple of guides to prevent getting scammed

    I personally do the 'scrunch' test

    • I also do the same. Got an LNPR setup + front door cam which records audio of transaction should they try and scam …

  • +6

    PayID is usually fine; just be aware that there are a handful of banks that haven't implemented it properly, and place holds or don't send funds as an 'instant' payment. To my knowledge, these are:

    • CommBank - 24 hour hold on new payees - possibly no Osko/SCT in internet banking (unsure), only in app
    • Bankwest - 4 hour hold on new payees - possibly no Osko/SCT in internet banking (unsure), only in app
    • Up - 2 (?) hour hold on new payees, usually higher amounts - no SCT
    • Macquarie - No Osko
    • NAB - No Osko/SCT in internet banking, only in app

    So, the rule of thumb is wait until it's cleared and in your account - don't trust screenshots or confirmations of transfers. You should usually get your funds within a minute.

    • Macquarie has Osko now

      • https://www.macquarie.com.au/help/personal/bank-accounts/new…

        "Please note that OSKO has only been enabled for inbound payments made to Macquarie Transaction (including Offset) and Savings Accounts."

        • My payments from Macquarie to Westpac have been instant.

          • @kerfuffle: Yes, that's because Westpac, like most banks, support Single Credit Transfer (SCT) - the main difference is the SLA of 60 seconds being non-existant. Only Up to my knowledge don't support SCT.

            Example: Macquarie to Up will not be sent as a fast payment.

    • Up user here. Never experienced a hold on new payees except with amounts like $10k+. Have sent $2k for a gumtree purchase before and it was instant.

  • -5

    This is a typical scam on FB marketplace. The narrative from the buyer goes something like this:

    Hi, i'd like to buy xyz from you. Unfortunately, I can't pick it up today. Are you able to hold the item for me if I send you the money via Pay ID? You'll have the money in your account straight away. Please send me your banking details

    You will then text them your bank account details. There won't be any transfer and you'll never hear from the seller again. They'll just continue on their way collecting new bank account details all day.

    Only do this if you are going to meet up face-to-face with the person.

    • +5

      You will then text them your bank account details. There won't be any transfer and you'll never hear from the seller again. They'll just continue on their way collecting new bank account details all day.

      If you had bothered to read the original post, you'd see that the money has already been transferred.

  • -5

    Why would anyone be using cash in 2023??? PayID, Paypal, I don't care as long as the fund is clear instantly I am happy with that. Don't trust screenshot for sure! But if you are meeting in person and do instant transfer then why not?

    • +3

      Because reversing an unauthorized payment doesn't become impossible just because there was a person standing in front of you. ;-)

  • -4

    Personal delivery, PayID… it may not be, but screams a scam to me. PayID scams have become the new FB Marketplace curse. Some grub overseas who has things delivered to other people knowing the cops aren't going to bother over such small amounts. Recipients are always in on it too though they always act dumb. All the second guy has to do is claim he just gets paid $x per month to redirect parcels.

    If I got caught in this situation I'd reverse the payment (if possible) then "blame" the bank. "Sorry, don't know what happened there mate. They bounced it back to you and told me they've locked my account for a few weeks while they monitor it for fraudulent activity. No matter, item is still here waiting, just drop by with the cash when you're ready, or we can meet at xyz."

    Him: "PayID still ok?"
    You: "Nah, like I said, they've locked my account. Lucky I have cash and don't need it for a while, hey!"

    Then watch the "sale" evaporate because cash is "too hard." Yeah sure scammer.

    • So you are saying a payment reversal is how the OP could get scammed? Couldn’t that happen even if the OP sent back the funds via a separate payID transaction? That would be double scammed!

      • Um, no… because the funds would be returned to the account they originated from - the account that was misused. They're not going to get out a dart board and blindfold to select the account number.

  • I think payid for a real person is fine.

    But recent experience selling on marketplace would show that most majority of scammy people would start with payid , insist that they will pay you straight away. then tell you that they are not in town, just to be picked up by a cousin. Those are definitely no. I haven't stuck around to see how the scam goes but I'm fairly interested to see how it plays out

  • +1

    Payment with payid is as safe as cash so long as the transaction has cleared and is no longer pending. While the transaction is still pending, the sender can cancel it. But once it's processed, they can't reverse it or cancel it.

    Don't trust photos of payid invoices or receipts as they can be faked. But once the money is properly in your account you're good.

    • How do you cancel a pending PayID payment other than contacting bank and putting in a formal request?

      • I think it's possible to cancel a pending payment via the comm bank app, haven't tried myself though

    • yeah takes a few seconds to land in your account.

  • +1

    Everything

    • everywhere all at once…

  • +9

    Been trying to sell an item recently and found PayID to be secure enough.

    One scammer tried to tell me that they “attempted” to send the payID payment but needed to send an additional transaction to “unlock” it. Whatever that means. Requesting I send the second fake payment back to them.

    I requested they click a link to see if it was the issue they were experiencing. Little did they know the link allowed me to track their exact location and IP address.
    Turned out they were in Nigeria (my very own Nigerian Prince?). Told them they’d have to pay extra if they want me to send it to Nigeria, to which they said they were in Sydney (for which I’m not even located for local pickup…)
    Forwarded their exact address and ip address, and I was instantly blocked by them :)

    Moral of the story, don’t fall for Nigerian Prince scams where they try use PayID against you.

    • +2

      I would like to hear more about this:

      "I requested they click a link to see if it was the issue they were experiencing. Little did they know the link allowed me to track their exact location and IP address."

      • IPLogger.org or similar tracking sites is your friend when it comes to avoiding scammers online :)

    • +1

      I've had similar scams for items I'm selling. A buyer asked for my PayID, so I created a link with Grabify and sent them that and told them that it was a link to my PayID details. They clicked on the link which revealed they were in Nigeria.

    • bro phished the phisher, nice!

  • +2

    surprised that the buyer would just transfer money like that. not that you will but some people can pocket the money and block them.

  • https://www.reddit.com/r/melbourne/comments/10mg8yd/is_this_…

    they send you a dodgey email that looks like it's from payid

  • Ive had a valid payid go missing. 1c worked but $1042 didnt.

    It takes 30 days for a trace and recall. It's pretty crappy system. No bank knows what's going on. The receiver or the sender

  • +1

    I would only use PayID if I trusted the person, friend to split bills etc. When it comes to marketplace/gumtree, always cash. While PayID is trusted, the other party can still make a claim back. They can do so by claiming the payment made was fraudulent or mistaken.

  • +1

    I’ve sold many items over FB market, no issues with PayD. I always ask for a screenshot of their transaction. dunno if it helps but yeah

    • Screenshot helps if there is an unintended problem, or can be used as evidence of fraud later, but they are trivially faked by people with no special skill.

    • Yup same here…No issues being a seller or buyer. I even picked up a dell machine found on Ozbargain classified and PayID the person and it was still pending on their end! Crazy hahah. But the funds went through 24 hours later.

  • I've met up before and people have paid via cash or a payid transfer at the time. Easy either way.

    I guess payID is a record of the transaction for the buyer at least. Could just use PayPal if worried, but stuff that.

  • +1

    I use PayID buying stuff from OzB, mainly Qantas Vouchers.
    I'm with CommBank, and people get my money literally instantly.

    I've never had an issued.

    I'm not sure I've ever seen "pending*, when I was collecting money for my brother's bucks I had 50+ PayID payments.

    It would be pretty tough to reverse, and i imagine a bank would red frag someone who made multiple reverse claims.

    • If both are with commbank, there is a 24 hour hold even for PayID.

  • The payID scam I was targetted with was detail-collecting - asked for email address for payID and said they could pick up immediately, so of course address too. When I said i'd only give my phone number for payID, they insisted on email address for payID, which isnt necessary, so obviously fishing for data.

    The worded request was "My PayID is a business account and PayID will be needing the recipient email address before sending it".

    Red flags - Russian FB page, and very copy-paste quick replies.

    But the offer of a quick sale is always very attracrive when trying to sell stuff, so it took a bit before I cottoned on. Doesnt sound like yours is scammy.

    Photography businesses are often done from home, or is it a building?

    • Yeah, I gather that's what it is.

      I actually meet people somewhere, if it's large I give my neighbours address and normally wait between our houses.

      I also don't use my real name on PayPal, but info with PayID I spose.

      However if I was selling an itemto be collected, I would already be suss if they wanted to pay me by any other means other than cash because it just doesn't make any sense unless it's a car lol

  • +2

    I've accepted pay id payments on dozens of occasions. I had the same initial concerns as you when people started asking to pay that way. Never had an issue. Seems a lot of people just don't carry cash or want to get cash out. The only pay id scam I'm aware of is the pay via email account scam with someone else picking up. Soon as they tell you that someone else will pickup, it's a red flag. https://www.heritage.com.au/about/news/2023-scam-alerts/2023….

  • Why you wouldn't just get cash for that…..

    • +1

      I get that no one has cash, but I imagine they could PayID while there with me and looking at the item.

      Once it's cleared, I'm fine.

      As far as I know, it's basically impossible to reverse a PayID.

      Once it's in my account, it's in my account.

      • +1

        You act like its hard to get 200 cash out. even woolies will do that for you.

  • +1

    If funds have cleared then the risk is minimal - that's in my experience anyway. I've sold more than 30 items on FB Marketplace the past few months and about half were paid using PayID. Some even do PayID in person because they just don't carry much cash which in this day and age is totally understandable.

  • pay id also have your information. Soo technically by sending or receiving, your full name get shown…..

  • +9

    UPDATE: I have decided to take the risk and have dropped off the graphics card this morning. Called the buyer up when I arrived at his house and a minute later a lady came out to pick it up. No signs of the transaction being reversed so far but fingers crossed.

    It's interesting reading all the comments seeing an almost even split of people who say it is legit and people who say it's a scam, although several of those who said it is a scam missed the part where I said the funds have cleared and I have withdrawn it from my account.

    In any case, if this turns out to be a scam then let it serve as a warning to the community, but I doubt it. And yes, cash would have been ideal but this was the only buyer that was happy to buy the card at my asking price. All other offers were low balling with the highest being $150.

    • +1

      Thanks for the update. The risk is that the buyer was using another person's bank account, most likely a family member. Not your problem, I guess.

    • +2

      Super interesting. I would have taken the risk too.

      Lots of gamers out there with anxiety and limited social skills, even disabilities.

      If they weren’t able to go out of the house to get cash, makes sense they wanted you to deliver.

      Facebook with 900 friends, hardly a scam flag.
      You have their address, name matches, also if their bank BSB is a local branch, not much to fear there.

      You probably really helped this person out tbh.

    • +1

      I think the issue isn't whether this instance is a scam or not, if you don't stick to the cash on delivery eventually one of them will be scam. This one "appears" legit, but then so will some of the ones that end up being a scam.

    • What card model was it?

      • -1

        Gigabyte GTX 1660 ti

    • if this turns out to be a scam then let it serve as a warning to the community

      Thanks for updating us, OP! And good on you!

    • So you handed over the card to a 3rd party and not the buyer? (Buyer was he and picked up by lady) Wouldn't this concern you?

  • +5

    Unless you are dumb as a brick, there is no way in hell you can get scammed with PayID. You see the money in your bank. It can't be reversed (unless the reversal is accepted by both parties). You can literally withdraw the money the minute you receive it.

    The only PayID successful scams involve some extreme gullibility and/or zero technology literacy.

    So yeah, unless you have minimal confidence in your own brains, PayID is fine.

  • +2

    OP: please make a poll;

    Have you ever had a PayID payment that you have received, reversed?

    • No, never, and I receive PayID payments all the time!
    • No, but hardly ever receive PayID payments
    • Yes, but the funds had not cleared
    • Yes, even after the funds had cleared

    I’m genuinely interested to see how often a payment is reversed….

  • Done it numerous times. These days I insist on PayID/instant payments, it's just easier. Never had a problem. I or they wait for funds to be cleared, usually we look at each others phones, once the money has arrived, it's done.

    • +2

      Yeah and that's the problem, how long it takes. I've clearly told people I won't let them take the item until it shows in my account. I've seen it countless times that it can take 30 minutes or more to clear into my account. You should see people. "It's your bank mate I've sent the payment" despite me telling them if it didn't show I'm not letting them take the item. For this reason I prefer cash. Osko is not always instant and people get shitty despite all the warnings I give them. This is is for meeting in person to pickup.

  • The only issue is he is asking to pay by PayID

    I’ve asked my bank about this and they said any funds “received” through payid is as good as cash and not to worry about it.

    pay id can’t be used to withdraw funds so i have no issues handing it over to someone for receiving payment. Make sure you use a payid that is suitable for that such as phone number or an email address associated with the account.

    Also one more thing for fb marketplace, no handing over the goods until funds are received on your account. No pending transaction and any other bs.

  • Cash is getting harder to organise, I've found that myself as a buyer, I don't understand other buyers preference to use online payments in advance, but the truth is unless you want to succumb to the evil ATMXs that are everywhere, finding a big 4 bank ATM quickly to snap up that bargain is getting harder, they're disappearing.

    • +2

      You can go to Coles or Woolworths and withdraw money for free.

  • PayID cannot be reversed. Source: I sent money to an 'apparent' incorrect account and bank would not do anything about it. Turns out the person did receive the money into an account they forgot about and all ended up ok.

    • It is possible. basically if the account was fraudulently accessed/stolen you would be legally required to return the funds regardless of you having supplied the goods. So while it may not be automatic, that still won't see you any better off.

      • No - that would be the banks problem.

        • +1

          unless something has changed that is incorrect it is legally your problem as you are now the victim as you were paid with stolen money. You don't get to profit from the crime.

  • -2

    Ask to pay by crypto

  • -1

    I always do eBay over Facebook market place unless you have Yeezys for sale then Facebook given mark Zuckerberg community will pay anything.

    It's in the name EPluckerberg Asports

  • +1

    LOL

  • -3

    Never do pay ID, coming from someone who has been scammed before.

    Ways to get scammed:
    1. Fake pay id email. Someone ask for your pay ID email so they can send you a phishing email.
    2. Charge back, if it’s first time transfer, there will be 24 hr wait time if it’s a large amount. This is the bank’s doing trying to prevent scams.
    3. Some ppl will try to get your phone number.
    4. Hard to reverse payment, the bank ain’t gonna give a damn about your 100$

    • If you have been scammed before with PayID, definitely don't use PayID. Cash only. Even better, bartering.

      For anyone else who is literate enough not to fall for phishing scam email etc, PayID is just fine. The guy comes to collect the goods, pays with payID before your eyes, you see the money hitting your bank, the guys goes with the goods, you say goodbye. Done.

  • Payid is simple and straight, cant go wrong with it, meet them ask them to payid, check the balance and hand the item.

  • This thread has more action than Casino Royale.

  • PayID is generally ok but there is a PayID scam going round at the moment. Just use your common sense people

  • +2

    Holy hell, some of y'all are being absolutely ridiculous…

    What fraudster is going after a $200 purchase?? It's not worth the time or the risk. $200 is unlikely to cover a single rent payment and barely gets you a cart of groceries. If you're going to commit a criminal offence like fraud, it's not going to involve getting a parcel delivered to their own residential address, nor is it going to involve a digital communication chain for the selling to give to the police, nor is it going to be for something as low value as a $200 gpu

    Plenty of reasons why a buyer might want to do PayID and might want delivery. Classic case would be no car to pick-up or to go to an ATM. Next best case would be time is money to the individual. Third best reason is public transport is a PITA on a weekend and/or the weather is garbage. I could list ten more reasons very easily too (maybe he's disabled, maybe he's waiting on parcels and can't leave the house, maybe he has anxiety out of the house, maybe he's lazy, maybe he values his weekend and wants to maximise it, etc. etc.)

    OP, you're being overly cautious. Not surprised by the quality of replies on here either - especially the bloke who reckons he'd "lose weeks of sleep" over a $200 loss….

    • +1

      Your "plenty of reasons" is some of the worst entitled crap I have ever read. Op owes this guy nothing.

      • Must be your first day reading I guess - plenty of reasons buyers don't want to pay cash in 2023, all of which are valid in a given context

        Of course OP doesn't owe anything. Care to explain why you've brought up something so irrelevant to the rest of your bad reply?

        Edit: Oh. I see you work at Coles and didn't want to get vaccinated. Makes sense now

        • My vaccination status upset you did it? Bet you creep through people's Facebook pages too. Nice work., Not weird at all.

          • @pufffdragon: Not in the slightest. It's just a dumb status to have, and it speaks volumes about the type of person you are and the types of beliefs you likely hold

            Well it's hardly creeping to glance three pieces of content you've posted on a public forum, but okay sure, I've been known to stalk a Facebook profile or two - gives good context into the sort of person one is based off the ideas they openly share. So would any potential employer as well as your partner's family members and friends

  • +1

    It's 2023. Unless you wash windows at the traffic lights, cash can fk off. PayID is perfectly safe.

    • Best comment so far ☝🏻

  • +2

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/comment/12119445/redir

    Here's someone who's been stung by pay ID and has a good tip for people who you use.

  • +4

    Had a person of a very particular race request to meet and buy a phone off me. In hindsight, he was extremely shady said he would transfer me immediately but had to text his brother to do it. Saw a transfer come in and I assumed it was payid. Only after I gave him the phone and we had left did I realise it was some sort of ANZ ATM deposit that had not cleared (was pending )that got reversed the next day… lesson learned:
    1. Double check that you can move the funds to a seperate account before handing over good. 2. Don't deal with a particular type of people (not gonna name them cause you will all call me racist)

    • -2

      Sounds like you are racist, there's bad and good people in each race.

      • +1

        Nope not at all. Simply stating facts. There's more bad than good in them.

  • This is why I still use ebay, not only do they manage the payment so both parties feel safe, but they allow the payer to pay via multiple methods, and they can manage refunds if required. Not only that but you can also make someone pay for the item when they commit to buy, so you aren't getting stuffed around as much by low ballers and tyre kickers

    • you obviously have been very lucky. The number of scams for payments through ebay could fill an encyclopedia as could the amount of complaints about how appalling paypal and ebay are at dealing with them.

      • EBay is crap with customer service, and some of their methods are questionable, but Facebook is doing almost nothing for anyone with marketplace. It wouldnt be hard for Zuck to add some functionality to marketplace to facilitate things properly for a small fee, but he's too busy making legless avatars.

        EBay also charges like a wounded bull. If you are selling something you owned and got sick of its one thing to charge what they do, but if you are a dealer you can't sell expensive products without big marl ups due to their taxing you on the whole amount instead of the profit.

  • -2

    Common scam.
    I looked into it when I had the same happened to me.
    someone way too keen for PayID without a valid reason.

    PayID payments technically can't be technically withdrawn unless it's an honest mistake and both parties agree
    it turns out the scam is not sophisticated.
    they send you a PayID fake email for accidentally more than you requested, that hasn't cleared.
    and they ask you to refund the difference. cue in sense of urgency, need the money for hospital bill, etc.

    as others said, cash in hand is the best and only way to conduct these transactions.

    • There are two types of people falling for this kind of scam
      1. Very old people or people with some diagnosed mental disabilities. These people should not buy/sell online , if they do, it should be definitely cash only and hopefully someone able supervising them
      2. Someone with no mantal disability but who is stupid as a brick.

      If one feel they belong to any of the above category, they should definitely go with cash.

  • Theres a couple of dirty PayID scams going arouind at the moment, and come in two forms;

    1. Is a Data collection scam. They tell you they are either away, too far, or on holidays and are either buying something for their kid/grandson, or even just getting a friend who lives closer to collect. they say they want to prepay using PayID. You give them the phone number, then they tell you something along the lines of "oh it looks like i need your email address as well" for reasons x y or z, common one is because their bank is a business account. If you have a public FB profile, they all of a sudden have your name, phone number, date of birth, and any other personal details you share on FB.

    2. Is similar to 1. They give you the same reason and ask to pre pay using payID. They then tell you or even send you a screenshot saying that the money is withheld for security reasons, and that you have to transfer $500 or some other figure to verify your account, and they will release to you the payID payment as well as the money you just transferred.

    I'm ok with accepting PayID as long as it is done in front of me, not pre-paid, and the money has cleared in my account. and i typically warn peopole that yes they can pay by payid when they get here, but unless it clears, they aint leaving with anything,, and will have to come back.

  • Pretty sure payID is safe and not reversable. Once it goes through, it's done.

    Usually it's instant as well if it's an okso transaction. It also gives each of you your names for transparency.

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