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craigslist scam through ebay Purchase Protection Program?

I found a new 32gb iphone 3G S on craigslist in my local city, Austin. I contacted the seller and said he said he was in the UK and that I could pay him through the eBay "Purchase Protection Program." I looked up the ebay PPP and found that the ebay PPP was discontinued in 2007. http://pages.ebay.com/help/tp/esppp-process.html Contained in the email is this: "Step 2. Go to nearest Western Union Office. Ask for a Send Money form, fill it and make the payment using our employer details listed below ( Transfer the money to our employer using his name and address )." That makes it seem legit, but the whole process still seems kind of sketchy. Also within the email, there is a link taking me to truste.org. I clicked the link and it told me this was a legit authorized retailer. I explored the site a bit and found all kinds of customer protection programs and information. So is this a scam or real? Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks

Public Comments

1. Its a scam. Scammers always use western union.
2. 100% SCAM. ANY transaction involving Western Union is 100%scam. coz thats the only way a transaction cannot be reversed. I've been looking for iphone since about a week and have looked at 100's of adds on craigslist, ebay etc. etc. many many other places. I figured out all the possible ways a person can be cheated and this is one of the best ways. This looks really legitimate, by sending the user agreement etc. etc. crap. but its totally fake, i got the same email for the 32Gb iphone white / black saying he has 6 pieces left. starting with $420, he came down to 700 for 2 pieces. if theres an ebay agreement, for a 32 gb phone he could get easily over $1.2k. why would he give it for cheap, and that too through western union. Ebay doesnt keep any custody of phones or anything. i asked him, if i can pick it locally, i'm located at the same place where he stays, and he wouldnt agree. "Business trip" crap. BEWARE. thanks. purav.