PayPal
Complaint 217724 Details

I posted my Samsung Galaxy Nexus on Craigslist for $150 and Mathew Kelvin responded saying he wanted to buy the phone and pay for shipping to Nigeria. I opened up a PayPal account as requested from Mathew so i could receive money that way. I went to a post office and sent it Registered Mail, in a small soft shipping envelope for $26.29 and then PayPal said i would get my money within 24 hours after i sent scanned receipts. i did so and sent tracking number as well. then got an email from Paypal the next day saying it would take another 48 hours for my money to be transferred to my account due to upgrading their server and technical difficulties. i went negative in my bank account of the delay of payment so 34 dollars added to 26.29, made me negative around 58 dollars. then PayPal emailed me on march 1st saying: We at PayPal will like to bring to your notice that the total funds of $430.00 USD will be credited into your PayPal account in the next 24hrs.
Our Customer has added this funds because of the import policy in Nigeria ,The item you sent was held by custom in Nigeria and the custom in Nigeria are demanding for $120.00 USD for the custom bill.Thus, go to any Western Union location nearer to you and send the sum requested. As soon as we receive the MTCN control number and the required information,Your Money will be credited instantly and a compensation fee from PayPal $50.00 USD so the total sum of $430.00 USD will be credited to your account immediately you send the MTCN number to us and we forward it to the Nigeria Custom. expecting that i would be transferred the money within 24 hours like the email said, i went even more negative in addition to the 58 dollars. i sent 130.50 (because of the western union fee to the 120 i sent) and it made me stress even more because even though i sent the 130.50, it was on a weekend so they didn't process it until monday. i got 2 days worth of insufficient funds fees (34.00) from Chase, my bank and also my car insurance payment took out (not important). March 4th (3 days later, on a Monday)i got another email from PayPal saying: We at PayPal like to inform you that the Western Union payment details has been sent to the Nigeria Custom immediately it was received from you and it had been picked up and we have just contacted the Nigeria Custom and Excise today regarding the release of the package. Therefore, We are made to understand that you are to pay the sum of $240.00 USD for VAT( Value Added Tax) and $600.00 USD for IMPORTATION CHARGES as this is to complete clearance and release of the package you've sent to Nigeria, so if the money can be sent today, likewise your account will be credited today as stated that the item will be release immediately this payment is received and confirmed.

So you are required to go to any western Union Outlet and send the Sum of $840.00 USD to the same information you sent the previous payment, and your funds will reflect immediately with the sum of $1,720.00 USD , this money has been charged from the buyer's account and has added to the amount that is to be credited in your account today including the compensation fee of $450.00 USD as you shown in the total amount that will be credited into your account above .

PayPal informed me that Nigeria Customs wanted 840.00 for the cellphone to be released to the buyers family. I was so frustrated. i did not have that kind of money even though Mathew Kelvin pitched in 300 dollars (which to this day, he keeps making my phone battery with phone calls and text messages saying i owe that regardless.) Two days go by and PayPal and Mathew Kelvin both are badgering me and threatening me and begging me to pay the remaining balance of 540 dollars. The emails started to get harsher as Mathew Kelvin complained to PayPal because i stopped contact with him and Paypal threatened to report me and my information to FBI. All their emails were suspicious, full of typos and making fun of me. For Example: This PayPal® payment has been deducted from the account of Mr Mathew Kelvin the buyer of your item and it has been "APPROVED" but we have seen that you are not being taking us serious and we see because we respond to your mail without any delay that is why you have the guts to have call us a scam, well finally tell us here when you will be getting the payment to us and if you don't want to pay anymore kindly let us to know from you now before we forward your details to the mayor of the city where you reside and direct them to close your bank account until you have been jailed and all your properties will be confiscated by the FBI.

So altogether, i stopped communications with both parties.
Mathew Kelvin and Paypal. I honestly dont have the money for this. Thanks.