About a month ago I found an ITR head on thepartstrader for cheap ($1000) and I jumped on the opportunity. I should've realized it was a little low in price, but I wanted the part. I sent emails, got the person's address, talked to them on the phone, and then sent the money. There was an odd thing- the seller claimed he was on assignment and couldn't be reached at home, but he'd brought the head with him. Kind of odd in retrospect to lug around a 75 pound head, but it wasn't ridiculous. I sent money via Paypal, with my credit card because I wanted to be able to chargeback in case he screwed me and Paypal screwed me. I sent the money, he claimed he was having trouble getting it into his account, and the last email said he was shipping and would send UPS #'s. The #'s and the head never came and I reported him.
Paypal apparently can only get funds back if they are still in the seller's Paypal account. I was furious when I heard this asI knew that the scammer put the money into his bank account since he waited a week before telling me that he was going to send the head in order for the funds to go into his account.
However, working at a mail order business last year I learned that there is usually a 30 day period for credit card transactions to be finalize. This is what my boss told me, it may or may not be true in this case. I reported the fraud to Paypal within 15 days and they were able to get my money back.
So the moral is, get the info, be critical of who is selling (I always ask for pics/references if they aren't established), and be wary of sending money orders to people that aren't established.
Anyway, the scammer gave me the name of Tom Greenwich and his Paypal account was in the name of Ronald Hiniker. So avoid either one.

Be safe
Ben

 

good job for taking immediate action.
a lesson, if a deal is to goo to be true; then it's probably is.

 

Yeah I had that same type of thing happen to me too. I was trying to buy a tranny and the kid was kind of sketchy saying that his computer went down twice and wasn't able to email me. So right when I felt I had been screwed I email paypal about it. Then after the little wait period for paypal to check everything out I finally got my money back. I always hear of people having problems with paypal, but I haven't myself. I better knock on wood though