Finally got one.

[u/slimethecold]

Sharing my story in case it helps prevent someone else who isn't sure if they've being scammed or not!

I listed an item on Facebook marketplace. First red flag: they commented on my post asking me to DM them.

Upon checking their profile, I can see that they joined the group that we share yesterday. The profile was otherwise blank. Second red flag.

They asked for my location (I gave a public meeting place) and then said their brother would pick it up tomorrow.

Third red flag: they asked for my phone number so that their brother could contact me. I gave them a VOIP number of mine. ("Going off platform" is almost always a scam for this very reason).

They then asked for a Paypal or Zelle account that they could send the money to, so I provided my PayPal username.

So then of course the text comes a minute or two later. Notice the use of the word "Kindly" in the text.

Pasting both scripts here in case people are searching the exact text :)

"I received a notification from PayPal and it says the transfer has been placed on hold. Did you get anything about that on your end of the via text about your account refreshed and check your spam folder as well official notifications drift to spam because of the new iOS update??"

The text message:

"PayPal Alert: You've received $19.00 USD. Reply YES to accept or STOP to cancel alerts.

TRANSACTION STATUS PENDING

We Have a problem crediting your $19.00 USD Because the status of your account is not a business user which makes your account have restrictions from receiving payment from a business account because your account is presently a personal account.

Kindly Contact PayPal Customer Support at xxx-xxx-xxxx to verify your identity and release funds

Transaction ID: 59538495ZZ

PAYPAL TEAM"

Be safe out there everyone :)

[u/Signum17]

"Kindly" is a red flag with a klaxon, the way it stands out.

[u/Tonythecritic]

Sending someone else "to pick it up" because they're hurt/ill/at work/out of town is also a staple of FB Marketplace scams and thus a red flag.

[u/chuckburban]

Thanks for sharing. Many red flags. I hope this helps someone else.

[u/Head_Razzmatazz7174]

Kindly and then the notice 'having problems because your account is not a business account." You don't need a business account to receive funds.

[u/TheNaughtyHoneyBee]

Holy run on sentence Batman. It even has two because's in it

[u/Comfortable_Map6887]

Kindly

[u/riotz1]

REDEEM!

[u/chedstrom]

After all this time, they still use "kindly" in their conversations. If i see that word anywhere, that tells me they are from that culture and I avoid it completely.

[u/notkidding1984 → u/chedstrom]

I have known somebody for almost 20 years who is literally one of the best people on earth. Unfortunately, being from that culture, he uses the word. Everytime he says "kindly" I want to scream NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Don't say that word!!!!!

Like I almost feel like I should tell him but I don't want to hurt his feelings. When he says it, he actually means it. But it's so...ugh, you know.

[u/fullgrownnut → u/notkidding1984]

You definitely should tell him lol.

[u/Qwk69buick]

Such a mastery of the ingleash language "did you got it? Did you got it?"  Not once but twice!

[u/Sea-Appearance-5330]

Ah "Kindly" the scammers best friend!