Explain how this scam works.....

So a lady on the Seeking Arrangements board started chatting, told me she is coming to Texas in a couple of weeks. Moved to WhatsApp
(always a warning sign) and we chat more. Not a lot of chat, but some then she asks for a favor. Uh Oh. She wants me to buy a limited edition mermaid something or other for her niece. It seems that they won't ship to Australia and they won't take Australian credit cards. So I should buy it and she will pick it up and pay me for it plus extra for my effort when she gets to Texas in two weeks.
Ok, I am sure it's a scam, think how big Texas is and the odds she will end up anywhere near Amarillo. What I can't figure out is what she could get out of it. Unless she is the one selling the mermaids I don't see how getting me to buy it is going to get her anything. Can someone explain it?

Your guess is as good as mine oldpun, these scams have gotten so ridiculous that they even sound dumb to a laymen. I would think you hit the nail on the head, she's the one selling this crap and gets the cash for it. Or some sort of a kickback. Or she/he/it is phishing for your info and gonna run with it. Who the hell knows.

Wait....won't ship to Australia and won't take an Australian credit card? So, she's coming to Texas from Australia? Lol

The story is she is an ICU nurse coming to Texas on an exchange program. First messages were pretty much what one would expect, mask rules, things opened or closed, etc.

Two possible scams here:

1) The site she's sending you to buy the mermaid will steal you credit card, address, identity, etc.

2) When you agree to make the purchase for you, she'll agree pre-pay you $200 or $300 for the transaction. This is where it gets weird.... she'll actually put a temporary deposit of $1,200 into your account. You'll see it. She'll call/email/text you crying about the mistake she made in paying you too much. She'll beg you to send her back $1,000 to make it equal out to what you agreed. Now the con.... when you send her back the $1,000 and it clears, she'll remove/cancel the temporary deposit of $1,200. You're out a solid $1k. She's out $0 because the deposit she made was never legit. This is a refund scam and it's widely used to con nice people that just want to help someone.

I’m with browser on this one

But more importantly a link to the profile?

And secondly oldpun I just noticed your from Amarillo we need to link up and exchange info

Trust your gut, not your cock.

SweetTemptress
https://members.seeking.com/member/6...a-efe8eb7418a4

Says profile isn't available

Heh, worked when I put it in, gone now. Hope she got banned, but of course will be back under a new name in no time.