Paypal has been around for a while and lots of people use it. You may have used it yourself with no ill effects.
I read the TOS for paypal and decided I would not touch it for love nor money. (I am an ex-banker) This company is NOT a bank and if the service works...fine, if not... you will get the shaft. It is set up so that no matter what happens, Paypal will win.
I am NOT saying don't use it (well, yeah I am), but make sure that you cover your @ss as much as possible. Get a credit card with a low limit for www transactions if you do business on the web. Do not allow Paypal (or anyone..Bell, Hydro etc) access to your bank accounts. Have an account for Paypal and empty it IMMEDIATELY upon receipt of funds.
Also try reading this
http://paypalsucks.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=1529&fid=6It sure doesn't inspire confidence, if this guy is on the level. And I must admit it sure doesn't sound too far fetched to me.
Any honest seller should be perfectly happy with a bank draft or postal money order. Fraud with one of these will result in the bank or government chasing the scammer down for you. Just because you are honest, don't fall into the belief that everyone is.
Gary