I always thought a cleared echeque via paypal meant the payment was  safe. Echeque clears, send out the goods. Paypal can reverse/refund a cleared payment.

If the owner of the funds states their account/card/money was fraudulently used and if paypal rules in their favour the paypal cleared echeque payment will be reversed.

Seller ends up out of pocket. Payment is taken away, product has been send, plus also out of pocket for the postage paid to send the item.

Paypal is easy and convenient but it does not automatically mean safe or safer. The fact that a paypal payment has cleared can be meaningless.

Have a lovely day - sunflowercastle