PayPal provides you safety only when you deal in E-bay. However it is a bit safer if you combine PayPal with credit card, but even so there is still a chance for being scammed.
The safest method so far is the combination of a commercial payment method (T/T, L/C) and a third-party verification and supervision service.
The best an safe methods for payment is L/C. There is minimum chance for being Scammed. In my experience T/T through bank is not safe and If there is any midiator (reconised Agent) then T/T also safe.
L/C is best for high value transactions. The buyer has to pay for the service though, it does not come free. Some banks charge (on a general basis) more than $200 just to open it, and about $100 to amend it every time, so if the transaction is just small, then there it's too costly and time consuming.
Paypal is at least universally recognized and accepted.