SCAMS - You need to read this!!!!!

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slow is slow said:
One thing I try to do if there is the least bit of thought that it's a scammer is to get them to send me a picture of the item with their hand doing something in the photo, so for instance i'll ask someone to take a picture of the item while throwing a piece sign or flipping me the bird with their off hand. Take a picture of the gun with a spoon touching the hammer etc. If that test is passed, get them to do the same thing with their ID before you send money. I've only had one person who I KNOW wasn't a scammer refuse to do this, I told him I'd give him 10 extra bucks on a $100 dollar item and got the picture back in less than ten minutes. If they can access a forum and private message me, but can't text or message me a picture, it's probably not worth losing money over.
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I been asking similar things to known scammers for a while, interesting what they will put together in MS paint lol
Ive seen some TERRIBLE photoshop jobs, or just pictures taken from wikipedia
 
Lots of new members. Let’s be vigilant. 🤓
 
Shotgunworld.com requires a photo of the item with a current date and username and/or email on paper included with the item. Not 100% but requires some sophisticated photoshop to fool you and most scammers aren't that motivated.
 
It appears most of “our” scammers just send a PM with a message that’s too good to be true if considered realistically.
 
I’ve bought and sold several guns across the nation and any I suspect is a scam either from an individual or the ATF I ask them for the FFL dealer’s number they are using and contact them to verify their intent as well as any traps you may fall into by dealing in an unknown jurisdiction. I had one kid in NYC that I would have bet was a scammer but in the end came to find him a straight up individual, just took a couple of calls and all went well.
 
We dispatched another scammer tonight. His/her MO was exactly as outlined in the original post here. Trolling the Wanted section and trying to put us in touch with someone, in another state, who just happens to have the wanted item at 1/2 or 1/3 what it’s actually worth.

Folks, please be vigilant!!!!!
 
So I'm new here and joined initially to post an item for sale so what I'm telling you would have impacted my ability to do that, lol but I'd have understood.

I'm the admin on a large 350,000+ member automotive forum and I'd guess I ban at least 25 scammers each week from our classifieds. There is a huge influx recently of them over the last couple of years that join to respond to want to buy (WTB) threads. They locate pictures of the item being asked for and text or email it offsite to whomever takes their bait.

To combat that, we created three different member categories that get automatically progressed.
1) A 'just joined' member group that doesn't get any PM capability so they can't PM their scam spam. They need to stick around a few weeks and make some productive posts in the main forums before getting any PM capability (classified posts do not increment their post count). They also don't get signature capabilities because of some spammers inserting stuff there, but that's a different issue.
2) A new member group who gets a small limited PM box, but they can't start sale threads in the classifieds until they have 30 productive posts and 30 days membership OR 6 months membership and 5 posts (for the lurkers)
3) Regular members

So group #1 now makes the scammers post everything in the open because they can't PM unless they are really committed to creating a fake persona (most aren't). Since the scammers only post in the classifieds their profile also shows they have '0' posts which makes them easier to spot and more quickly raises alarm bells for buyers.

We've put up a warning sticky in the classifieds for WTB sellers as below.

Not sure if any of this makes sense or useful here but thought I'd share. When I ban I also search the person's email and if I see them posting scams on other sites I'll often join and report their post and give them a heads up. Probably 50pct of the time I get hits - they're doing it across many different forums both automotive, camera forums, etc etc. and I'd guess on social media as well (but don't search there).


If you are posting a Want to Buy (WTB) thread please consider this safety tip.

Recently, we've had a number of reported scammers sending private messages and replying to our members offering a connection that has one or direct sale to you.

Typically those members have joined recently, have no posts and have no history on our community. If you search the email address given, you also often find threads on other sites where they've been reported as scamming or ripping people off.

Example:

"Email George in Phoenix ,He has Lexus Gs350 FSport Wheels Wheels and Tires/Axles .Email him at [email protected]"

"Email Rentaro in Los Angeles, He has Lexus Gs350 FSport Wheels for sale. Here's his email [email protected]"

“Hello i know someone who have it message him here andrew999 @ gmail . Com”

IF YOU GET ONE OF THESE PMs, DO NOT RESPOND. Please report the PM using the little triangle exclamation icon or forward the PM to DaveGS4.

Same request if they reply to your WTB thread, report it so we can review and ban the scammer.

thank you!
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Oh, and I'd suggest a warning sticky get put in Wanted classified forums about WTB scammers; I suspect not a lot of folks regularly check into this section to read the warning.
 
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Pink_Vapor said:
Gee... I hope it wasn't that nice feller with the 7.62 ammo giveaway.
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Isn’t he kin to one of them Nigerian princes who keep wanting to give me money!?
 
There isn’t many of us original old timers that I wouldn’t send anything to and have faith that they’d send it or the payment or whatever. Most of you guys I’d trust with anything I have. Trust and integrity are wonderful things that when lost, they never come back.
 
DaveInCLT said:
Oh, and I'd suggest a warning sticky get put in Wanted classified forums about WTB scammers; I suspect not a lot of folks regularly check into this section to read the warning.
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I was thinking of doing just that. You’ve pushed me over the finish line. ;)
 
Thanks for looking out for us. Another nice tool for all of us, is to be sure we are giving each other positive feedback when we have a good exchange. That at least creates some history for us.
 
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I just got an email from Samuel Jolly ([email protected]) with a long list of guns and ammo for sale. A quick search shows it's a scam that's making the rounds. It's a shame, too. He had 2 Post 86 dealer sample Glock 18's for $1500 each.
 
I am new here myself. I just found out about this site when a member invited me over from another forum. I would assume that like myself, members here are also members of another forum. Given this forum is for two neighboring states, it shouldn't be too hard to find a member close to the not well known seller's location who would be willing to drop by and see the merchandise first hand for you. Really, who doesn't like looking at guns?
 
Please read this!!!!!!
 
Scammers be scamming.
 
This may seem like common sense but here goes.

Want to avoid being scammed? Do not send money to someone that you don’t know for a mail order item.

No matter how badly you want the item and no matter how good the deal.

Do not accept money electronically for an item you have for sale from someone you don’t know.

It’s really that simple. Any time you violate these two simple rules you put yourself at risk of being scammed.

It sucks but there it is.
 
I have, a number of times, sent money to people here with guns I wanted, and then gone by later to pick them up. I have also delivered guns to people and let them pay me later. I have done the latter multiple times.

HOWEVER, I have NEVER EVER done this without contacting other folks on the forum to attest to their character, or done it with people I have personally met. I know that one person was able to call a mod when I showed up to buy a handgun and had literally walked out with the money,but forgot my billfold with my NC ID and permit. He called the person, who testified that I was a lunatic, but a reliable lunatic and that yes, I had a permit and he had seen it :) . (I later emailed him a copy of these, something I almost never do.....)

That is the advantage to being "known" by others here. It is kind of a loose knit family. You can contact "family members" who will vouch.
Mods are great, and aggressive in swinging the ban hammer on scamsters. I only wish they would let me play around with them some before they get rid of them, but I understand the need to protect the tribe from these folks.

The price of getting big, I suppose. Be smart and careful
 
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I always wonder why the seller is presumed to be the honest member in a transaction. Why do I have to send them payment and them wait, why can’t they send me the mechandise and then wait for payment? Maybe I’ll offer to buy something that I don’t really want from a new guy and make that a condition, maybe 3 day inspection and then I send pmt or return the merch.
 
JimB said:
I always wonder why the seller is presumed to be the honest member in a transaction. Why do I have to send them payment and them wait, why can’t they send me the mechandise and then wait for payment? Maybe I’ll offer to buy something that I don’t really want from a new guy and make that a condition, maybe 3 day inspection and then I send pmt or return the merch.
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This is why for most expensive things I will go out of my way to drive and pick it up inperson.
 
JimB said:
I always wonder why the seller is presumed to be the honest member in a transaction. Why do I have to send them payment and them wait, why can’t they send me the mechandise and then wait for payment? Maybe I’ll offer to buy something that I don’t really want from a new guy and make that a condition, maybe 3 day inspection and then I send pmt or return the merch.
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Well, historically the merchant has been stationary while the buyer is mobile and has no investment in maintaining good standing in the community. So the way of things stuck and here we are.
 
Folks,

Several members received PMs overnight from aaron987. One of you recognized the scam and clicked on Report to send the message to Staff. aaron987 was banned shortly thereafter. Please be vigilant and Report strange stuff.

Thanks and happy holidays!!!!

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was there a pic of the gun? I would like to use it in my negotiations with Jeremy. Sounds like a great guy. If I can get HIM to send ME any money, will I get a plaque or an award?
 
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OldNascar said:
I’ve bought and sold several guns across the nation and any I suspect is a scam either from an individual or the ATF I ask them for the FFL dealer’s number they are using and contact them to verify their intent as well as any traps you may fall into by dealing in an unknown jurisdiction. I had one kid in NYC that I would have bet was a scammer but in the end came to find him a straight up individual, just took a couple of calls and all went well.
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The FFl thing is not a sure bet. I had a FFl off GB take me for several hundred a couple years ago. He got banned and reported to the authorities that handle such things and I got bumpkus. GB offered condolences and assured me it was all on me and they held no liability. I used to get a good bit of stuff off them but was offended by their total butt covering attitude so they dont see any business from me any more.

R
 
New members, please read this!
 
Someone almost got burned tonight. Fortunately, since the deal seemed too good to be true (brand new member with zero posts who responded to a legitimate WTB with a crazy cheap offer if paid by Zelle or PayPal), our member was cautious enough to ask the staff’s opinion. The scammer was banned immediately.

PLEASE BE VIGILANT!!!!!!!
 
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