PLEASE READ For God's Sake READ THIS and Don't Get Ripped OFF

[pirate ammo]

some on this site post in the classifieds ONLY,,PERIOD.

 

[Tommie]

some on this site post in the classifieds ONLY,,PERIOD.

No kidding. IMO way too many sellers with zero (or nearly zero) forum posts but dozens of sales. Maybe that’s the original intent of this site but it seems like opportunism to me. But then again, that horse has been beaten to death.

 

[Drop Port]

Maybe I don't over think this crap, if I can't afford to lose it I don't sell it. If I don't know you and not close enough to meet in person, you need a reputable reference to vouch for you. I ship it you tell me it's good then send me the money. Never been ripped off. If I can't sell to accurate shooters its time to find a new hobby.

 

[antelopedundee]

Sounds like an opportunity for someone to start an escrow service.

 

[hogpatrol]

FYI, When someone posts a photo of their item for sale, do a reverse image search. If it shows up somewhere else it could be a red flag. Can also be done on a smartphone. More info here:

https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/1325808?co=GENIE.Platform=Desktop&hl=en&oco=1

 

[onelastshot]

Eliminate the classifieds , not more selling on the board.

Eliminating the classifieds is not a solution. That's basically giving in to the guy and saying you win. As others have mentioned taking a few common sense steps such as getting the persons phone number and contacting them will alleviate 99% of potential scammers. Making the seller provide a recent picture with a piece of paper showing the day and date is another excellent way of avoiding being scammed. When you get lazy and leave your guard down that you leave yourself open to being scammed.

 

[Knotwild]

Sounds like an opportunity for someone to start an escrow service.

Granted, they are not that easy to find. I have personally used Tradiator, which I think is based in FL. But their website isn't working. Excellent and cheap. Recommended by Gunbroker.

Here's another.

https://www.elite2a.com/pages/escrow-services

It could be a situation that is as simple as someone with good intentions dying or having something incapacitate them. So, on a big purchase, I'll go escrow.

And you should too.

 

[PRR1957]

Guys,

It happened. A Forum member disregarded ALL my advice and got ripped off by a scammer to the tune of $1400+ on a scope purchase. This crime was committed by member theallcineyes who had lurked for over a year, posting a few dozen meaningless posts. I believe the criminal was a male, with a female accomplice. This is a federal felony and law enforcement will be alerted.

Problem 1 -- Greed and Foolishness
The buyer thought he was getting a brand new Nightforce 5.5-22x56mm NXS for $1400 in perfect condition. This scope has a street price around $2100.00.

This buyer should have suspected something was wrong from the get-go. Greed made him foolish.

If the price is too good to be true... it's probably a scam!!!

Problem 2 -- NO Trader History
If a seller has ZERO Trader History be very, very, very cautious. Call them on the phone, track their location on Google Maps. DEMAND custom photos of the product. Ask for references. Verify the references. Ask for Shooting Club affiliations. This scam seller had zero Trader History.

Problem 3 -- NO PHONE TALKING
Scammers will avoid talking on the phone. For many reasons. First, they may not speak English well. Second, they will not be able to answer simple questions such as "Does the scope have caps?" and "WHAT IS THE SERIAL NUMBER?".

I have told you all before, over and over. On a high-priced transaction...

NO VOICE PHONE COMMUNICATION ... NO DEAL
REPEAT -- NO VOICE CALL, NO DEAL!!!!!!!!!!!
Don't be lazy, pick up the damn phone!

Abide by this admonition guys!!! Remember, most scammers won't actually talk to you.

Problem 4 -- NO CUSTOM PHOTOS

Guys, listen. Your #1 best protection is to require the seller to send CUSTOM NEW UNIQUE photos of the product. Any scammer can grab a photo off eBay or Gunbroker. Tell the seller to "tie a yellow ribbon" around the scope, or put the rifle on the hood of their truck with a cowboy hat on top. Anything that requires actual possession of the item and immediate response to your request.

DEMAND CUSTOM PHOTOS!
DEMAND CUSTOM PHOTOS!
This will eliminate 90% of Scammers.

Problem 5 -- Falling for the Con Job

This seller claimed he had lost a member of his family and that's why he was selling the scope so cheap. It was a BIG, FAT LIE aimed at deflecting the skepticism of the buyer, and it worked. Don't fall for tricks like this. Remember if the Deal Seems Too Good to Be True, It Probably IS!


--------

ADMIN Comment -- What a Quick Background Check Revealed
After learning of this transaction I spend over one hour of my time talking with the buyer and background-checking the seller who claimed to be "Mack Shawna". In fact there was a person, a female, named "Shawna Mack" living in Wilmington, Delaware, where the money was sent. She had previously been arrested in Philadelphia in 2002 for forgery.

>>> Do a Background Check if big bucks are involved and there is no trader history.

You can sign up for Spokeo.com for under $14 for one month. That will let you search email, social media sites, residence records, job records, and criminal records. A three-minute Spokeo.com search revealed that "Mack Shawna" in Wilmington, Delaware was actually "Shawna Mack", and the address for the check was a high-crime ghetto area. I suspect the real scammer, member "theallcineyes", was a man and Shawna was his accomplice. He told the buyer to make the money order out to "Mack Shawna", knowing the woman could cash it.

Here is just part of what Spokeo.com revealed (in 3 minutes) about Shawna Mack aka "Mack Shawna":

View attachment 1111403

View attachment 1111404


Would you buy a rifle scope from this person ^^ ?

FYI. I found this guy “theallcineyes” in “Main Message Board” page#18, on May 18-2019 were he started a thread called “Hiding in plane sight”. Seems to me he was getting rather brazen.
Thought you would want to know.
I’m member of two other gun type forums of which I’ll inform those members to look out for this thief.

 

[mike a]

One thing I'd like to say here regarding payment. If at all possible, use PayPal goods and services for purchases. Yes, it costs a few bucks( 3% ) more depending on purchase price of item, but the piece of mind you get in return is priceless. I was scammed on a less than 100.00 item. The seller asked that I use PP family & friends so I did. Not knowing the purchase wasn't insured by PP using F&F. I now strictly use G&S when using PP. If PP is linked to an account at your bank, the 3% fee is waved. Money orders and checks are as bad as PP F&F. Once they are cashed, you lose. Just be smarter than the other guy. 99.9% of the sellers/buyer's here are completely honest and safe.

So, PayPal f&f is not insured ( you can still get scammed) and use G&S linked to your bank and they waive the 3% free. Very good info! Thanx Mike

 

[antelopedundee]

So, PayPal f&f is not insured ( you can still get scammed) and use G&S linked to your bank and they waive the 3% free. Very good info! Thanx Mike

PP F & F is not eligible for PP protection tho I have heard of an instance or 2 where they did offer some relief to a person who lost $$$ using it. I don't believe they waive any bank account fees if you use the goods and services option. Sometimes a willingness to split the fee is a good compromise.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Paypal f&f is for giving money to friends and family, therefore is not for purchasing and not purchase protected since its not a purchase. I take it as payment or send as payment to folks i know and when im not worried about scams

 

[300_whisper]

PayPal won’t cover you for firearm related purchases anyway.

 

[antelopedundee]

Paypal f&f is for giving money to friends and family, therefore is not for purchasing and not purchase protected since its not a purchase. I take it as payment or send as payment to folks i know and when im not worried about scams

As do I whenever possible. The fee can be the difference between a gain or a loss for stuff like gold or silver bullion. Some folks have scads of friends. Fortunately I've never been the stiffer or the stiffee!

 

[Artisan]

I am thinking of limiting sales, as least for firearms, actions, and optics, to Paying Members Only

Or on any big ticket items, bring in 5 members of your choosing, who will ask the questions, get the answers, helping to conclude an honest transaction or scare the vermin back down their hole.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Yeah you got the guys who don’t contribute that just come here to sell, and the guys who don’t contribute who come here to steal a deal. Id even vote for non-paying members to be completed restricted from participating in the classified ads. Don’t know how many times I have been watching for specific items to come up for sale and as soon as they do, some non-paying member lays claim to it in the blink of an eye. Great for the seller but it sucks for everyone who contributes and is looking to buy at fair prices from site members. Just my opinion.

 

[XL105]

Alright alright I will become a paid member again (have been in the past just not consistently). I will also start to contribute more on forums.
I get lil irritated watching threads go off the rails. So I mostly just do my research and keep my thoughts to myself.
But I Love this site for buying things. It is by far the safest site I use. It’s a Great site for $25 a year what the heck.

 

[DngBat7]

or just let classifieds be free for members and charge non members a small fee for listing and buying. Maybe it would make it easier for boss to keep scammers at bay if forum boss has their payment info. Site also makes extra money. But the smart ones make it through the cracks I guess anyway.

 

[M-61]

I am thinking of limiting sales, as least for firearms, actions, and optics, to Paying Members Only

It is, unfortunately, what I decided to do after being scammed by a site member (poptex40?). I failed to heed the Boss's clear instructions and I paid $100 for my stupidity.
I have a whole slew of reasons for what I did but but you should never have to talk yourself into the right decision.

 

[hogpatrol]

My 2¢, Leave everything the way it is. The Forum Boss should NOT have to babysit grown adults to keep them from getting scammed. A few months back, I got a reply to a WTB ad. It had more red flags than a wide load on the interstate. Checked his posts, a bunch of dumb comments from a know-nothing. Long story short, reported his/her PM reply and that scammer was banned.

Edit: With over 55k members, you can bet at least 1% are scammers.

 

[farmerjohn]

My 2¢, Leave everything the way it is. The Forum Boss should NOT have to babysit grown adults to keep them from getting scammed. A few months back, I got a reply to a WTB ad. It had more red flags than a wide load on the interstate. Checked his posts, a bunch of dumb comments from a no-nothing. Long story short, reported his/her PM reply and that scammer was banned.

Edit: With over 55k members, you can bet at least 1% are scammers.

One of the things that make the classifieds work is anyone can buy, but IMHO I think you should have to be at least a silver member to sell anything.... John