Forum Boss
Administrator
People, the scammers are pulling a new trick.
They are sending out texts and eMails posing as registered sellers on the Forum. They are sending these texts/emails to Forum members who have posted a WTB or indicated they want to buy something. The scammers get your email through the dark web or searches on your name -- or worse yet, if you have posted your phone # or email in forums.
The scammers are NOT registered members. They know we ban VPNs now, require password updates, and know that EVERY new signup is background checked by Forum Boss personally.
The new scam is they pretend to be legitimate members who have something for sale. They read old posts to get this info and claim to be a real Forum member who posted a legit advert in the past.
READ This NOW!
If someone sends you an unsolicited email or PM saying that he has what you want to buy, you MUST start with the assumption that he is a scammer. Ok, get ready to be jolted...
Tip 1: If he wants PayPal Friends and Family (F&F) -- Tell him to go F himself twice
Tip 2: If he wants payment via Zelle -- Tell him to go to Hell
Look, I know this is rude language-- but people need to learn that Zelle and F&F are huge red flags. I need these two tips to stick in your brains: "Zelle -- go to hell", "F&F -- F you 2"
NOTE: PayPal Goods and Services with FEES (not F&F) is OK (except for guns/ammo) and does have buyer protection. But you should not use ApplePay, GooglePay, Bitcoin, Zelle or Venmo F&F.
Tip 3: If a non-upgraded member sends you an unsolicited email or PM -- that violates Forum rules and you should be very, very suspicious. Start with the assumption that the sender is a criminal.
ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS with ANY purchase:
1. Do a VOICE phone call. VOICE!!!! Got that -- Voice!
I do not know a single forum member who made a voice call who got scammed.
2. Demand Custom Photos.
Tell seller to have something physically touching the sale item and have it placed in a new location.
Why? The scammers grab photos off Gunbroker and other places on the internet. If you say "put a red ribbon around that scope and then place it on a hat resting on the hood of your car" the scammers can't do that.
3. Conduct your deal communications ON THE FORUM initially. If somebody first attempts to contact you via email or cellphone text you should assume they are a scammer. Tell them to communicate via the Forum initially. Then confirm details with VOICE phone call.
4. Do NOT post your phone number or email address in open posts on this or any other Forum. We also suggest you do NOT list your birthdate.
5. If somebody appears to be a scammer, get all the information you can (name, email, phone number, address) and provide that information to Forum Boss.
6. If the guy gives you a phone number and there is a delay connecting or the area code does not match the claimed location, be very, very suspicious. And be wary of foreign accents.
7. Ask questions -- What rifles does the guy shoot? What is his shooting club? What high school did he go to? Who is his town's Mayor?
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In closing I want to repeat that I am not aware of a single member who got scammed who actually picked up the phone and TALKED to the seller. But I want everyone to be aware that the scammers are trying to get around our security protections by sending you emails and texts OFF SITE. Be wary.
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One last point, and this is NOT Forum specific. But I strongly recommend you permanently block ALL Zelle connections to your bank accounts. Zelle potentially allows bad guys to connect directly to your bank accounts. It is extremely dangerous because there are scams where bad guys pose as utilities or retailers wanting to send you a small refund. They fake the transaction -- it appears they are sending YOU money, when it fact they are withdrawing funds and they get your approval.
They are sending out texts and eMails posing as registered sellers on the Forum. They are sending these texts/emails to Forum members who have posted a WTB or indicated they want to buy something. The scammers get your email through the dark web or searches on your name -- or worse yet, if you have posted your phone # or email in forums.
The scammers are NOT registered members. They know we ban VPNs now, require password updates, and know that EVERY new signup is background checked by Forum Boss personally.
The new scam is they pretend to be legitimate members who have something for sale. They read old posts to get this info and claim to be a real Forum member who posted a legit advert in the past.
READ This NOW!
If someone sends you an unsolicited email or PM saying that he has what you want to buy, you MUST start with the assumption that he is a scammer. Ok, get ready to be jolted...
Tip 1: If he wants PayPal Friends and Family (F&F) -- Tell him to go F himself twice
Tip 2: If he wants payment via Zelle -- Tell him to go to Hell
Look, I know this is rude language-- but people need to learn that Zelle and F&F are huge red flags. I need these two tips to stick in your brains: "Zelle -- go to hell", "F&F -- F you 2"
NOTE: PayPal Goods and Services with FEES (not F&F) is OK (except for guns/ammo) and does have buyer protection. But you should not use ApplePay, GooglePay, Bitcoin, Zelle or Venmo F&F.
Tip 3: If a non-upgraded member sends you an unsolicited email or PM -- that violates Forum rules and you should be very, very suspicious. Start with the assumption that the sender is a criminal.
ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS with ANY purchase:
1. Do a VOICE phone call. VOICE!!!! Got that -- Voice!
I do not know a single forum member who made a voice call who got scammed.
2. Demand Custom Photos.
Tell seller to have something physically touching the sale item and have it placed in a new location.
Why? The scammers grab photos off Gunbroker and other places on the internet. If you say "put a red ribbon around that scope and then place it on a hat resting on the hood of your car" the scammers can't do that.
3. Conduct your deal communications ON THE FORUM initially. If somebody first attempts to contact you via email or cellphone text you should assume they are a scammer. Tell them to communicate via the Forum initially. Then confirm details with VOICE phone call.
4. Do NOT post your phone number or email address in open posts on this or any other Forum. We also suggest you do NOT list your birthdate.
5. If somebody appears to be a scammer, get all the information you can (name, email, phone number, address) and provide that information to Forum Boss.
6. If the guy gives you a phone number and there is a delay connecting or the area code does not match the claimed location, be very, very suspicious. And be wary of foreign accents.
7. Ask questions -- What rifles does the guy shoot? What is his shooting club? What high school did he go to? Who is his town's Mayor?
------------------------
In closing I want to repeat that I am not aware of a single member who got scammed who actually picked up the phone and TALKED to the seller. But I want everyone to be aware that the scammers are trying to get around our security protections by sending you emails and texts OFF SITE. Be wary.
-------------------------
One last point, and this is NOT Forum specific. But I strongly recommend you permanently block ALL Zelle connections to your bank accounts. Zelle potentially allows bad guys to connect directly to your bank accounts. It is extremely dangerous because there are scams where bad guys pose as utilities or retailers wanting to send you a small refund. They fake the transaction -- it appears they are sending YOU money, when it fact they are withdrawing funds and they get your approval.
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