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Anatomy of Scope SCAM -- Members READ!

FORUM BOSS: It appears this member has been the victim of a scammer. The Seller, StepsJFrame, has been banned.

Don't do what Fort_Bragger, this buyer, did -- NEVER EVER do a deal for an item over $150.00 without talking to seller by voice, LIVE, on the Telephone. And GET custom photos!

scam1901.jpg


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I've never bought a scope from a private party before, so I want to know how it's normally done. I won't use any names in case I'm the one that's out of line. My VX6 is at Leupold for R/R, so I was reading the marketplace ads. I came across a Mark5, and sent a pm since it was an older ad, to see if it was still available, It was, and I responded that I was waiting to see what Leopold was going to do for me. I got a pm in return with a sad story, and an offer less than the listed price, and I could send half the money, and the other half in 30 days, after I received the Mark 5. The party had no selling history, and I read some of his posts, and he seamed reasonable like most here on the site. I replied that I could do that. I'm west coast, and the seller is east of the Mississippi. I wanted to make sure both of us got what we wanted. I got a certified bank check for half the price and shipped it via UPS with a tracking number. I wrote and said I had sent the check, but I would like a tracking number as well when he shipped the scope, and we would exchange numbers over the phone. I have received several pm's requesting my tracking number, but nothing about the scope being shipped on his part. So the question is, am I being paranoid, or is my request reasonable since the seller has no history of selling here before. I can have my bank put a stop payment on the check, and I'm leaning in that direction, but please tell me what the SOP is with buying and selling here. Thanks.
 
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Talk on the phone ahead of time, ask us, and get a current picture staged in such a way you know he has the scope.

I sent my cell number, but so far all I've gotten are pm's in return. It's not an offer I would have made if I were the seller, but a Mark 5 that's been posted for awhile is probably not the hottest glass being sold here. His handle is Stepsjframe in Ohio. I have a copy of the bank check made out to him. I'll offer to send him a picture of it.

FORUM BOSS: NO NO NO!!!!

Do NOT send him a picture of a check. There are banking codes!

STOP PAYMENT NOW!
 
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StepsJFrame shows signs of being scammer. VPN use with 20+ logins including one from Nigeria (he slipped up once).

Language that doesn't appear to be native English speaker.

STOP PAYMENT NOW!!!!!!

MEMBER StepsJFrame has been banned


PEOPLE HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO SAY THIS -- VOICE PHONE CALL ALWAYS!!!!!!

This person signed up in April with what appeared to be a legit USA IP location. He has subsequently been very active in August with 20+ logins. If you have any mail information and name, please provide that and we will forward to Law Enforcement.
 
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People -- learn from this lesson. I have said this over, and over, and over again. With new member, with zero trade history, exercise CAUTION!!!

Also this guy was using poor English that should create suspicion. Example: "Here a link show the scope, https://imgur.com/GO7NyRW "

scam1901.jpg
 
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If something seems wrong, it probably is. Exercise Caution Always!!!!!

scam1903.jpg

This is one of StepsJFrame Logins -- others were from USA, but apparently using a VPN

scam1904.jpg
 
Here is some of the scammer's manipulation to try to force the deal:

"Ben, i am selling this Mark5 and other stuffs because i recently lost my job and had to keep my family afloat somehow. it has been hard since my wife got cancer and had to stop working. i've got two kids that don't understand why mom is always sick. i have to sell a few things to i can take care of the bills. I can do $1240 for the scope But i understand you are a little tight on cash yourself. We could do a half way deal. if you could come up with $600, i will ship the scope to you, then you can pay the renaming balance($640). by the end of next month. Let me know."

When you see BS like this, RUN.

And notice this was not proper English. For example "other stuffs", "Pay the renaming balance".
 
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Another thing to note, if the address is a PO box, request a physical address or no deal. Was scammed once, but hopefully not again.
 
Problem is VPNs can make things very difficult again that is why pictures and a live phone call is always the best. your security blocked me from Pakistan. I lived in Cambodia for a while and there were Nigerian scammers working from there from places like Hamburger shops that have free wifi
 
And the sellers with zero trade history on here selling thousand dollar plus scopes wonder why there's no interest.
I'm sorry but if you get nothing for your money, you probably had it coming. The classified ads just happened to be the venue.
 
I always felt the guy was a scammer. Very poor grammar and spelling from the start, posts made that made no sense being put in threads they showed up in. Then, suddenly, a post that really appeared to be a copy/paste because all the grammar/spelling errors were gone. Also, that is when his classified posts started showing up. IIRC, he also posted a Nightforce scope for sale at a very low price too.
Sorry you got burned.
 

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