PLEASE READ Beware Unsolicited Texts or Emails Claiming to Be Sellers!

[Forum Boss]

SCAMMERS are sending texts or emails to members claiming to be sellers.

They read Sale threads and then find a member who posts he wants to buy something. These potential buyers have unwisely put their phone number or email in a Forum post where it can be found by a search.

The scammer then claims to be the real seller, referring to the real seller's Forum name.

PEOPLE -- You MUST PROTECT Yourself!

If you get an unsolicited TEXT or EMAIL asking for product payment, assume it is a SCAM.

NEVER PAY a penny without a voice phone call -- get the REAL phone number via PM (private message inside Forum).

This happened twice today -- a scammer send an unsolicited text to a would-be buyer who had posted their phone number in a public thread.

 

[nakneker]

It never stops, thanks for all you do on our behalf!

 

[Forum Boss]

We just had another case of this yesterday. The prospective buyer had posted his name and phone number in a For Sale thread. The scammer sent a text asking for payment via Zelle or PayPal F&F. The scammer claimed to be the genuine seller, but his area code was from a different part of the country.

Folks... if you EVER receive an unsolicited text like that.

1. Do NOT send a penny without further verification.
2. Send a PM to the real seller from INSIDE the Forum.
3. NEVER ever pay for ANYthing with ZELLE, Venmo, CashApp or PayPal F&F -- you have no protection.
4. Tell the seller to give you an address for a check instead -- record that address (along with his phone number) to turn over to police and the FBI.

Folks, this all starts when you post "I want to buy that. Call me at XXX-YYY-ZZZZ today."

The scammers can read that and they will send a solicitation.

 

[Forum Boss]

People -- For Pete's Sake LISTEN to me!!



Another guy lost some big bucks this week.

He got a text claiming to be from a seller. Then that buyer sent out hundreds of dollars.
This was soooooo wrong.

No phone check, no custom photos requested, no PM back to the REAL Seller to confirm.

People WAKE UP!!!

EVERY single Forum member who claimed (to me) that he had NOT posted his phone number or email in the Forum was WRONG. I found that info with a 30 second search.

You must assume that you have probably posted your phone # or email at some point. Some guys even posted their info on the Seller's public profile. That's nuts...

With your phone number a scammer can send a text to you claiming to be a SELLER.

People for the Nth Time -- if you get an unsolicited text or eMAIL...

DO NOT SEND MONEY

DO NOT SEND MONEY

PROTECT YOURSELF!!!
We have stated over and over and over that you should NEVER send money without making a VOICE Call. VOICE -- got that people. Pick up the phone!

Folks, I am not aware of any person in 20+ years who has been scammed who actually picked up his telephone and made a VOICE CALL to the Seller.

NEVER EVER send a Frigging Penny without a VOICE CALL!