PLEASE READ Every Member READ THIS NOW!! New Type of External SCAM

[nmkid]

Thanks guys for supporting the site by becoming a Silver or Gold member. We do need to increase the level of support. At age 69, I am spending over 700 man-hours per year now just on background security checks and IP monitoring. That's 700 hours of work with no direct compensation -- that's why we need members to upgrade. We are also considering limiting certain areas of the site to Silver and Gold members.

For my part...Good!

 

[Hrsmn51]

I agree

 

[Bill Norris]

Thanks guys for supporting the site by becoming a Silver or Gold member. We do need to increase the level of support. At age 69, I am spending over 700 man-hours per year now just on background security checks and IP monitoring. That's 700 hours of work with no direct compensation -- that's why we need members to upgrade. We are also considering limiting certain areas of the site to Silver and Gold members.

Hopefully, that will urge more members to upgrade. I can see the need for more help. Desk work is still work that consumes time and effort. That is a lot of hours with only one person to get it done.

 

[Lucky Shooter]

If I'm contacted by a dubious seller I ask them to look at my trading history and allow me to pay
after inspection.

This is usually the end of the deal and I never hear from them again.

Only two sellers have agreed to accept my offer.

As said before, somebody has to trust the other first. Why is the buyer
always expected to extend the trust first ?

A. Weldy

 

[jeffreybehr]

Thanks guys for supporting the site by becoming a Silver or Gold member. We do need to increase the level of support. At age 69, I am spending over 700 man-hours per year now just on background security checks and IP monitoring. That's 700 hours of work with no direct compensation -- that's why we need members to upgrade. We are also considering limiting certain areas of the site to Silver and Gold members.

Maybe it's time for this VERY VALUABLE FORUM to charge a nominal membership fee...say $12 per year.

Also, I've been a silver member for years but would go Gold if that was necessary to keep it around.

And thanx, Paul, for your hard work.

 

[Krogen]

Thanks for the heads-up, Boss. I very much appreciate what you're do here!

 

[Forum Boss]

I wanted to add one more tip when dealing with a sale offer.

If the seller is pressuring you to do the deal immediately... be VERY suspicious.

The scammers know that the more time you have to check their status, the higher the chance that you will be scared off (or discover their criminality). Accordingly, they may pressure you to do the deal immediately. And refuse to provide more photos or do a phone call.

BOTTOM LINE: If a seller is pressuring you to conclude the deal immediately run away. And if they insist on PayPal F&F or Zelle or ApplePay I would say "absolutely not".

The scammers use these services because they can't be tracked and there is ZERO buyer protection.

 

[chop house]

Truepeoplesearch.com

Scary amount of info available, but at the same time extremely useful for sniffing out potential imposters.

IT IS NO LONGER CREEPY TO 'google' SOMEONE...

 

[TTE]

I guess I would be suspect.
I have a phone with an area code that does not match my location.

 

[ISS]

There is another issue. Scammers have taken a legitimate companies area code and are using it. I got a phone call from a company in PA. I checked the # with a directory assistance program. Scammers had taken a block of 20 numbers and were using them. If you called one of those stolen numbers, you got redirected to a site overseas.