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Guys -- Need Your Help to Fight Scammers

Forum Boss

Administrator
Folks, we are seeing increased threats by scammers... matching the huge number of fake gun/reloading websites.

These guys may start with an apparently innocent membership here, then direct you to a third party, who is a CRIMINAL.

I personally run background checks for every new sign-up. This is occupying 500+ man-hours per year. But we may have to step this up, requiring phone numbers and further verification.

We are seeing a pattern of an apparently legit sign-up, then a change to VPN -- perhaps as an account is "handed off" from an accomplice to a scammer.

WHAT I NEED from YOU:

If anybody directs you to a third party for sales, NOTIFY Forum Boss immediately. Click the "Report" button at the bottom of a post or PM you receive.


In addition, you MUST protect yourselves. NEVER buy anything without a custom photo. Guys, that's more than the same photo with the day's date! A hacker can do that in seconds. For example, tell the seller "Tie a ribbon around that scope, place it on the dash of your truck, with a hat nearby." If the scammer doesn't have the product he can't create that photo!

And guys, I cannot stress this urgently enough, DO A VOICE PHONE CALL. Not text -- VOICE!

Repeat DO A VOICE PHONE CALL!!
I don't know anyone in the last 2 years who has been scammed who actually made a voice conversation. When you call, if it is "Google voice forwarding" that is a red flag. If you reach a human, ask lots of questions. If the accent appears to be foreign, presume this is a scam without very, very serious confirmation.

I have provided all this information before, but members continue to ignore it.

We need your help.
 
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The other thing I must add is that the scam pattern is pretty darn obvious but people still fall for it -- from greed, and yes, stupidity.

The pattern is a item that is worth, say $1500.00, being put on sale for $700.00, typically with some lie such as "need money for my daughter's wedding". The scammers are counting on your greed to de-activate your common sense.

If the price is way, way below normal asking price, start with the assumption that the advert is a SCAM and act accordingly.
 
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Boss, could you make this info. part of a login??
Say, they have to "read" this disclosure before logging in??
Like a one time deal???
might get some to read it....????
 

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