Beware of Scammers on the Classifieds Section!

[BayouBuck985]

All,
I just wanted to share a recent incident with a member on here who responded to my Wanted to Buy ad for a rifle scope. The member contacted me through the messaging here and we spoke by phone and went back and forth through email. After negotiating on a price, he insisted on accepting payment through PayPal Friends and Family and would not agree to use the Goods and Services transaction type, even after I told him I would cover the 3% transaction fee to accept the funds. PayPal does not offer any buyer protection when using the Friends and Family transactions. I know most people on this forum have good intentions, but just remember there are always some out there who don't. I have messaged the Admin staff on here with the Contact Us message system this week but have not received a response.

 

[TN2shot07]

Those WTB adds seem to attract them like flies

 

[BayouBuck985]

Those WTB adds seem to attract them like flies

Yeah, I guess it’s a perfect place for scammers with all the perspective buyers displaying that they are willing to turn over money.

 

[MThuntr]

WTB ads are easy targets for people to scam. Guys steal pictures off forums and alter them pretty easily.

Also PayPal protection likely won't cover a rifle scope any. Anything related to guns is a fast track to being banned from PayPal

 

[BayouBuck985]

WTB ads are easy targets for people to scam. Guys steal pictures off forums and alter them pretty easily.

Also PayPal protection likely won't cover a rifle scope any. Anything related to guns is a fast track to being banned from PayPal

Good point about the scopes @MThuntr, but I guess that shouldn’t be surprising based on PayPal’s ownership.

 

[Redmt]

So who was it. Scammers are not secrets to keep.

 

[BayouBuck985]

So who was it. Scammers are not secrets to keep.

Forelix

 

[Redmt]

It looks like he has been around for a while. I won't take or send anything through PayPal. They are too hard to deal with if something goes south. I'm at the point where it's a personal check or nothing.

 

[mtmuley]

It looks like he has been around for a while. I won't take or send anything through PayPal. They are too hard to deal with if something goes south. I'm at the point where it's a personal check or nothing.

"Supposedly" PayPal does not allow firearms related transactions. mtmuley

 

[BayouBuck985]

I’ve had success using PayPal as a buyer and seller for scopes recently, making sure I use the Goods and Services transaction type. When I offered to pay the transaction fee for Mr. Forelix, and he still declined, I knew something was off.

 

[Redmt]

I’ve had success using PayPal as a buyer and seller for scopes recently, making sure I use the Goods and Services transaction type. When I offered to pay the transaction fee for Mr. Forelix, and he still declined, I knew something was off.

I sort of disagree. Ask anyone here that I have bought, traded or sold to. PayPal is a thing of the past. I wouldn't question a guy's honesty because he won't use PayPal.

 

[elkmo]

Forelix

Forelix…He uses [email protected].

He tried to sell me a scope I am looking for…

 

[Redmt]

There was another ex member that had a really well developed profile and had pix and explicit details on a ,M77 in .22 I wanted. He ended up being a scammer. He seemed very legit but ended up being a scammer in the end.

 

[FairWeather]

Yep. I posted a WTB, and within 24hrs had 2 scammers sending me offers. Luckily the images were very obviously AI, tipping me off that it’s a scam.

Stay sharp out there.

 

[BayouBuck985]

I sort of disagree. Ask anyone here that I have bought, traded or sold to. PayPal is a thing of the past. I wouldn't question a guy's honesty because he won't use PayPal.

@Redmt It's not his objection to using PayPal; it's his not wanting to use the "preferred" Goods and Services type, as opposed to just sending money via Family and Friends. If someone refuses to accept money this avenue, even after the buyer agrees to pay the 3% transaction (in order to have the buyer protection), that immediately is a red flag. Another member on here also responded to my WTB post and seemed legitimate, but I never got as far as to discuss exactly how payment would be sent for his scope.

 

[BayouBuck985]

Yep. I posted a WTB, and within 24hrs had 2 scammers sending me offers. Luckily the images were very obviously AI, tipping me off that it’s a scam.

Stay sharp out there.

@FairWeather Did the images of the items that were being sold have a card with the member's user name and date next to the item? Both people who reached out to me did that.

 

[Redmt]

Hey, if you're not comfortable for any reason at all I would bail out in a heartbeat.

 

[FairWeather]

@FairWeather Did the images of the items that were being sold have a card with the member's user name and date next to the item? Both people who reached out to me did that.

Yup. But the rifle itself was all wonky. Mismatched fore end lengths, iron sights in one pic, none in the next, etc.

 

[FairWeather]

Forelix

Same. Also Peesh, though I’m less certain about that one. I just got an off feeling reading through their previous posts. They all seem like AI generated responses/info; very little/no first hand experience or hunting stories, just stuff that google would spit out.