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New Scam Appearing, Buyers Be Very Careful

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Minuteman
    • Apr 12, 2001
    35,593
    40,054
    Base of the Rockies
    www.snipershide.com
    A new scam has emerged in the PX.

    The scammers are copying the member names with a very slight variation of who are selling items in the PX. When someone posts, "I'll take it," or tries to interact with the ads, they use the fake account to complete the sale before the actual member can.

    Check all names in your interactions to include badges and posts count. You have to do your homework today, or they will scam you.

    Due Diligence is a must at all times when buying online because of these gangs out there.

    Stay sharp, be vigilant, and don't assume that the person sending you a message is the same person you were talking to in the PX.
     
    Last edited:
    • Like
    Reactions: CeeTee556, Engineer260, 338dude and 21 others
    I'm not sure if this solves the problem or helps, but I ALWAYS start the conversation myself with the seller directly by clicking on their username handle via the for sale post. Start the conversation, then post "ill take it" if you feel the need or its a hot item.
     
    • Like
    Reactions: Herb Stoner, Basher, BAMAboy18 and 4 others
    Thanks for making us aware.

    Is the registration of a username sufficient with an IP address to give us a physical location sufficient to use a drone bomb like Hamas was using in Israel a couple of weeks ago?
     
    There’s no way to track the IPs completely with the use of VPNs and bouncing them around the globe. These are criminal groups that know very well what they are doing.
     
    This happened to me (copying my screen name) a few days ago. Luckily the first person they contacted let me know right away.
     
    • Like
    Reactions: diverdon and lash
    More of you should look into using Guntab escrow service for secure purchases, especially higher dollar items. At 2.9%sellers fee and nothing additional, it’s cheaper than even PayPal, who hates your second amendment guts and is donating to your political enemies. Very good experience once you get set up.

    GunTab: "The PayPal for guns"

    Gun-friendly payments by credit card and bank account, for businesses and individuals. Open an account now.
    www.guntab.com www.guntab.com
     
    • Like
    Reactions: Longguns, Bravo6niner, hkguns and 9 others
    where do we report scammers? @tundrawookiee appears to have gained access to an account that has not had activity since 2014. this person sent me a message, claiming to have the scope I am looking for. I did a reverse image search, with the image this person provided, and it came from a 2018 for sale post on sniperforum website.

    ​

     
    RHINO69 said:
    where do we report scammers? @tundrawookiee appears to have gained access to an account that has not had activity since 2014. this person sent me a message, claiming to have the scope I am looking for. I did a reverse image search, with the image this person provided, and it came from a 2018 for sale post on sniperforum website.

    ​

    Click to expand...
    At the bottom of every post is a button, on the left bottom, called REPORT. Click on that when in the post of someone you wish to report.
     
    • Like
    Reactions: RHINO69
    lash said:
    More of you should look into using Guntab escrow service for secure purchases, especially higher dollar items. At 2.9%sellers fee and nothing additional, it’s cheaper than even PayPal, who hates your second amendment guts and is donating to your political enemies. Very good experience once you get set up.

    GunTab: "The PayPal for guns"

    Gun-friendly payments by credit card and bank account, for businesses and individuals. Open an account now.
    www.guntab.com www.guntab.com
    Click to expand...

    Why more people don't use that is beyond me.

    I haven't bought or sold online in a long while but escrow is the only way I will transact payment for guns online now.
     
    • Like
    Reactions: lash
    Probably should become a standard thing where the buyer of an item always PM's the seller first.

    Meaning that the buyer is clicking the actual screename of the seller and starting the PM that way. Makes it impossible for the scammer to use close looking name and PM the buyer pretending to be seller.
     
    • Like
    Reactions: parshal
    308pirate said:
    Why more people don't use that is beyond me.

    I haven't bought or sold online in a long while but escrow is the only way I will transact payment for guns online now.
    Click to expand...

    This became very popular in things like pool/billiards cue sales. Reputable people/companies would act as escrow/intermediate.

    They would take the money from buyer and cue from seller. Inspect the cue and deem that it's in the condition the seller claims before sending cue and funds to each.
     
    Example of recent scam like mentioned here

    @BurtG

    www.snipershide.com

    Accessories - NIB Vortex Impact 4000, $1$00 Shipped

    I got really excited and ordered this and then second guessed the amount of times I really need a rangefinder. It is brand new, in the original packaging. I’ve never even opened the box. I can have it in the mail to you today. $1$00, Payment method of your choice. I’d prefer PP f&f or...
    www.snipershide.com www.snipershide.com
     
    Rio Precision Gunworks said:
    This became very popular in things like pool/billiards cue sales. Reputable people/companies would act as escrow/intermediate.

    They would take the money from buyer and cue from seller. Inspect the cue and deem that it's in the condition the seller claims before sending cue and funds to each.
    Click to expand...
    In the case of Guntab, they do not take possession of the item, they just hold the money from the buyer until the item is received. The buyer then has a three day inspection/dispute period. Anytime during that period, the buyer can give the green light, at which point the funds are released to the seller. Shipment, tracking and everything are monitored by Guntab.

    So very little possibility of a scam or game playing by either party. I found that if the buyer and seller agree to split the 2.9% sellers fee, it works out well for both parties and makes for good business.
     
    • Like
    Reactions: Longguns, JBELL74, 308pirate and 1 other person
    lash said:
    In the case of Guntab, they do not take possession of the item, they just hold the money from the buyer until the item is received. The buyer then has a three day inspection/dispute period. Anytime during that period, the buyer can give the green light, at which point the funds are released to the seller. Shipment, tracking and everything are monitored by Guntab.

    So very little possibility of a scam or game playing by either party. I found that if the buyer and seller agree to split the 2.9% sellers fee, it works out well for both parties and makes for good business.
    Click to expand...
    What happens if the buyer misrepresents the condition or contents? Escrow without inspection and holding the item allows for buyer scams.
     
    • Like
    Reactions: BoreBear and W54/XM-388
    Zorfunk said:
    What happens if the buyer misrepresents the condition or contents? Escrow without inspection and holding the item allows for buyer scams.
    Click to expand...
    You do know how escrow works right? That’s where the three day acceptance period comes in.

    Look, I’m not going to sell anyone on anything. You need to do your own research and decide what works for you. I provided the link to the site above, where they provide you with details. I’m not their salesman.

    If you think that you can handle this a-okay yourself, that’s what you should do. If you think it’s someone else’s responsibility to protect you, take on your vetting and risk, then maybe go ask the socialists to help you out.
     
    lash said:
    You do know how escrow works right? That’s where the three day acceptance period comes in.

    Look, I’m not going to sell anyone on anything. You need to do your own research and decide what works for you. I provided the link to the site above, where they provide you with details. I’m not their salesman.

    If you think that you can handle this a-okay yourself, that’s what you should do. If you think it’s someone else’s responsibility to protect you, take on your vetting and risk, then maybe go ask the socialists to help you out.
    Click to expand...
    I completely understand how it works. I never said you're trying to sell anyone on something. Not sure where that came from... I'm calling out that escrow services that don't hold and inspect the item sold allow for buyer fraud. Pretend I'm selling a $3,000 scope and we use Guntab. Buyer pays, I ship, buyer says he received a Simmons with some rocks in the package and he has my S&B. I'm screwed. He keeps the S&B, ships back a Simmons with rocks and he gets his $3,000 refunded by Guntab. This is why a lot of sellers will only do business with USPS MO, Zelle, Paypal F&F, etc.

    Wtf do socialists have to do with it!?
     
    • Like
    Reactions: x2cross, BoreBear and W54/XM-388
    Escrows only help the buyer. If you aren’t willing to do your due diligence as a buyer, you probably shouldn’t be buying items online without a credit card.

    Feedback, FaceTime video calls and common sense go a long way. Subscriptions for sellers, like this site, helps as well.

    If a buyer wants me to use a 3rd party service that exposes me to potential scams, they can buy elsewhere - no hard feelings.

    I’m not Amazon.
     
    Last edited:
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    Reactions: rijndael, RTH1800, BoldCorrections and 2 others
    Escrow where some service holds the item doesn't work very well where FFLs, 4473s, and background checks are necessary for every transfer of possession. Thus the inspection period. Not really an issue with pool cues.
     
    • Like
    Reactions: lash
    lash said:
    You do know how escrow works right? That’s where the three day acceptance period comes in.

    Look, I’m not going to sell anyone on anything. You need to do your own research and decide what works for you. I provided the link to the site above, where they provide you with details. I’m not their salesman.

    If you think that you can handle this a-okay yourself, that’s what you should do. If you think it’s someone else’s responsibility to protect you, take on your vetting and risk, then maybe go ask the socialists to help you out.
    Click to expand...

    Go and do a bit of your own research and read all the terms and conditions for that stupid "guntab" thing.
    No seller in their right mind would agree to use that.
    You can get scammed out of even more than your item by the buyer and the stupid "escrow" company is nothing but a hack job in the middle that provides NO protection at all for the seller.
     
    • Like
    Reactions: BoldCorrections, LR-Enthusiast and BoreBear
    Was just talking to a friend that is a user on here and had his name cloned with a period added and his profile picture duplicated when someone said they would take his item.

    He asked how are scammers getting accounts approved so quickly? I mean say a user by the name zebra5 posts something for sale and user donkey7 says they will take it. Then donkey7 is, in just a few minutes later, being sent a PM by a cloned username that has added a period to the legit username like zebra5. providing a PayPal info.

    Again, just curious how the user accounts with the fake usernames is getting approved so fast. Seems like when I signed up, it took a little bit of time to get approved.
     
    gasrat said:
    Was just talking to a friend that is a user on here and had his name cloned with a period added and his profile picture duplicated when someone said they would take his item.

    He asked how are scammers getting accounts approved so quickly? I mean say a user by the name zebra5 posts something for sale and user donkey7 says they will take it. Then donkey7 is, in just a few minutes later, being sent a PM by a cloned username that has added a period to the legit username like zebra5. providing a PayPal info.

    Again, just curious how the user accounts with the fake usernames is getting approved so fast. Seems like when I signed up, it took a little bit of time to get approved.
    Click to expand...
    If I recall correctly, you can change your user name once you’re on here. At least I thought so. I’ve never done it, so can’t say for sure. That would, however, explain why this can happen.

    Again for the peanut gallery, if you are wanting to buy something listed, you need to initiate a PM with the seller yourself, before posting that you want it. If you are contacted by the “seller” first, still imitate your own PM to that seller by clicking on the actual sellers name in his for sale post.
     
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    Reactions: gasrat
    lash said:
    If I recall correctly, you can change your user name once you’re on here. At least I thought so. I’ve never done it, so can’t say for sure. That would, however, explain why this can happen.

    Again for the peanut gallery, if you are wanting to buy something listed, you need to initiate a PM with the seller yourself, before posting that you want it. If you are contacted by the “seller” first, still imitate your own PM to that seller by clicking on the actual sellers name in his for sale post.
    Click to expand...
    Got you. If possible, the username change option should be scratched. That may be easier said than done though. I couldn’t imagine the overseeing of a page like this though.
     
    I remember a site, at some point, that wouldn't allow username changes without mod approval. I think that was years ago, though.

    Seems like that could help alleviate some of this if it's indeed how they're grabbing other folks' usernames.
     
    Anyone want to mess with a scammer or report to PayPal, this guy tried it with me. Scammer screen is @Mike173. trying to get me on a post by @Mike173

    I reported to SH and posted a skeezy alert on the post I am trying to buy from the real dude.

    This is what the scammer sent me trying to get the money.

    Absolutely zero issues with it.
    The paypal address is [email protected]
    Send as f&f and send me a screenshot when sent
     
    There’s a new account attempting this on my username. A savvy buyer flagged it to me and escalated I can’t flag the info since it wasn’t sent to me though.

    Coejro. Is the scam account (. Added to my login)
     
    Had someone do this and scam one of my customers out of some brass I was selling. Ended up just sending the guy the brass for free, felt bad.

    Its not hard to verify the account by the post count/join dates. Always double check.
     
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    Reactions: Malum Prohibitum
    @Dschapp44. is another imposter that limited view of the profile so can't be reported that way.
     
    • Like
    Reactions: lash
    So, are the scammers making accounts preemptively now, instead of waiting to impersonate a specific seller?
     
    Downtown said:
    So, are the scammers making accounts preemptively now, instead of waiting to impersonate a specific seller?
    Click to expand...
    Anything is possible. The ones I've spotted are usually in response to an "I'll take it" or "this still available" or "seconds if this falls through" post in the PX within an hour or so of the account being created.
     
    • Like
    Reactions: lash
    Just had one message me this morning.
     

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