• Watch Out for Scammers!

    We've now added a color code for all accounts. Orange accounts are new members, Blue are full members, and Green are Supporters. If you get a message about a sale from an orange account, make sure you pay attention before sending any money!

New Scam so beware

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Minuteman
  • Apr 12, 2001
    35,594
    40,070
    Base of the Rockies
    www.snipershide.com
    A New Scam is emerging in the For Sale Section.

    If you reply to the member, I'll take it; they are creating new accounts that look like the member's name and then contacting you immediately to sell it to you.

    I found about four linked accounts doing this, so they are scraping the PX and creating user names for the people selling.

    Buyers be especially aware this is organized crime, and they are funded and resourceful.

    This is zero recourse, but to ban the accounts and play whack a troll with it, they want to hurt the site and you so be careful
     
    I just snagged a bunch of accounts, at least 10, all connected to the scam.

    They use active and dormant accounts; most have no posts, and they just change the name to something close to the person selling stuff. So check post counts and badges when interacting with anyone for a transaction.

    They appear to be West African but who knows they bounce that stuff around
     
    A New Scam is emerging in the For Sale Section.

    If you reply to the member, I'll take it; they are creating new accounts that look like the member's name and then contacting you immediately to sell it to you.

    I found about four linked accounts doing this, so they are scraping the PX and creating user names for the people selling.

    Buyers be especially aware this is organized crime, and they are funded and resourceful.

    This is zero recourse, but to ban the accounts and play whack a troll with it, they want to hurt the site and you so be careful
    Somebody needs their cyber-nuts cut out.
    Conniving bitches.
     
    There's also a scam link going on in the Bear Pit right now called "Free Porn". Don't click on it!

    It dizablz yer spel check and fuks wit yor auto-correkt az sooon az you clik on it. Fortunitlee I am abov that garbige, and don't look at dat krap. I jist wantid 2 worn alll U pervs.

    Tanks!
     
    Just do as we know to do.

    Check feedback
    Check their posts and see if they are actually contributing members.
    Talk to them. (Not pm, as in on the phone or better, in face chat of some type).

    You won't be scammed if you do these 3 things.

    It sucks we have to go to such lengths but there's factions out there that will point criminal enterprises our way in order to harm us without leaving fingerprints. For real
     
    One reason why I never post "i'll take it" on anything I buy. It's no ones business what I buy.
    1698204516241.png
     
    Just do as we know to do.

    Check feedback
    Check their posts and see if they are actually contributing members.
    Talk to them. (Not pm, as in on the phone or better, in face chat of some type).

    You won't be scammed if you do these 3 things.

    It sucks we have to go to such lengths but there's factions out there that will point criminal enterprises our way in order to harm us without leaving fingerprints. For real
    Ask for butthole pictures they are like finger prints
     
    One reason why I never post "i'll take it" on anything I buy. It's no ones business what I buy.

    Too bad a lot of sellers make you post that. I've been burned a couple of times when I PM'd them and said I'll Take It. But then didn't post it publicly so they told me that they went to the first person to post in in the thread even though they confirm my PM was time stamped earliest.
    And my PM's weren't asking questions or trying to negotiate, it was just a firm I'll take it.
     
    I got caught up in this last night. My bank was willing to stop payment on a Paypal F&F the same way they do a check.
     
    • Like
    Reactions: MOshooter
    Honestly, the people getting caught up in these scams make the same mistakes over and over.

    No matter how many times I post, There are no deals on the internet; most are chasing the deal and getting scammed.

    You have to do your homework, and when a red flag appears, walk away. English is not their first language; they are in Africa or some other foreign country, so ask questions before proceeding.

    Even the private messages that say, My friend has this, call him or email him here, XYZ, you don't report the accounts, you just go, Okay.

    It's been 10 years of scammers, we have listed everything they try, methods, etc... instead you all focus on the individual thinking some "guy" scammed you... this is not a person, it's organized crime, a gang. When they get caught they use a new account. Telling me "bob" with XYZ email scammed you is meaningless, it wasn't BOB, that email is not real and only temporary (until it gets caught) The methods remain the same, the names and emails change all the time

    When you find one account, and actually report it correctly, I can start looking at the IP, the emails, the user names, and then connect the dots. Saying this email scammed me usually means nothing I can put it in here 2 minutes later and it's gone. You cannot reuse email addresses here we can see it, and the system will block it. So the particulars after they are caught don't mean anything
     
    Wish I saw this earlier. This exact thing just happened. Created a profile with a period at the end so it was hard to notice. Needless to say I'm probably out the funds unless my banking institution can block it. Verify everything now!
     
    • Like
    Reactions: BurtG
    Wish I saw this earlier. This exact thing just happened. Created a profile with a period at the end so it was hard to notice. Needless to say I'm probably out the funds unless my banking institution can block it. Verify everything now!
    Yep. They got me yesterday. They used a period after the username and didn't catch it. Account looked good with feedback but after funds were sent, all chat was deleted and couldn't find the original post. This morning, I get a reply saying it's sold in the same chat that had our message history erased. I did report this and I took screenshots of all message history before they were ever deleted.
     
    This is a well-executed man-in-the-middle attack. These are real ads with real items at normal prices. No one is "chasing a deal." You do all your verification like we normally do in the thread (feedback, forum history, etc etc), then you get a message you're expecting with payment info (normal process). If you don't redo your verification at this point, they get you. While a period at the end is visible upon close inspection, depending on font, a lowercase "l" to capital "I" may not be distinguishable. Same with a number "1". Or a capital "O" to number "0".

    They've picked the perfect target audience - people who fly under the radar and are forced to bypass protections because banking institutions frown upon gun and parts sales. There's not much recourse once you make that transfer.

    If you catch it in time, your bank can stop payment on a Paypal F&F payment. Your best bet is to call and submit a fraud report in a way that creates a paper trail for the bank. If you're waiting for a shipping confirmation that doesn't come after a week, you're behind. I'd bet there are a lot of people out there that don't realize they've been scammed yet.
     
    This is a well-executed man-in-the-middle attack. These are real ads with real items at normal prices. No one is "chasing a deal." You do all your verification like we normally do in the thread (feedback, forum history, etc etc), then you get a message you're expecting with payment info (normal process). If you don't redo your verification at this point, they get you. While a period at the end is visible upon close inspection, depending on font, a lowercase "l" to capital "I" may not be distinguishable. Same with a number "1". Or a capital "O" to number "0".

    They've picked the perfect target audience - people who fly under the radar and are forced to bypass protections because banking institutions frown upon gun and parts sales. There's not much recourse once you make that transfer.

    If you catch it in time, your bank can stop payment on a Paypal F&F payment. Your best bet is to call and submit a fraud report in a way that creates a paper trail for the bank. If you're waiting for a shipping confirmation that doesn't come after a week, you're behind. I'd bet there are a lot of people out there that don't realize they've been scammed yet.
    I always use Paypal but specify American Express. They take care of their people and will stop payment until they sort it out and if its bogus refunc you. I've never had them not. The other cards,not so much.
     
    This is a well-executed man-in-the-middle attack. These are real ads with real items at normal prices. No one is "chasing a deal." You do all your verification like we normally do in the thread (feedback, forum history, etc etc), then you get a message you're expecting with payment info (normal process). If you don't redo your verification at this point, they get you. While a period at the end is visible upon close inspection, depending on font, a lowercase "l" to capital "I" may not be distinguishable. Same with a number "1". Or a capital "O" to number "0".

    They've picked the perfect target audience - people who fly under the radar and are forced to bypass protections because banking institutions frown upon gun and parts sales. There's not much recourse once you make that transfer.

    If you catch it in time, your bank can stop payment on a Paypal F&F payment. Your best bet is to call and submit a fraud report in a way that creates a paper trail for the bank. If you're waiting for a shipping confirmation that doesn't come after a week, you're behind. I'd bet there are a lot of people out there that don't realize they've been scammed yet.
    That’s why you (the buyer) need to initiate PM contact with the seller before or at the same time you post “I’ll take it, PM sent.”
     
    Maybe make it policy no public "I'll take it" that way the scammers don't know it sold and won't pm you. Just make it policy first PM gets the item
     
    • Like
    Reactions: BurtG and Maggot
    Maybe make it policy no public "I'll take it" that way the scammers don't know it sold and won't pm you. Just make it policy first PM gets the item
    Except policy won’t do shit. Frank has tried initiating policies to protect those that choose to PX, to no avail.
    Keep it spicy so that people know they’re playing with fire, not toys. It’s not an exchange site and it’s play at your own risk.
    9 of ten people joining here never take the actual time to read, much less follow the “rules.”

    Have you met any humans yet? 😁😂
     
    • Like
    Reactions: Im2bent
    The sad part, with these and most crooks, is that if they would just put as much energy inot something legit, that produces something other than chaos, they could do well, even better. Twisted criminal thinking.
     
    Example of recent thread like this

     
    • Like
    Reactions: BurtG
    I was on another forum where the scams got out of control, and I believe what the admins did was make a minimum post count to be able to PM other members. It worked really well.
    For a while it was 100 posts to access the px entirely here. Or a buy in

    Problem is they just hack an account or have a sleeper account with over 100 posts and by the time the real member catches it it’s to late.

    You won’t stop the scams. The buyer just has to do their homework

    To many people see a great deal and jump on it. Just to be the first to send the money so somebody doesn’t get it. That many times is what gets them
     
    • Like
    Reactions: lash
    I was on another forum where the scams got out of control, and I believe what the admins did was make a minimum post count to be able to PM other members. It worked really well.
    Nope. SH has been there and done that too. Then they just make meaningless posts in various threads until they reach the minimum and they’re in business again. With AI and Chat tools it’s easier now than it was then.

    Bottom line is that you and you alone are responsible for your safety and well being. Be adult, be wary, and act accordingly.

    Many of us fool around and get heated and even ridiculous at times in threads, but when it comes to dealing one on one, it’s the responsibility of each and every one of us to take care of ourselves. Not the responsibility of the site nor anyone else for that matter.
     
    Remember the scammers are here because the individual members of the site are paying them to be here.

    Do you part and stop feeding the scammers money or they will never leave
    You make a lot of good points in this thread.

    I really worry about my older friends who are just not that tech savvy. I have almost 30 years of experience buying and selling on the internet but these guys are pretty new to the game, as in the last 5-10 years, and mostly on ebay and Amazon. One of them got bit about 10 years ago and sent someone $600 for a $2000 4 wheeler, thinking it was a great deal, and it never arrived.

    I cannot recommend enough, to all that are involved, that they need to make a phone call to the other party to make certain they are legit.
     
    • Like
    Reactions: SWgeezer
    My standard suggestion applies: Demand a video chat.
    Then update my advice a bit, verify during the video chat what the payment information is.
     
    In effort to avoid scammers, don’t post “I’ll take it.” Instead, post a want-to-buy ad for the item you’re looking for.







    (Sarcasm font)
     
    • Haha
    Reactions: Mike Islander
    I always use Paypal but specify American Express. They take care of their people and will stop payment until they sort it out and if its bogus refunc you. I've never had them not. The other cards,not so much.
    I ended up getting my money back. PayPal didn't do anything so I Filed a Visa fraud claim and had the money back in 2 days. I learned my lesson, I will unfortunately hesitate and miss good deals moving forward because I'll over scrutinize all WTS ads.
     
    • Like
    Reactions: mangle and Maggot
    Yeah I know a bold strategy that might actually work to curb scammers from the site, but no let's let people that have had an account for five seconds do what the fuck they want.......Makes sense doesn't it?
    This site used to have a 100 post count or buy in to access px. You could buy from it but you couldn’t post for sale

    Scammers would do several things

    1) Hack existing accounts with no activity for a long time

    2) Create accounts then post random messages like “that’s awesome” or “tag” until they hit 100 posts

    3) Respond to WTB ads which have always been scammer magnets just like they do already

    Recently they get access to existing accounts without two step verification or create clone accounts that mirror ones that existing members have then respond to wtb ads or pm when someone responds to the sale ad the member they cloned has. Or photoshopped pics with their name and dates by them

    You won’t stop scammers. Just have to do your diligence to watch out for yourself. If a deal seems to good to be true it usually is. If you’re worried about scammers and don’t yet know what to look for just simply don’t use the px until you become more familiar with it