• 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!

Reminder, Protect yourself at all Times

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Minuteman
  • Apr 12, 2001
    35,628
    40,222
    Base of the Rockies
    www.snipershide.com
    Guys,

    Just a friendly reminder, you should protect yourself at all times, especially if you are using the PX

    Our registrations are increasing, hourly, not just daily. We attempt to vet the accounts to protect you on our end by manually approving the new accounts via IP, email and user name, all these things we look at in order to identify potential issues. But that doesn't mean we are always successful.

    The site is super busy, IE our traffic is increasing and that makes it a target. Once they see they can get the traction they strike.

    We block most VPN and Proxy accounts, many to the complaints of their owners who get blanket rejected. We understand a lot of professionals today use a VPN, but so do the scam artists and hackers. Many of the older members can tell you about the Chinese hacks, which have been reduced greatly by this method, but scammers can get through.

    Sure they have to pay to get into the PX immediately but not to BUY, so they will try these reverse scams. Also, we have had a few use stolen credit cards to sign up in order to Buy in.

    Vet your sales thoroughly, the idea of a great deal or quick sell may seem awesome on face value, but when you get burned, understand we have very little recourse when they fade back into the ether. They have layers of protection, so you need to up your game.

    We try not to play big brother and I would rather remove than have to investigate something shady. It's easier to say no, so we do, but with so many new registrations the odds are not in our favor, or yours.

    We want your SH experience to be positive, which requires help on your end not just ours. If you think it's shady it probably is, so walk away.

    I turn down dozens of registrations a day as I said, many of those might be valid, but we pass anyway. I can deal with the lectures and the hate mail for rejecting accounts, but again, watch your back.

    Lastly,

    Mind your manners, you're being watched, and not by us. Unfriendly forces are scanning the site to identify hate and threats and they are submitting them to the government. In those cases, the government will investigate. They are your political opponents who are submitting your words to law enforcement. Politically motivated hate speech will get you in trouble. These people are out there, they want to hurt you for your words and views.

    Be smart, it's still the internet and while many of us have created friendships here, they are not your friends, they will push you off the cliff.

    Friendly reminder for all
     
    Excellent post, thanks for the warning.

    I dont buy much anymore but if I do Ill be sure to only deal with people who have been around for a while or have good references from a known member.
     
    • Like
    Reactions: tomcatmv
    Thanks for keeping the riff raff out (as best you can) Frank.

    My personal rules for buying on the PX are:

    1) Try to deal with established members whenever possible.
    2) Only pay via PayPal FF if a well established member, otherwise they get regular PP and I pay the fee. Absolutely no money orders/cashiers checks for high dollar purchases from non-established members.
    3) High dollar item and I will insist on calling the seller and speaking via phone. If he gives me the name Joe Smith, but I detect a foreign accent, no deal.
    4) Nigerian princes with a sob story are a hard no.
    5) I will not send your brother's cousin the remainder of the money you accidentally over paid.
    6) If it's too good to be true, well you know.
     
    It sucks that so many scammers (and political folks) are trying to interrupt things here.

    Thanks for spending so much time keeping the unwelcomed idiots to a minimum...
     
    • Like
    Reactions: 6/250/40
    I had a money order sent to me for a Noveske once to be shipped to an FFL. Buyer didnt ask enough, or the right questions.

    Money order was perfect. Looked legit and might have passed some level of scrutiny.

    However, ship to address was an Exxon gas station in BFE. The name given did not pass google foo. Only got answering machine when call phone number. It had an electronic voice recording like a cell phone.

    There should be no anonymity when transacting with anyone.

    Use standard PP and negotiate the fee (who pays). Not use FF unless they are truly your friend; and not just Assbook friend.

    Great post bu the way and thank you for hosting this site and tolerating the BS.
     
    Sad but true. Leftist scum have already infested this board, all you have to do is watch certain members run to the defense of Karl Marx, Joe Biden or Obama. They try and pretend they own a gun, most of them can post pictures of guns they saw at a rifle range or a buddy let them shoot. They are here at the behest of their socialist overlords and they are usually paid to come to places like this and compile an enemies list for their masters. I'm hoping to watch them cry again in November.

    Twenty years ago I bought a web belt and several magazines for a WWII gun of mine off a budding shooting board. The guy I bought from was a WWI collector. I had a blued WWI version of the magazine he had and he was super excited about it. To guys like him is was a $50-75 dollar treasure, to me it was a weird $2 yard sale find. He was super stoked, I told him I'd mail it with the check for nothing, I was that happy to get the web belt and mags.

    Anyway, he rounded up two extra mags and priority mailed my stuff, it was at my house two days before I could get off work and mail him the check and magazine. I got his stuff in the mail asap. The exchange was great, two gun guys enjoying their hobby. Both parties were pleased, he called me when he got the mag he loved it. I really miss those days.

    Between the shit posters, outright fraudsters, communists and Nigerians I stopped buying from random people for the most part anymore.
     
    Thanks Frank. I been here a little while and I probably bought more than I have sold here. I am glad to have had good experiences with Hide members. As far as political stuff, I wouldn't say it on the internet if I wouldn't say it to your face. Stay vigilant people and watch out for those scammers.
     
    Thanks LL for the reminder. It’s easy to forget that everything posted is not private and can easily be used out of context to paint a bad picture of good guys.
     
    2) Only pay via PayPal FF if a well established member, otherwise they get regular PP and I pay the fee. Absolutely no money orders/cashiers checks for high dollar purchases from non-established members.


    Use standard PP and negotiate the fee (who pays). Not use FF unless they are truly your friend; and not just Assbook friend.


    Remember the whole reverse scammer thing. I sell a lot on here and do not accept standard PP. I only take a USPS money order because they can be verified on the spot at the post office and PPFF because it is the same as cash to me. I don't have to worry about a reverse scammer filing a false PP claim which almost always sides with the buyer.
     
    • Like
    Reactions: 260284 and Maggot
    Paypal (or other similar services) is your friend.

    As a buyer you are protected from getting scammed with fakes/junk/no shipment. Use credit card for even more protection. My USAA card is awesome.
    As a seller you are also protected because if buyer pays with paypal you have a paypal verified shipping address to ship to. So a scammer can't use somebody else's account and have it shipped to their address.


    I can't wrap my brain around using anything else when dealing with strangers and commerce on the interwebz. You dudes that want to be paid with money orders-seriously and :ROFLMAO: ?
     
    And for a quick pivot, what a wonderful place this forum is. Yes, it is shameful that mopes will try to exploit the members; however, I continue to learn and have only dealt with class act buyers and sellers in the PX. Isn't it nice that once in a while you can take a risk on buying something you are not 100% you need (or upgrade to something else) and if it doesn't work out as you envisioned, you have the PX available to you to recoup some of that $$$? Obviously Frank's SOP is working.
     
    • Like
    Reactions: phlegethon
    Paypal (or other similar services) is your friend.

    As a buyer you are protected from getting scammed with fakes/junk/no shipment. Use credit card for even more protection. My USAA card is awesome.
    As a seller you are also protected because if buyer pays with paypal you have a paypal verified shipping address to ship to. So a scammer can't use somebody else's account and have it shipped to their address.


    I can't wrap my brain around using anything else when dealing with strangers and commerce on the interwebz. You dudes that want to be paid with money orders-seriously and :ROFLMAO: ?
    I would not count on them to help you with any firearm related transaction. There are many reports that they are very anti gun and usual policies won’t apply.

    On the other hand I do use PayPal for PX transactions. I accept the risk of occasionally being a fraud victim, which is offset by the increased convenience and lack of fees. Everything in life is a balance between risk and reward.
     
    I would not count on them to help you with any firearm related transaction. There are many reports that they are very anti gun and usual policies won’t apply.

    On the other hand I do use PayPal for PX transactions. I accept the risk of occasionally being a fraud victim, which is offset by the increased convenience and lack of fees. Everything in life is a balance between risk and reward.


    An actual gun-maybe-that's a good point although still worth a try and better then your chances with a personal check, money order, F&F, and whatever else. That's where USAA credit card comes in to play. Rifle scope, range bag, optic mount etc etc etc they will help. I've used them and they came through more then once.

    Glad you don't mind being a fraud victim on occasion :rolleyes:

    "Everything in life is a balance between risk and reward"-good to know-thanks for that (y)
     
    As a seller you are also protected because if buyer pays with paypal you have a paypal verified shipping address to ship to. So a scammer can't use somebody else's account and have it shipped to their address.

    Enjoy living in that fantasy of protection and hope you never run into someone trying to scam you who knows how to work the system.

    The "Protections" that PayPal offers for sellers are pretty much worthless when it actually comes down to not getting ripped off.

    I've been doing this for a long time and we've seen some really good scams, ones that were so good even eBay and PayPal both couldn't figure out at first what was going on.

    Manual order processing and all the folks in sales talking to each other, really helps catch the new scams.

    Oh and yes... how about scams shipping stuff to someone's actual verified address that they didn't order.

    Start selling some higher value, easily flipped items and you'll find how little "Protection" you actually have from any payment provider.
    You pretty much have to protect yourself even if it makes it a bit less convenient for the customer or takes a bit longer to process the orders.
     
    • Like
    Reactions: Sean the Nailer
    Enjoy living in that fantasy of protection and hope you never run into someone trying to scam you who knows how to work the system.

    The "Protections" that PayPal offers for sellers are pretty much worthless when it actually comes down to not getting ripped off.

    I've been doing this for a long time and we've seen some really good scams, ones that were so good even eBay and PayPal both couldn't figure out at first what was going on.

    Manual order processing and all the folks in sales talking to each other, really helps catch the new scams.

    Oh and yes... how about scams shipping stuff to someone's actual verified address that they didn't order.

    Start selling some higher value, easily flipped items and you'll find how little "Protection" you actually have from any payment provider.
    You pretty much have to protect yourself even if it makes it a bit less convenient for the customer or takes a bit longer to process the orders.


    In my fantasy land I've actually used the protection of Paypal and also my CC. It's not perfect-nothing is but it's better then a money order or personal check or dumbass F&F which is the point I'm trying-so far evidently unsuccessfully-to make.
     
    Want to stop a lot of this shit?

    Credit Card companies have to stop considering fraud a "cost of doing business" the losses for which they insulate themselves from by raising fees on member businesses and interest rates on the honest customers.

    Victim - "Visa I have been ripped off. Here is the business where my card number was fraudulently used. Why don't you send an investigator to get information on the sale and charge the person?"

    Visa - "Nah, not worth our time. We will refund your account. Don't worry we wont be hurt by this."

    You can be assured Visa wont lose a dime and the criminals know as long as they keep the fraud to only a portion of the pie repeated in below threshold increments they will never be investigated.

    Go zero tolerance for awhile and this would stop.
     
    In my fantasy land I've actually used the protection of Paypal and also my CC. It's not perfect-nothing is but it's better then a money order or personal check or dumbass F&F which is the point I'm trying-so far evidently unsuccessfully-to make.

    It sounds like your experience is probably one sided as the "customer" or "buyer"

    I could be wrong.

    Have you ever had to deal with being on the seller side when someone who knows what they are doing (Including often the actual legit account holder, trying some new "method" to get free stuff they read about on the interwebz) is trying to scam you?
     
    It sounds like your experience is probably one sided as the "customer" or "buyer"

    I could be wrong.

    Have you ever had to deal with being on the seller side when someone who knows what they are doing (Including often the actual legit account holder, trying some new "method" to get free stuff they read about on the interwebz) is trying to scam you?


    Using Paypal (or similar) offers more protection to both buyer and seller then money orders, personal checks, and F&F. It's all I'm trying to say. I'm not trying to stop Ocean's 11 etc just not get boned on a rifle scope purchase :)
     
    Paypal always sides with the buyer

    I have a friend that sold a phone on ebay, the buyer ended up stealing it from him for the cost of return shipping of a rock
    The buyer mailed a rock back to the seller, told Paypal he returned the phone and provided a tracking number
    so scammer got a $300 iphone for the cost of shipping

    I am not sure I would state paypal has more protection, Paypal also has a right to make final decisions against your claim with or without evidence.
     
    Using Paypal (or similar) offers more protection to both buyer and seller then money orders, personal checks, and F&F. It's all I'm trying to say. I'm not trying to stop Ocean's 11 etc just not get boned on a rifle scope purchase :)

    So what you are saying then is you only have experience on it from the "purchaser" stand point.
    (Or at least that's the way I read the sidestepping the question).

    Just wait till you use PP and all it's great "protection" to try to sell your rifle scope and the buyer would like a free scope and doesn't mind if they get banned from some forum or not.......

    Legit money orders and checks offer great protection to the seller, the problem is that usually the buyers aren't willing to wait the 2 weeks for them to fully clear. You can cut that time down if the financial institution has a local branch and you are willing to pay it a visit because it's worth it.
     
    Paypal always sides with the buyer

    I have a friend that sold a phone on ebay, the buyer ended up stealing it from him for the cost of return shipping of a rock
    The buyer mailed a rock back to the seller, told Paypal he returned the phone and provided a tracking number
    so scammer got a $300 iphone for the cost of shipping

    I am not sure I would state paypal has more protection, Paypal also has a right to make final decisions against your claim with or without evidence.


    Did your friend ship to the buyer's verified Paypal address?
     
    Paypal always sides with the buyer

    I have a friend that sold a phone on ebay, the buyer ended up stealing it from him for the cost of return shipping of a rock
    The buyer mailed a rock back to the seller, told Paypal he returned the phone and provided a tracking number
    so scammer got a $300 iphone for the cost of shipping

    I am not sure I would state paypal has more protection, Paypal also has a right to make final decisions against your claim with or without evidence.

    Yep, that sucks, we have it happen way too often.
    The market places / payment processors like it that way because they get their cut and the seller takes all the risk and shoulders all the fraud and takes all the losses. They couldn't care less about the sellers, they only pay them lipservice because all they care about is "user numbers" to inflate their stock values. Holding people accountable isn't popular with the consumer.
     
    Did your friend ship to the buyer's verified Paypal address?

    :LOL: :LOL: :LOL: :LOL: :LOL: :LOL: :LOL: :LOL:

    Like that would do any good for seller protection.

    We Just lost another case last month where someone bought our stuff, shipped back junk from someone else....
    (Oh yes, "verified" address, and they signed for the package and everything, don't matter).
     
    Yes
    Shipping to the verified address has nothing to do with what happened


    It is relevant with respect to that to get verified and still be a scammer you have to basically scam Paypal-which I'm assuming you won't be able to do more then once. If they get cases opened up where people are returning rocks and stealing money etc.
    I remember when I got verified they mailed something to an address and I had to go online and respond with info in the letter they sent.
     
    Some people just can't see past their own rose-colored glasses. Don't bother wasting your time trying to educate them with facts and logic, let alone history that has proven itself.

    How many folks here are aware of others who've had their bank accounts and/or credit accounts "frozen" for a LONG time whilst 'gaypal' sits on their thumbs?

    But hey, it's all 'good in the hood', right? Can't happen to me, things like that only happen to 'those other people..' right? HA.
     
    • Love
    Reactions: W54/XM-388
    So the Stasi has come to the Hide.
    Wonder why they aren't going after the celebs spouting bs on international platforms.

    R
     
    Thanks for working on keeping the bulls*&% out. I just drove 5 hours to buy a older Surgeon Scalpel, and it was well worth the drive! It sucks how many people are out there running these scams!!!