Something fishy going on?

[earthquake]

I am a very small, almost hobbyist vendor for Athlon Optics. I get maybe 6 orders a year, and out of the blue today I got an order for a Cronus....my first!

However, the buyers info seems weird to me. I'm no fraud expert, so I'm not 100% if this is real or not....here goes:

Billing address: Minnesota
Shipping address: Ohio
Buyers area code: Arizona
Buyers email domain: Montenegro

Legit, or am I being overly paranoid?

 

[timesublime]

Montenegro is a known hot pocket of fraud.

 

[2ndamendfan]

Yea you are being fished for sure.

 

[Badfinger]

PM sent

 

[earthquake]

What was the scam I read about here with this kind of thing happening to Hide members or vendors? Once product is shipped, they contest the charge or something? If the money comes through, I am good, right? I use Braintree so it will take a few days to clear.

I looked up the ship-to address with the County auditor office and the name is different...but it could be a gift I suppose.

 

[2ndamendfan]

Your getting ready to learn a costly lesson i fear. Not 1 single thing is adding up.

 

[earthquake]

I'm not submitting the order. I already ran it by Athlon and they didn't like it either. Would local LE do anything about this? Not that a crime has been committed yet, but....

 

[Srgt. Hulka]

Run like the wind Bullseye!

 

[diverdon]

They will probably have a stolen card. The card bank approves the charges, but when the owner gets the bill he reports fraud and the bank back charges you. The address you sent the scope to was a dead drop, no one waiting there for the cops to pick them up. Sell him the scope and you will be out the money. You know this already or you would not be asking. You could direct him here for all his optics needs: http://www.countersniperoptics.com/

 

[W54/XM-388]

You are 100% being scammed.
Most likely shipping it to some unsuspecting mule who then ships the merchandise to some other party.
Walk away from it and never look back.
Ask yourself how long it will take for you to sell enough stuff to make up the cost of the loss of that scope + the $50 the credit card company will charge you just to make sure you feel good and raped.

 

[Yasherka]

Late to the party on this one but to echo everyone else here, wouldn't touch it with a 10 foot cattle prod

 

[Unknown]

Local law enforcement will likely tell you it is a civil matter so they don't have to work the case. Then you can sort things out with the bank/s. I wouldn't ship or place the order for them until AFTER the cashier's check clears.

Another possibility might be they are trying to get some item that is otherwise restricted from being shipped out of the country, so they can ship it out...

In either case, it simply isn't worth the potential grief.

 

[Slash0311]

I'd run like the others are saying.

A note on local law enforcement. These scams and others happen so often, resources are limited. Add the fact that computers and technology allow these bastards to bounce stuff all over the world, the chance of bringing a suspect to the courts are very slim. But here's also the problem, using your case as an example. Ask yourself, at this point, what crime has been committed? Attempted fraud, but that would be very difficult to prove unless things are actually shipped and money is then bounced some how. That's why they pull this crap. Very little risk (usually outside USA jurisdiction) and only gain if someone falls for it.

Trust your "spidy sense". If it's telling you to question the deal, run. Good luck

 

[bogeybrown]

I agree it's likely a scam, but it got me thinking about some housekeeping I need to do personally:

Chicago area code
Chicago or Birmingham billing on my cards
Shipping to a totally different address

I guess my IP address would be the only corroborating factor.

In your case that's way too many flags to ship off the first order you've gotten for the highest priced scope they make.

 

[earthquake]

I informed the "buyer" that the scope was discontinued and I would refund their money.

Then I just got another order for the same scope, new billing and new different shipping addresses, new 3rd state area code, new foreign domain email Addy.

They are fishing!

 

[DavidK]

US Postal money orders are the only scam proof payment since they can not be cancelled. That is unless the MO are forged or stolen that is.

I have had my cc company call me several time with fraud alerts. I am sure that by the time that I return the call and confirm that is the charge is fraudulent, the seller already shipped and got screwed.

 

[308pirate]

I informed the "buyer" that the scope was discontinued and I would refund their money.

Then I just got another order for the same scope, new billing and new different shipping addresses, new 3rd state area code, new foreign domain email Addy.

They are fishing!

Take their money and ship them a turd in a ziploc bag

 

[Steel+Killer]

Here’s what I would do........run the card for the amount, but ship a $10 pellet gun scope for the shits and giggles of it......lol

 

[19Scout77]

If you are going to try any of the last two suggestions, have at it...but do not bill the card. Just in case it’s legit...you do not want to become the criminal.

 

[earthquake]

They pay with a CC and it's run through Braintree. I am talking with my bank and Braintree about this today. I disabled the web store. Like I said, it's just a very small-time business for me. No biggie. But Braintree takes their cut, so I don't want to be gigged $50 every time some dickhead tries to steal a scope.