Advice on buying a firearm online

[gl51virus]

I want to purchase a firearm from a privite individual. How do I protect myself from being scammed. By this I mean I do everything I am supposed to do: send FFL and Postal Money Order, but that seller never sends the firearm.

This is hypothetical, just want the information from many on here who have done these transactions.

 

[W54/XM-388]

Re: Advice on buying a firearm online

If you are buying it from and ad on a forum like this one,

check to see:
How long they have been a member?
What the content of their posts have been?
Does anyone else know them personally?
Does anyone vouch for having done deals with them before?

Some gun marketplace sites such as Gunbroker offer buyer protection but it is often limited (such as in Gunbroker's case, to $400 max payout).

While you can never be 100% sure without picking up and paying in person, usually a long history of people knowing the person and a long history of good deals with others is a pretty good indication of a transaction that is going to be good.

Prices that are way too good to be true, getting stock or not detailed pictures, bad grammar, brand new accounts etc are not good signs.

Get their name / address and look at the place with google street view and check registered owners for the address on the tax rolls for the county.

While you can never be 100% sure, at least you can have a very good chance that all will go well. Just remember if the deal falling through will ruin your life or drive you into bankruptcy, then it's not worth the gamble and you can most likely always pay more to be guaranteed to get the item.

 

[gl51virus]

Re: Advice on buying a firearm online

Thanks, I appreciate the input

 

[Boomholzer]

Re: Advice on buying a firearm online

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: virus51</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I want to purchase a firearm from a private individual. How do I protect myself from being scammed. By this I mean I do everything I am supposed to do: send FFL and Postal Money Order, but that seller never sends the firearm.

This is hypothetical; just want the information from many on here who have done these transactions. </div></div>

The above is great info. If you have reservations on seller; in initial offer state terms of shipping through a FLL at the sellers end and allow FFLs to exchange certifications and contact info outlining the expected transaction. The seller may ask for an additional service fee to reimburse sending FFL. If that is a total deal breaker for additional $$ to your discretion, I'd let it go. If you’re uncomfortable it’s not worth a few 10 dollar bills. So consider the risk vs. the perceived deal. Having a phone number or PO means nothing.