SOLD Buyers BEWARE!

[mxjoe35]

There is a scam going on where you reply to someone's thread saying you are interested buying their item and then you get text messages or emails from people pretending to be the seller. They are combing through posts and as soon as they see a reply they look up your account and message you directly trying to get you to PP or Venmo money. Don't fall for this trick! Make them message you directly from their snipers hide account. Below is an email I received and I received a text from someone different before that.

 

[notacos4u]

Did you report this to the Mods?

 

[mxjoe35]

Did you report this to the Mods?

Not yet. After posting this I have seen other posts of similar scams. I was LUCKY, because I tried to pay but PP declined the payment. Then they immediately gave me a different email and I got suspicious.

 

[OREGUN]

Where you been for the last 8 months. If you are posting “I’m interested” or “Wanted to buy” in a public forum, you are waving a flag for a scammer to come take your money. And it’s been a known issue for a year or more.

You need to message the seller directly, from their linked username, in their ad. Any seller worth the time will say, right in their ad, “dm only, do not post to this thread”.

 

[mxjoe35]

Where you been for the last 8 months. If you are posting “I’m interested” or “Wanted to buy” in a public forum, you are waving a flag for a scammer to come take your money. And it’s been a known issue for a year or more.

You need to message the seller directly, from their linked username, in their ad. Any seller worth the time will say, right in their ad, “dm only, do not post to this thread”.

Apparently I've been under a rock!

 

[Holliday]

There is a scam going on where you reply to someone's thread saying you are interested buying their item and then you get text messages or emails from people pretending to be the seller. They are combing through posts and as soon as they see a reply they look up your account and message you directly trying to get you to PP or Venmo money. Don't fall for this trick! Make them message you directly from their snipers hide account. Below is an email I received and I received a text from someone different before that.

Freakin scammers! People need to do the extra work to verify. If the seller won’t help make you feel comfortable, move along…. Same with buyers.

 

[AlphaThree]

Where you been for the last 8 months. If you are posting “I’m interested” or “Wanted to buy” in a public forum, you are waving a flag for a scammer to come take your money. And it’s been a known issue for a year or more.

You need to message the seller directly, from their linked username, in their ad. Any seller worth the time will say, right in their ad, “dm only, do not post to this thread”.

Only seems to be a problem here. No other forums I’m on seem to be plagued by scams like the Hide

 

[Holliday]

Only seems to be a problem here. No other forums I’m on seem to be plagued by scams like the Hide

Why do you think that is?

 

[Im2bent]

How did they get your phone number and email address?

 

[6.5SH]

How did they get your phone number and email address?

Real name and business name right there, so about 10 seconds of reading google search results

 

[codym]

I had this happen yesterday they texted from a Colorado phone number.

 

[Herb Stoner]

Only seems to be a problem here. No other forums I’m on seem to be plagued by scams like the Hide

Nah - plenty of scammers on guitar and other forums.

 

[Holliday]

Just got off a video call with a used scope purchaser. We both have established profiles with multiple feedbacks.

He got to see the product and ask questions. We established payment and shipping arrangements. I will throw an Airtag in to go along with the shipment with a return label for it. Shipping will be immediate once payment arrives.

I don’t think either one of us could feel more comfortable….

 

[michasco1]

Just got off a video call with a used scope purchaser. We both have established profiles with multiple feedbacks.

He got to see the product and ask questions. We established payment and shipping arrangements. I will throw an Airtag in to go along with the shipment with a return label for it. Shipping will be immediate once payment arrives.

I don’t think either one of us could feel more comfortable….

Shheesh I just bought an atacr and did not ask all of that. Your a pretty legit individual. Kudos to you for going the extra mile to make the butter feel comfortable. I have done 3 deals over 1k with the most expensive 2.2k

 

[NiteQwill]

I have done transactions on here from a few dollars to $10k+...

One of the ways for a successful, safe transaction is a video call with the buyer/seller with the said item right there in front of them. I have NEVER declined a face to face and/or phone call to speak with a potential buyer.

Also, if buying or interested in an item, message the seller directly. Do not reply to their thread, post I'll take it, etc. That opens you up to scammers.

 

[Im2bent]

Real name and business name right there, so about 10 seconds of reading google search results

I would make a piss poor scammer.

 

[paraman1]

I appreciate you bringing this to my attention. I have been away from the shooting community for about 10 years and while I used to be a pretty prolific buyer and seller of stuff on here and other sites I had no idea how sophisticated the scammers had become. I haven't even logged into a forum with a classifieds section in forever. Feeling lucky that none of my recent purchases here turned out to be a scam.

 

[Holliday]

Just got off a video call with a used scope purchaser. We both have established profiles with multiple feedbacks.

He got to see the product and ask questions. We established payment and shipping arrangements. I will throw an Airtag in to go along with the shipment with a return label for it. Shipping will be immediate once payment arrives.

I don’t think either one of us could feel more comfortable….

Shheesh I just bought an atacr and did not ask all of that. Your a pretty legit individual. Kudos to you for going the extra mile to make the butter feel comfortable. I have done 3 deals over 1k with the most expensive 2.2k

The only thing that I would consider above normal SOP for an expensive purchase, is the Airtag. One of the perks of buying from an iPhone user . I actually get a kick out of watching shipments track so it’s win, win.

I did forget to mention that I always price with insurance included too. So in effect, it is my problem until safely delivered. I insist on signature delivery. Yeah for some folks that is a pain in the ass but it is part of the deal. If you make the mistake of doing that stupid “sign online thing” and it gets mis-delivered, that’s your problem. I would still file a missing claim but it will be much harder or impossible once you have signed.

IF this forum is a target for scammers (as purported above), it is likely due to it being perceived as easy pickings. If everyone does their part to not get scammed, they will look for easier hunting grounds.