Gotta Love ARMSLIST Scammers

[RugerSlinger]

So I got a PM from a gentleman saying he would take my rifle for less than my ARMSLIST listing, but the only problem is I never listed it on ARMSLIST. So I google my gun and I find the ad with all the pictures I took and an asking price below my asking price.

Has anyone ever had this happen to them and is there any recourse for me? The listing is expired now but this sucks that we have to deal with this kind of shit.

ARMSLIST ad
ARMSLIST - For Sale: Custom Remington 700, 260 Rem, Manners T4a Kreiger

my ad
http://www.snipershide.com/shooting...-260-full-build-priced-sell-*price-drop*.html


Thanks

 

[ltfirehunter]

Now I don't which one to make an offer too.

 

[EXTREMEPREJUDICE]

Well, what's really interesting is that according to the link you posted, the scammer had your ad and pictures back in February? The link to the Hide posting looks like May 3rd? Now I've heard of some scams but that dude is good!

 

[beenjammin]

Has happenned to me twice. Someone was trying to sell a sako trg there using pictures I posted here. When I inquired about it just for giggles he said it was his and I cackled him out and the mods removed the post. Definitely beware of that place

 

[DocUSMCRetired]

That's scary. Makes it hard for honest people to deal online.

 

[WTW]

I found a posting of a Sauer 202 about a year ago and was going to pull the trigger. The guy was in a different state and it was a heck of a price. No problem shipping to my FFL. I started doing some digging and found the same pictures on Gun Broker. Got in touch with the Gun Broker seller and low and behold, the guy on Armslist was trying to scam.

 

[ltfirehunter]

I don't even look on Scamlist anymore, not even for a chuckle.

 

[JUNO]

Well, what's really interesting is that according to the link you posted, the scammer had your ad and pictures back in February? The link to the Hide posting looks like May 3rd? Now I've heard of some scams but that dude is good!

Exactly what I looked at first.....

Seems "Armlister" posted it first!

 

[RugerSlinger]

Sorry Juno, I didn't go back to the original ad. Here you go if you want to be like that.
http://www.snipershide.com/shooting...0-krieger-260-manners-t4a-big-price-drop.html

 

[rideHPD]

I've thought about this before, even on here. Not necessarily that someone had stolen pictures, but that I just wanted to make sure they actually had what they claimed out of pragmatism. If it's an expensive item I'd usually ask for them to print out a piece of paper with some design on it that send them the digital file of, or ask them to write something specifc down on a piece of paper, and take a picture of the item with the sign next to it. Most are generally understanding that I only ask to protect myself, and if they are unwilling or get aggressive I simply leave it be, as I can't see them following up well if there's any issue with the item and will generally not be pleasant to deal with.

 

[buckey]

Happened to me also!!

 

[RTH1800]

I made two great purchases on arms list. Then one day I found the same gun on guns international and AL. Same pics of rare gun. I contacted the GI guy and told him.

 

[siscoe308]

armslist is a den of thieves

 

[Infringed711]

Soooo many low ballers on armslist too, a little negotiation is fine but some of them take it to the extreme...then just spam you with emails when you ignore them

 

[damoncali]

It's the same scam that infests all online market places, and often has origins overseas. A common tactic among these thieves is to take legitimate listings or even identities and combine them into real looking posts. At some point, there is some f'd up reason that they have to do something strange (change of address, need money early or sent to a friend, whatever they come up with). Someone once "sold" concert tickets on craigs list in my name (Like a lot of software guys, I'm easy to find online). The pissed off buyer let me know what she thought of me before I had a chance to let her know I had no idea what she was talking about. Then she felt stupid.

It's probably worse on the gun auction sites because the thieves rightfully assume they don't have the resources that some of the bigger sites do to combat this stuff in real time. It's a massive game of whack a mole with these thieves.

There isn't much you can do about it except not be an idiot (as a buyer), and notify the website (if you see your pictures being "sold" as a scam).

 

[Redmanss]

Watermark your photos "FOR SALE ON SNIPER'S HIDE ONLY" or something similar.

 

[cal50]

Armslist is the Craigslist of gun stuff.

I have had some good local deals and a couple distant ones and outed six different scammers. Only one scammer was on the ball but even he was easy to flush out.
I placed a "Want to buy " ad for a Ruger LCR .357 revolver. One guy responded from New York, the only problem was his email and phone / text number were all different ( not NY ) and the photo he sent me was lifted from Gunbroker.
I sent him the auction links and complimented him on having a "pair".

Watermarking only slows down the scammers that have basic photoshop skills. Always use common sense and be cautious.

 

[B.A.C.]

All the scammer would have to do is create a listing in February and then edit the post with your pics down the road. I'm not impressed.

 

[PlinkIt]

Watermark your photos "FOR SALE ON SNIPER'S HIDE ONLY" or something similar.

that a pretty good idea..

 

[Redmanss]

Watermarking only slows down the scammers that have basic photoshop skills. Always use common sense and be cautious.

I agree but it does weed out the lazy ones, which are most. Basically don't make it easy on them, kind of like a pad lock on a gate - compromised in five seconds with a pair of bolt cutters, but still keeps out a hell of a lot more folks than a sign posted "No Trespassing".

 

[LVMED]

I've never had someone use my pictures but I have had people inquire about my sales asking to do the whole "I'll send you extra and you wire transfer me the remainder". As for buying I've had nothing but positive experiences. Got my Blaser Tac 2 and Aug A3 via armslist.

 

[E. Bryant]

Using Armslist only for face-to-face transactions solves a lot (not all) of these problems.