Recent New Buyer/Seller Issues

[FloridaCCW]

Please be cautious when buying or selling items.

Someone tried to rip me off a couple weeks ago when I was selling one of my Seecamps on this forum. The new forum member asked me to use paypal and/or an escrow account. He (maybe she) even said that he did not trust me LOL...  Anyways, it is against paypal policy to sell firearms and paypal/escrow accounts are easily faked on the internet through emails, websites etc... Just stay away from escrow accounts IMO. He was a new member that has not been on since...  

I have noticed similar issues arise lately and I am concerned about the trend. It is sad that a few bad seeds are making it hard for new and honest forum members to gain trust. They are lurking the forums and seeing how to best proceed with their fraudulent activities. I suggest that new forum members cannot buy/sell (see the classifieds) until certain terms are met. This will not stop the problem, but it is a start. The economy is making people desperate and the internet is making it easy for them to get away with things from miles away.

[Richard S]

Now that raises the hair on this old prosecutor's neck.

[kjtrains]

Thanks for the headsup, CCW.  That does make one quite angry, to say the least.

[tracker]

One common thread here is a "new" forum member who registers and places something for sale or offers to buy something shortly thereafter; not an absolute foolproof theory but it does have an element of consistency.

[DDGator]

Unfortunately, our forum software is not sophisticated enough to restrict access to the classifieds.

The classified are only supposed to be for participating members, and if some registers and then starts selling (and I notice it), I usually pull the plug or at least inquire.

If you see problems like this with forum members -- let me know and I will police it.

In the meantime -- you just have to be careful and use good practices.

[JR956678]

Thanks for the heads-up CCW and the watchful eyes Duane.

For what it's worth, we are not being singled out as a target for this kind of fraud; I administer a couple of forums and moderate a couple more and we have had problems on all of them. Spamming forums is common but also attempts at other fraudulent practices such as you saw, as well as other types of forum abuse. Good awareness is a key to avoiding problems.

[Marshbrook]

I to appreciate the heads up! Thanks

[yankee2500]

CCW,
I don't appreciate you telling everyone I tried to rip you off.

  I feel I have been pretty lucky as I have probably dealt with most of the active members and many who are not.
I may have been had once and I won't go into details and it is possible it was a ligit claim.
  It's good for everyone to know that some of the slimeballs will go to any lengths to rip you off.

John

[kjtrains]

CCW,
I don't appreciate you telling everyone I tried to rip you off.

  
John

 

[Chief-USN]

 I deal with Computer/Data security on a daily basis as part of my Job description. Usually I "get a feeling" when something is "Hinky" about the deal. And it is amazing that as soon as I use a phrase like " I need a little more contact info, as I Am in Computer security and am cautious" They tend to disappear...  It is a shame. The Internet is really a wonderful thing.

 Chief

[FloridaCCW]

CCW,
I don't appreciate you telling everyone I tried to rip you off.

 

[epkptp]

Just curious...Did you think he was trying to rip you off simply because he wanted to pay through paypal? Or was there another reason?  

I only ask because "discreet paypal" is fairly common...