Attempted scam on AH

[85lc]

Beware of scammers on Africa Hunting and other websites. Someone attempted to scam me when I was buying a rifle from the AH website. Luckily, I didn’t “take the bait.”

The actual seller clockwork_7mm_gator seems to be a good seller. We were discussing the deal using AH PMs when I received the following email (Italicized).

I thought this email was from the site administrator because they had my email address. Later I checked and could not find a “gokis3”.

From: AfricaHunting.com <info@africahunting.com>
Sent: Friday, January 17, 2025 10:42 PM
To: 85lc My email address blanked out.
Subject: gokis3 has sent you a direct message: "Ruger M77 .223 walnut/blued "

AfricaHunting.com gokis3 has sent you a direct message at AfricaHunting.com. Ruger M77 .223 walnut/blued Hello buddy, you can reach out to the seller on his via email below for faster response he is a grate seller. Sweettigger500@gmail.com Cheers. View this direct message View all your direct messages Please do not reply to this message. You must visit the forum to reply. This message was sent to you because your preferences are set to receive email when a new direct message is received. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you may disable direct message emails or disable all emails. Visit AfricaHunting.com

I sent an email to this address and got a reply back from a Kyraa Weston <sweettigger500@gmail.com> which said “Pick a payment method from the options to make payment then I can have it shipped, Zelle, PayPal f&f, Venmo f&f.”

I earlier told the seller that I would send a check and he provided his name and mailing address. While Kyraa Weston isn’t the seller’s name, I assumed it was just a “nom de plume.” When I emailed Kyraa Weston back to say I would only pay by check, Kyraa Weston said that they don’t receive checks at the address and reiterated that I need to do an electronic transfer,

Luckily, the seller and I straightened out this mess using Africa Hunting PMs and then his correct email address.

I decided to email Kyraa Weston to ask how to electronic pay for the rifle and received the following email (Italicized):

From: Kyraa Weston <sweettigger500@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, January 24, 2025 4:15 PM
To: My name and email address deleted
Subject: Re: Ruger M77 MK2 .223W
PayPal info:: tste.my.rnbw.0187@gmail.com
Names:: Elizabeth ANN LEE
Family’s and friends only.
Drop a screenshot of payment.
Thanks.

 

[CoElkHunter]

Beware of scammers on Africa Hunting and other websites. Someone attempted to scam me when I was buying a rifle from the AH website. Luckily, I didn’t “take the bait.”

The actual seller clockwork_7mm_gator seems to be a good seller. We were discussing the deal using AH PMs when I received the following email (Italicized).

I thought this email was from the site administrator because they had my email address. Later I checked and could not find a “gokis3”.

From: AfricaHunting.com <info@africahunting.com>
Sent: Friday, January 17, 2025 10:42 PM
To: 85lc My email address blanked out.
Subject: gokis3 has sent you a direct message: "Ruger M77 .223 walnut/blued "

​ AfricaHunting.com gokis3 has sent you a direct message at AfricaHunting.com. Ruger M77 .223 walnut/blued Hello buddy, you can reach out to the seller on his via email below for faster response he is a grate seller. Sweettigger500@gmail.com Cheers. View this direct message View all your direct messages Please do not reply to this message. You must visit the forum to reply. This message was sent to you because your preferences are set to receive email when a new direct message is received. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you may disable direct message emails or disable all emails. Visit AfricaHunting.com

I sent an email to this address and got a reply back from a Kyraa Weston <sweettigger500@gmail.com> which said “Pick a payment method from the options to make payment then I can have it shipped, Zelle, PayPal f&f, Venmo f&f.”

I earlier told the seller that I would send a check and he provided his name and mailing address. While Kyraa Weston isn’t the seller’s name, I assumed it was just a “nom de plume.” When I emailed Kyraa Weston back to say I would only pay by check, Kyraa Weston said that they don’t receive checks at the address and reiterated that I need to do an electronic transfer,

Luckily, the seller and I straightened out this mess using Africa Hunting PMs and then his correct email address.

I decided to email Kyraa Weston to ask how to electronic pay for the rifle and received the following email (Italicized):

From: Kyraa Weston <sweettigger500@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, January 24, 2025 4:15 PM
To: My name and email address deleted
Subject: Re: Ruger M77 MK2 .223W
PayPal info:: tste.my.rnbw.0187@gmail.com
Names:: Elizabeth ANN LEE
Family’s and friends only.
Drop a screenshot of payment.
Thanks.

And once again as with many others here, the scam starts with, "Hello Buddy". Usually, it's "Hey Buddy". Glad you didn't fall for it.

 

[BRICKBURN]

gokis3 was banned along with all his IP addresses.

Stay aware.

 

[MontanaGrant]

One reason I deal strictly in forum PM's and direct phone calls. Always exceptions but haven't had a scammer willing to talk via phone yet.

 

[Robmill70]

how did they slip into the discussion in the first place?

 

[85lc]

Robmill70,​

Good question. I received an email sent from AH that suggested I discuss the sale directly with the seller and gave an email address that was really just the scammer's email.

 

[wyosteve]

DO NOT post 'I'll take it' or 'pm sent' on the public forum. The scammers clue in on these to send the texts/emails. Just do a direct pm to the individual if interested in something.

 

[gbflyer]

DO NOT post 'I'll take it' or 'pm sent' on the public forum. The scammers clue in on these to send the texts/emails. Just do a direct pm to the individual if interested in something.

That’s good advice. Thank you.

 

[85lc]

Last update: I didn't reply to scammer's las\test email so Scammer "Kyraa" wrote: "I think I we sale to someone else you are waisting my time."


On Sat, 25 Jan 2025 at 11:17, Kyraa Weston <sweettigger500@gmail.com> wrote:

I can do Zelle, Venmo f&f, Apple Pay, pick from the options I we send my info.