Got scammed

[Rez Exelon]

I also didn’t think PayPal allows payment for ammunition or even firearm parts (scopes too?) but I see sellers requesting an electronic payment quite often here in the classified section for those items. Does Venmo allow it? I don’t use either for payments so just asking.

Interestingly the recommended Escrow.com service linked at the top of the classified section does NOT allow guns or ammo. This very nearly completely screwed up the one time I sold a rifle via AH. It was a LOT of work to get them to release funds. I think I posted about it in the past but long story short USPS "lost" the rifle, then magically discovered it as soon as investigations were opened, then there were some other shennanigans that came into play, and meanwhile Escrow was playing games with the money.

Fortunately for me @ShaneLyle is an absolutely standup pillar of integrity that worked with me until I got funds and he got his rifle. My only complaint is that I still haven't heard a hunting report from him with it!

Pic related

 

[Daggaboy375]

A WTB declaration is like a big fat cricket to a bream.
Scammers will gather.
DB

 

[MeatballMedic]

Reported it as soon as I got the message from him! Thank you for swift action.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Interestingly the recommended Escrow.com service linked at the top of the classified section does NOT allow guns or ammo. This very nearly completely screwed up the one time I sold a rifle via AH. It was a LOT of work to get them to release funds. I think I posted about it in the past but long story short USPS "lost" the rifle, then magically discovered it as soon as investigations were opened, then there were some other shennanigans that came into play, and meanwhile Escrow was playing games with the money.

Fortunately for me @ShaneLyle is an absolutely standup pillar of integrity that worked with me until I got funds and he got his rifle. My only complaint is that I still haven't heard a hunting report from him with it!

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View attachment 750953

Thanks for the heads up.

 

[CamoManJ]

Its unfortunate this has happened, yet again.

Phone call conversations with verified established members, using Zelle & personal checks have worked well for me on this site.

The one time I got scammed on this site was a WTB scope, lesson learned.

 

[deewayne2003]

PayPal doesn’t allow payment for firearm related transactions. They will stop the transaction and hold on to the money for violating their terms of service.

This is correct, I bought some ammo online years ago and paid with PP and they locked my account and tried to take the balance of my funds.

Took a couple emails and phone calls but they at least handed over my extra cash.

 

[matt85]

These kind of people need to be hunted like coyotes or rats.

I have VASTLY more respect for rats and coyotes! Hell, even the mice I catch around my home and drown in a bucket have earned more respect. Scammers deserve ALL the horrible things in the world. I say, round them up and tie them to the ground in front of a driver ant migration.

 

[Woodcarver]

Interestingly the recommended Escrow.com service linked at the top of the classified section does NOT allow guns or ammo. This very nearly completely screwed up the one time I sold a rifle via AH. It was a LOT of work to get them to release funds. I think I posted about it in the past but long story short USPS "lost" the rifle, then magically discovered it as soon as investigations were opened, then there were some other shennanigans that came into play, and meanwhile Escrow was playing games with the money.

Fortunately for me @ShaneLyle is an absolutely standup pillar of integrity that worked with me until I got funds and he got his rifle. My only complaint is that I still haven't heard a hunting report from him with it!

Pic related
View attachment 750953

Guntabs.com is the escrow service to use. It was specifically set up to help gun owners in the legal sale and transfer of our firearms. It can also be used for other stuff, but guns are their main purpose.

 

[rookhawk]

Try to avoid Zelle, Cash App, or Venmo when paying for something.


I try to only buy from folks who will accept credit cards, PayPal, or personal checks.

(I think's it's pretty unlikely that anyone on this forum doesn't have a friend who won't accept a credit card for a 3% fee)

I would for a friend, but might have to charge sales tax depending on where it is shipped.

As someone that works with the credit card industry tightly, I would never accept a credit card as the seller.

The odds of getting scammed by the buyer where they have the goods and you don't get the money is very high. The odds of the payment processor banning the seller due to it being firearms related is high, again leaving the seller out their merchandise and the money.

A personal check is worthless, just like a cashiers check, because both can be forged or "bounce" contrary to conventional wisdom.

In the end, reputation is everything. If someone builds a reputation that you can count upon, buy from them or sell to them. If you're hesitant, do neither.

There is no cost that isn't ultimately passed on to the consumer. I recently had someone purchase an item from me that had $2000 of fees associated with it had he clicked "buy now" with purchase protection, card processing, etc. In the end we mutually decided that a conventional, higher risk, higher trust required transaction at a $2000 discount was better for both parties.

Know your buyer, know your seller.