I got scammed on NWF

[MTpockets]

Be safe out there fellas....

Check for exact matches of the photos...

Sometimes the photos go way back...

 

[Jay Walk]

Pay cash in person once the 4473 clears 

 

[Local Loader]

Mrs. Merkt has been telling me for 50 years that I'm suspicious by nature. I don't know if I've ever been sharp, but I'm still highly suspicious.

I'm still wondering what a T2 is.

There are still trusting people around. I've been selling lots of stuff on Gunbroker. I don't have any way to take CC, GB doesn't allow for internet funding options. So people send me checks and postal money orders. A few people on NWFA have even trusted me to do them right. The feedback history on sales venues helps enormously. Talking to people on the phone can also be a confidence builder. Nothing is entirely infallible nor crook proof.

A way that you can use for doing CC is to use Square, free to signup and you can even get a free card reader as well and you can even send payments with it if you know how.

 

[Local Loader]

Recently got scammed by Amnesiac503.
This was a man in the middle type of scam. He offered up a T2 for $400 which is pretty much too good to be true. I saw his positive feedback and thought that it would've been good to go. I sent over the money through Zelle and he ghosted me. I contacted the number associated with the Zelle and the person told me that he received 3 transactions like this from the same person for an in-game currency. He said that "my friend will Zelle you" Those other payments he received was most likely through a scam as well.

Lesson learned, always go through goods and services through PayPal, even if the person has positive feedback. Never too young or too old to be swindled.

Don't let this unfortunate situation discourage you from using other forms of payment. I myself have used Zelle with several members on here with great success. The thing that I try to do is keep in contact before sending or receiving payment, even shipped things to other states. If it's being shipped, I always require proof of shipping first and I expect the same in return before money is sent. Meeting FTF is also a good option if other payment options are requested, done that as well. Square is a nice option if someone would rather use a CC/Debit card instead of cash.

 

[Kruel J]

Don't let this unfortunate situation discourage you from using other forms of payment. I myself have used Zelle with several members on here with great success. The thing that I try to do is keep in contact before sending or receiving payment, even shipped things to other states. If it's being shipped, I always require proof of shipping first and I expect the same in return before money is sent. Meeting FTF is also a good option if other payment options are requested, done that as well. Square is a nice option if someone would rather use a CC/Debit card instead of cash.

I have Zelle, Venmo and Cashapp. They're great and convenient. But I won't send money to strangers with them.

 

[raftman]

Really interesting example of how even an established feedback score isn't necessarily a guarantee. I guess a couple of additional things one can look out for (aside from how recent any feedback is):

1. How active someone is OUTSIDE of the classifieds. Sure there are probably plenty of honest people here who want to do nothing other than buy/sell/trade, but in general, if someone is here to scam, they're probably not gonna waste time socializing. If the person has recent, meaningful participation outside the classifieds, odds are the account doesn't just exist to scam.

2. Supporting membership. If someone is a supporter member, it means they donate money to the site and scammers are extremely unlikely to donate on the regular if what they hope to do here, they can do for free.

Personally this is also why I don't generally buy anything that needs shipping and don't ship. Guess that's an option, too.

 

[drakeslayer]

I look how long they've been awhile member, feedback, and how active they are.
All my transactions minus one has been FTF and I will keep it that way. The one transaction was a trade and I had zero suspicions so went with it and all was well.

Thiefs can %$# %$#@

 

[1775usmc]

Be safe out there fellas....
View attachment 2153247
Check for exact matches of the photos...
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Sometimes the photos go way back...
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Yup. Probably stole the photos from an original classifieds too.

And $450 ain't that good of a price. Haha

 

[1775usmc]

The bad is starting to outweigh the good. This site is starting to go down hill drastically. To much BS. Start requiring a photo I.D approval to become a member. It would limit the scammers and you could actually hold people somewhat accountable. There are some cool cats in here but I'm starting to see less and less specially as people wise up and decide to leave Oregon/washington

Make people pay an annual fee. That deters a lot of nonsense. And then allow members to call out what they see. That also helps a ton.

I enjoy this forum and I know the rules are set for a reason and I do my best to follow them. With that said, criticism and accountability go a long way. Free is a great price but it brings plenty of riff raff and BS along with it.

 

[Lilhigbee]

Another one whose history would be telling. That member hasn't been here since 2020, but suddenly reappeared with a new location and ads. Now gone completely again. I presume the Mods got to him.

Be safe out there fellas....
View attachment 2153247
Check for exact matches of the photos...
View attachment 2153241
Sometimes the photos go way back...
View attachment 2153246

 

[tjwong]

Yep do your due diligence! I just purchased a M16A1 colt upper receiver from a guy in Jacksonville FL. that cost me $1100 shipped and he wanted a postal money order. But I was able to verify his address, and we spoke on the phone, and he was known to many as a legit seller. So I sent the MOs and a few days later received my new upper receiver which was just as he said it was.

 

[Greshamreloadr]

The bad is starting to outweigh the good. This site is starting to go down hill drastically. To much BS. Start requiring a photo I.D approval to become a member. It would limit the scammers and you could actually hold people somewhat accountable. There are some cool cats in here but I'm starting to see less and less specially as people wise up and decide to leave Oregon/washington

Yes, have had several bad experiences over the last year. People that say they want an item then never show up. You call them then they ghost you and act like they never called you in the first place. Several, I believe do this to other members on here. It gets annoying for me and others to drive around town and waste gas just to have someone not show up. Just be honest and say you don't want it and you are not going to be able to make it. Wasting my time and gas is expensive. I wish we could have an anonymous board where we could list said members that have a done this. It would weed them out for us. I think some of us put items up at a price to help out the next guy not just make a profit. But it this is what is to continue. Count me out. I will throw it away before wasting my time on some of the smaller items.

 

[trukinbear]

We need some sort of escrow service

 

[spookshack]

Requiring paid membership is not going to happen. It is what it is….

 

[1775usmc]

Requiring paid membership is not going to happen. It is what it is….

I know it's not gunna happen. Just saying it deters a decent amount of nonsense but still happens. I pay annually to be apart of some other forums/classified and it still happens there too.

 

[spookshack]

My response was not to the validity of a paid membership, but that Joe has stated on more than a few occasions that it's something he's not interested in doing as it doesn't fit the main objective for the forum.

About Northwest Firearms

We believe the 2nd Amendment is best defended through grass-roots organization, education, and advocacy centered around individual gun owners. It is our mission to encourage, organize, and support these efforts throughout Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming.

 

[orygun]

Yes, have had several bad experiences over the last year. People that say they want an item then never show up. You call them then they ghost you and act like they never called you in the first place. Several, I believe do this to other members on here. It gets annoying for me and others to drive around town and waste gas just to have someone not show up. Just be honest and say you don't want it and you are not going to be able to make it. Wasting my time and gas is expensive. I wish we could have an anonymous board where we could list said members that have a done this. It would weed them out for us. I think some of us put items up at a price to help out the next guy not just make a profit. But it this is what is to continue. Count me out. I will throw it away before wasting my time on some of the smaller items.

There is a feedback feature. It's almost more important to let other members know when things go bad then when they are good.

 

[Greshamreloadr]

There is a feedback feature. It's almost more important to let other members know when things go bad then when they are good.

I have done that before but again these people play the victim and say give excuses.

 

[Superxjeff]

Mrs. Merkt has been telling me for 50 years that I'm suspicious by nature. I don't know if I've ever been sharp, but I'm still highly suspicious.

I'm still wondering what a T2 is.

There are still trusting people around. I've been selling lots of stuff on Gunbroker. I don't have any way to take CC, GB doesn't allow for internet funding options. So people send me checks and postal money orders. A few people on NWFA have even trusted me to do them right. The feedback history on sales venues helps enormously. Talking to people on the phone can also be a confidence builder. Nothing is entirely infallible nor crook proof.

I agree with you! A simple phone call can clear up 90% of scams.

 

[OneArgus]

I guess I am too old, a handshake still works for me sometimes depending on the man and the shake.
But I do not get the sending money to a guy I do not know what ever zelle is heard of it somewhat.( shut up i'm old ).
I use Ebay often for Camera stuff when I see and item I check:

Feedback and trade only 100% ers . Or a reasonable issue 99.7% and higher.
I check how long they have been selling and when was their last sale.
Where are they located.
And then how long have they had the account.
And then I write them and ask some random question about the item. That tells me how they communicate.
Then I bid or buy now.
But I have PalPay and tracking to get money back.

Explain to me like I am 5. Why do people send money without verification?
No knock on the OP, but its happened to me here once. A guy wanted to email me, I said we can just use NWFA chat.
He refused and I said see ya. I know NWFA can see IPs and locations so I feel safer doing it here.

Sad, scammers do this.