Perusing some listings and came across an M1A in near new condition that was, quite obviously, priced too good to be true (red flag #1) - for, get this, $750. That price either screams scam or remarkably stupid individual. I reached out to the person who listed it to ask some questions and see what kind of response came back. On the surface, it sounded somewhat on the up and up, but I still didn't buy it. First hitch was that he said he was in one state, then came back and corrected himself and said he was in another state (red flag #2).
Now, I've heard before about folks copying old ads and old photos and recycling them to make new scam listings. So, I right clicked the photos and did a Google image search. And there it was. The exact same listing, word for word right on AR15.com, on an ad from 2010. Same exact photos, exact same description. Obvious scammer.
So, I flagged the listing, then followed up with an email to AL including links to the ad on AL as well as the 'original' ad from AR15.com Looks like AL has already pulled the ad, hopefully they've axed the scammer too.
Moral of the story again folks - if it sounds too good to be true, it is. Use your brain, use the tools at your disposal (such as Google searches) and be sure to call these folks out and turn them in if you can. I've not been the victim of this kind of fraud/scam yet, and I hope to never be.
By the way, I did write back to Sir Scamalot and told him the jig was up...
Now, I've heard before about folks copying old ads and old photos and recycling them to make new scam listings. So, I right clicked the photos and did a Google image search. And there it was. The exact same listing, word for word right on AR15.com, on an ad from 2010. Same exact photos, exact same description. Obvious scammer.
So, I flagged the listing, then followed up with an email to AL including links to the ad on AL as well as the 'original' ad from AR15.com Looks like AL has already pulled the ad, hopefully they've axed the scammer too.
Moral of the story again folks - if it sounds too good to be true, it is. Use your brain, use the tools at your disposal (such as Google searches) and be sure to call these folks out and turn them in if you can. I've not been the victim of this kind of fraud/scam yet, and I hope to never be.
By the way, I did write back to Sir Scamalot and told him the jig was up...