Scammed

[Havasufred]

Hello I just wanted to let you all know how I got scammed on this forum I posted that I needed a stock for a bam b26 and got a reply
(Hey, are you still interested in buying a stock for your Bam 26 (r9clone) dings precisely? Cause I’ve got one for sale thanks.)
($100 with shipping)
Ok can I see picture

Yes so are you selling the the whole gun
(pay $120?)
(Yeah. Hold on for the details pls?)
([email protected])
(Do you have zelle?)
Yes zelle
([email protected])
Asking for recipients name
(Anthony Freedom)
Sent
(Screenshot pls)
We good
(Yes sure. Thanks.)
Okay nice. I’ll ship it later today and let you know.
(Hi, so I’m here at FedEx and shipping is way above what I expected. $25 more is needed.)
($45 with extra charges $5 that’s $50)
(I trust FedEx. They deliver swiftly and also well packaged that’s why I use them.)
I'll send you another 25
(Okay that’s great!)
(Good morning Mr Fred! You should get your package this evening or latest by tomorrow morning.)
Thank you
(Hey, the package got tangled up with Alphabet org.. the papers are in check and my license is valid they obviously just want money!!!)
(Now they want $100 for the rifle and scope to be released!!)
You have a tracking number I can't pay any more for that rifle
(I have $60 w me I need 40 more to get this clear. I’ll owe you a couple of mags for the stress. I’m really more professional than this)
I'm going to call FedEx do you have a tracking number
(I don’t collect the tracking cause it’s not always accurate, so no I don’t have it.)
So how do you know I'm supposed to get it today or tomorrow without tracking number
(I have direct contact with the driver delivering the package.)
(I know if I pay them off now it will be all over. If you can help me with the 40 I’ll owe you. This is surreal man and I’m genuinely sorry for this experience.)
I called FedEx they told me an air rifle is classed as a toy and the package would go to the sorting depot in my area then it would be delivered locally i they doubt very much you would know the driver also they suggested I talk to the people you are saying want money I'm going to go to the PD as I work for the city here and ask them about this situation and no I will not send you more money
(I hate Alphabet org See what they caused )
Ok so the air rifle never arrived I have been advised to ask you for my money back.
I have not heard anything else from this guy.

 

[Havasufred]

The three letter was Alphabet org

 

[silvershooter589]

I realize this was a total scam, but on a side note... if you agree to pay shipping and then choke on the actual shipping costs, man up and honor your commitment!

I recently paid $200 to ship a rifle when I thought it would be more like $50. Whose problem was that? Mine alone!

 

[Havasufred]

Alphabet org

 

[Havasufred]

Strange he said 120 shipped

 

[Moderator3]

Fred - sorry for your loss. What is the username that scammed you? From your story, it looks like the details were worked out over email or text? Airgun Nation strongly advises people to use the Private Message function. Airgun Nation goes to great lengths to filter out scammers, but we cannot help you avoid those that contact you directly through email, social media or texts.

Please review this link for more information:

Avoid Classifieds Scams

www.airgunnation.com

And while you are there, please read these other links to the rules.

CLASSIFIED RULES

Classifieds Rules​

www.airgunnation.com
AVOID SCAMS

Avoid Classifieds Scams​

www.airgunnation.com
GENERAL RULES

Terms and rules​

You must agree to these terms and rules before using the site.

www.airgunnation.com

 

[Geezerhood]

Bummer. Was this shipped from outside the USA? There would have been no reason for the seller to have any "Three Letter" agency involvement if it was shipped within the USA. (Assuming the agency that regulates alcohol among other things.)

There really isn't any way to protect the buyer these days other than paying with a credit card, which rules out private party sales. I wish that UPS / FedEx or the Post Office offered COD with a buyer's inspection, supervised by an employee, for a modest fee. That will never happen of course.

 

[Havasufred]

I am in no way blaming anyone except the scammer I am new to this forum and it’s a lesson learned the bank has a complete transcript of the transaction and are filing a fraud claim so I may get my money back the reason I posted is maybe someone might recognize the name and be aware of him

 

[Havasufred]

He said he lived in California and the alcohol tobacco and fire arms got the package ok I gave him a total $145 I’m not going to go hungry over it. I just feel suckered to death

 

[Vidwize]

Bummer. Was this shipped from outside the USA? There would have been no reason for the seller to have any "Three Letter" agency involvement if it was shipped within the USA. (Assuming the agency that regulates alcohol among other things.)

There really isn't any way to protect the buyer these days other than paying with a credit card, which rules out private party sales. I wish that UPS / FedEx or the Post Office offered COD with a buyer's inspection, supervised by an employee, for a modest fee. That will never happen of course.

I’ve bought 4-5k cameras online but a paid a small fee to a middle man ( broker ) that inspected item before releasing my money. Well worth the fee

 

[Vetmx]

My question is how did you post a WTB on this forum without following the rules? Sounds like karma got you quick.

 

[Havasufred]

My question is how did you post a WTB on this forum without following the rules? Sounds like karma got you quick.

Like I said I’m new and it was my first post and I put it in the wrong area lesson learned I don’t understand why you said karma got me I did nothing wrong

 

[Larry1956]

So there's someone else in CA says he has a barrel kit for sale, I hope he's legit. How do we make sure payment is not released till after the buyer gets the package and is satisfied that he got what he paid for?

 

[Larry1956]

I’ve bought 4-5k cameras online but a paid a small fee to a middle man ( broker ) that inspected item before releasing my money. Well worth the fee

Can you provide more info on how this works?

 

[Geezerhood]

I’ve bought 4-5k cameras online but a paid a small fee to a middle man ( broker ) that inspected item before releasing my money. Well worth the fee

There used to be quite a few brokers out there. Not so many now from a web search. I remember one of the more popular brokers used by ebay buyers and sellers for guns, back when they let you sell firearms, ended up disappearing with a lot of people's money.

 

[Vetmx]

You can’t have a lesson learned without doing something wrong. That aside, what’s interesting is the scammer found you in the Traditional Airgun section in the brief time your WTB add was there. I thought they only focused on our classifieds. So yeah, you didn’t read the rules and got bit big time. I wouldn’t have expected a scammer to find you outside the classifieds.

 

[MartyMcFly]

This shelton (aka Anthony Mateo) guy is a known scammer on http://www.airguns.net/classifieds/scammerlist.php

Phones used include:

Used: 831-246-6472 and 731-630-1530.

-Marty

 

[Havasufred]

Now that’s great info thank you so much I’m going to print it and take it to the bank

 

[Trucker3573]

So many people are absolute scum. It’s sickening. You have to be ultra aware on WTB ads. I have posted them twice. Once all I got was responses from obvious scammers. The other time I got a gun with a stock broken in half and not a single mark anywhere on the shipping box. They are cursed (WTB ads) to me and I will probably never post another. Good news is that after a 115 dollar investment into a stock repair and around 170 dollars for fx to completely reseal and put in a new valve seat the gun is shooting great. The bad news is that it is the most expensive streamline to have ever existed. Lol

 

[Reg Creep]

Can you provide more info on how this works?

check out guntab.com