Help for people that can't decide scam or not
Ok, lots of posts regarding scam activity. Like it or not every online activity has problems, GunBroker.com is no different, it is up to you to defend yourself.
Here are a few red flags:
1. A non rated seller that just joined in the last week.
2. Underpriced item, normally they have a buy it now slightly under the going rate.
3. Paypal...just don't. Edit- Add Zelle, Venmo or any other quick electronic payment service to that. They all have clauses in the user agreement that it is not to be used for gun transactions. You have zero recourse when you get scammed and on top of that they will lock your account.
4. The word "kindly", have any of you seen a scam communication that doesn't have that word? Must be commonly taught English in other countries but not used as often in our country.
5. Very few pictures.
6. Gunbroker warning on the auction asking if you've seen that exact item listed elsewhere, I believe that comes on after someone reports it.
7. No reliable communication other than text/email.
8. Multiple listings with wildly different backgrounds.
While none of these alone are major alarms but normally scam listings have most or sometimes all.
Sorry if this discussion is not allowed, feel free to delete but man, forums seem overrun with people that can't seem to figure it out on their own.
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keithbeachfl: 31516301876891/comments/
I was one click from losing $599 to a fake FFL online dealer. AKA - my Lesson on why to only buy on gunbroker.com and still check out the sellers :)
Here’s what saved me – and for those smarter than me – you don’t have to do every step!
1) I got lucky – I did a very quick pay to the email stated on their website for payments. Somehow, they didn’t take the money from that transfer and instead texted me asking me to cancel that payment and pay to some other person. That made me suspicious. So actually - i did lose my $599 and was lucky i could cancel the payment - read on.
2) I googled the address stated on their website – it appeared in google maps as a farmhouse in UT. I asked them for their address, they replied with “San Antonio”.
3) I asked them to send a photo right now as they were texting me telling me to “not worry this is safe”. They texted three photos – I uploaded them to https://images.google.com/ a google site that tells you where else on the internet that picture has appeared. The first picture I uploaded was shown to actually have been in a news story.
4) I went to see who owned their site using this lookup https://lookup.icann.org/lookup and found they are based in Cameroon Central Africa!
5) I asked them for their FFL # - which I learned you can confirm here: “ATF FFL eZ Check”. If you are given an FFL – and even if it checks out – call that store or location to confirm THEY are really the ones selling you the gun. They stopped communicating after I asked for the FFL
I have sent the entire story to the BATF and my local State enforcement – the fake FFL site is still up - gunsalesbroker.com - if anyone has law enforcement friends – please forward this to them! Let’s catch these F’ers… please don’t confuse that fraud site with gunbroker.com or any other well established online seller.
--- entire story below -
Scam FFL dealer - website shows address of a house in UT - they state they are from San Antonio... feels like overseas actor impersonating a US gun store.. the photo they sent in response to my ask that they prove their storefront – were found from google search!
On 5/24 i attempted to purchase firearm from https://gunsalesbroker.com/
I clicked checkout and agreed to pay $599 for them to ship to my local FFL whose address i provided.
Their website - instructed to pay by Bitcoin (wtf??) or Paypal using address: gunsales91@gmail.com
I did immediately pay to paypal and sent them the paypal reciept.
I then got a text asking me to pay - they had no idea i paid paypal - and told me to pay to a different person not listed on the website. with bad english instructions below:
On Mon, May 24, 2021 at 5:10 PM <gunsalesbroker@gmail.com> wrote:
Yes sir we ask you to make payment using our manager account because the company account its at the verge of deposit. Yes. Your right we sent you the email via from our service so don’t be skeptical okay. Make sure you pay using this PayPal email bellow, make payment under friends and family.
Email: wanyama.florence@yahoo.com
Name: Florence wanyama
I asked them for pictures of their store – they sent me stock photos I found elsewhere on the web.
I asked then for a copy of their FFL - no reply...
They text me from phone 415.323.3341 which when i call it goes to google voice mail.
On their home page they have a product category "machine guns" with a picture of an AK-74 for $750 - i highly doubt a true fully auto AK goes for $750...
I can send you the emails or provide any additional info I may have -
Keith
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Holy Cow! I have NEVER had a single issue. I consider myself lucky. I'm thinking, I am not using GB anymore!
I have recently been getting warnings from my Credit Cards, and Email ACCT, I have had to change acct names and passwords more frequently.
I hope it's not from this site?
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>>3. Paypal...just don't. Edit- Add Zelle, Venmo or any other quick electronic payment service to that. They all have clauses in the user agreement that it is not to be used for gun transactions.<<
I know PayPal prohibits using their service for firearm transactions (for firearm parts and accessories it can be acceptable), but when I signed up with my bank for a Zelle account, I searched my user agreement for any prohibitions on using Zelle for something like a legal firearm sale, and there was no such prohibition. (I don't know about Venmo, as I do not use it.) Where is this information coming from that Zelle cannot be used for a legal firearm sale?
I do know that one cannot "pull back" a Zelle payment, so unless I trust the seller, and everything "matches" I wouldn't recommend a buyer use it for a payment method. When I sell, I am offering it as an option to buyers, and some have chosen it; I don't like the "association" -- suggesting sellers who accept electronic payments from services like Zelle or PayPal -- are somehow more likely to be fraudulent.
Also, SELLERS need to be aware of scams. I just got an e-mail yesterday through GB's system asking if I "shipped immediately"; when I explained that I shipped after a payment cleared my account, I got a "response" from the "buyer" that "she" (the username indicated a female) has "chosen three of my items" (I have only three items listed, none are a firearm right now) and payment and FFL information was at a link they included in their message -- the link wanted me to "sign in" using one of common accounts (social media or common e-mail accounts); no doubt entering my user-name and password at this "link" would have involved the scammer stealing that information (phishing attempt).
I may take a moment to alert GB, but my recent experience trying to get issues resolved indicates it will be months before they get to my issue, at which time I'm sure this scammer (using their GB account) will have phished multiple sellers and will be long gone. (If a moderator here can contact GB management more quickly, and wanted this user's name, let me know; I'd like to see this scammer shut down quickly, as a lot of damage could be done if sellers are falling for this.)
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I've been a member on GB for a long time, I've never posted on the forum here that I am aware of. I'm only going to say this, whomever is managing this website needs to begin cracking down on scammers and non paying bidders with an absolute iron fist. It's gotten bad on here, really bad.
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I found a scammer last night.
I was looking for a galil ace2 pistol...found listing that was way below value....looked at his other listings....and all populat guns that all had buy it nows that were way to good to be true. I googled pics and sure enough they are "borrowed" from others and all had different backgrounds....I then checked his completed auctions, and he has sold same guns multiple times, and as one is purchased using.buy now, it gets relisted....so far since he opened his account on July 20 2021 he has sold over 15k in the same guns.....oh and he just takes paypal....I have reported to GB with links to where pics were stole from etc....and it's been 24 hrs and dude.is still selling same guns over and over. Gunbroker seems to be ignoring my warnings....his user ID is BUFFALO471......It makes me sick seeing this happen and no way to warn the buyers since GB doesn't care it seems......anything else I can do?
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I've had the same issues. Looked all over the gun broker web sight. Made several attempts in different ways to inform them of a crooked dealer. Days later got a " how did we do " form.
Can not gun broker have a hot line/ rapid response to respond in time to shut down a crooked seller to avoid honest customers from getting ripped off?
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Been buying on GUNBROKEN since 2001. Most of my buys are from Kasey. My feedback is almost 400, all postive. l've had to get a refund from sellers only TWICE. No problems EVER. First scam hit me 3 months back by a first fime seller. No feedback. Just one item to sell. l was the only bidder. Paid with USPSMO. Took me a couple months. Post Office got my money back. One little unmentioned FACT here. The US MAIL owns YOUR mailbox. They dont take kindly to crooks using THEIR boxes to steal from folks😵
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Well it has finally happened to me. I purchased and saw the Verified Seller and I paid. I've filed a BPP claim, and I'm waiting for GB.
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With the Post Office understaffed give it a little extra time. I bought off one old guy and he had gone to the hospital. It took a while, but I got it. The biggest problem I have is with people that just should not have an FFL. To put it bluntly, they are just a little slow.
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Beware of the web site, "Megafirearms.com". Site looks authentic & prices reasonable. Morning after I paid I received notice from my bank of 2 fraudulent charges to my card that were denied. RipOffReport.com has been notified - as well as local police up to D.O.J.
Also use caution on buying Hornady 80255 (.223 Spiral Point) ammo from any site. The seller will promise 2-3 day delivery after paying & I'm still waiting on product 20 days after getting "apologetic" emails.
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Beware of Clelen Robert Scroggins, address: PO Box 96 Francis oklahoma 74844 Oklahoma. Changes P.O. Box and that name is a deceased person.
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GunBroker Pay setup requires that you enter your Bank account information--OK as in bank, account number, name/address--plus your bank account password--NOT OK.
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fatcat458: 31516301876891/comments/31516327508635
Been buying on GUNBROKEN since 2001. Most of my buys are from Kasey. My feedback is almost 400, all postive. l've had to get a refund from sellers only TWICE. No problems EVER. First scam hit me 3 months back by a first fime seller. No feedback. Just one item to sell. l was the only bidder. Paid with USPSMO. Took me a couple months. Post Office got my money back. One little unmentioned FACT here. The US MAIL owns YOUR mailbox. They dont take kindly to crooks using THEIR boxes to steal from folks😵
Hello. I am thinking I'm about to have to do the exact same thing as you, seeing as practically the exact same thing happened to me. Do you have any advice or experience you can share about your dealings with the USPS Inspection Service and the investigation that led to you getting your money back?
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Take a look at item #921854753. This same revolver was previously sold on Guns International. The pics on GI show a matte stainless revolver with silver grip medallions. Now it's miraculously a bright stainless revolver with gold grip medallions. No mention in the ad that the revolver was refinished. I've contacted the seller about it with no response. Too bad there isn't a way to attach comments directly to the ad so as to warn potential bidders about what they're actually bidding on.
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dth: 31516301876891/comments/
Take a look at item #921854753. This same revolver was previously sold on Guns International. The pics on GI show a matte stainless revolver with silver grip medallions. Now it's miraculously a bright stainless revolver with gold grip medallions. No mention in the ad that the revolver was refinished. I've contacted the seller about it with no response. Too bad there isn't a way to attach comments directly to the ad so as to warn potential bidders about what they're actually bidding on.
Or, it could just be a different gun.
The seller on that auction is a top 25 seller with over 7000 feedbacks, unlikely to be a scam.
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Be aware of a possible scam from a potential buyer acting extremely naive regarding the Gunbroker bidding process. I've had at least two of those now and tried to provide some basic helpful information even though that same info was very plainly included within the listings. Their also seem to target the most expensive item which I had listed. Questions like, "What payment methods do you take if I decide to bid?" Their follow up message has been to send me a link and request that I open a PDF type file containing their personal information, info on their local FFL, etc. and requesting prior authorization from me for them to bid on an item that I have listed. When I declined to open the link which they provided, then I never heard from them again. I suspect the links are being used to get sellers to open malware of some type.
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During Jan and Feb here in 2022 I've had two scammers try to sell me guns. You should only use USPS MO's. Try to call them before sending any money. Check their writings to you, see if they use proper English. Usually it's a buy it now at a way lower price than the going rate.
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I just had a buyer who asked several times to accept PayPal for payment. He missed the first auction reserve, then I relisted the item with a lower reserve a good bit under his highest bid from the first listing. He reached out and asked what the reserve was and would I take paypal. I said no to paypal and let him know his last bid on the first auction would cover the newly set reserve.
Then he does not bid enough to win the auction and the gun did not sell again. So he reaches out and says he had a reminder set but missed the end of the auction. Would I sell him the gun and accept paypal as payment. Said he was uncomfortable sending a cashier's check. Also said he would provide FFL information.
I said no to all of it. Told him that firearm is listed many times from other sellers and was certain he would find one to buy. I really get the feeling he was trying to goad me into accepting PayPal.
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Hello fellow shooters. Has anyone here done business with theguncrewllc? I bought a handgun on layaway back in March 2022 but never received a receipt after two payments. I found out today that their online store is closed. After reading several customer reviews, I think they are running a SCAM business. I would appreciate your feedback.
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Just purchased an item from a seller, buy it now, below market price.
He texted me asking for a Zelle payment. Item is in Ohio, number is from Montana. Zelle attached to the number is no good, he wants me to send it to a different Zelle account. He kept asking what my Zelle limit was, so we could break the total into payments to multiple Zelle accounts. Email address comes back to a Company based in Zambia / Africa.
When I told him I need a picture of the zelle account on a piece of paper next to the pistol, he said he'll do this Tomorrow. But he still wants $500 Tonight to show I'm a "serious buyer". When I declined he got angry.
He has four other items for sale, all with buy it nows, all below market, all with different backgrounds. Account has a perfect trading history (as a buyer), with last activity 11 years ago. No seller ratings. Would love an admin to check into this, the last time I was nervous about something like this the transaction went smoothly.
Edit, the item I purchased has now been relisted, and the seller has blocked me for not sending him payment by Zelle. Reported to GB staff and negative feedback left, hopefully it gets taken care of before anyone gets taken for a ride. Seller's name is "iamplastik"
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Be aware of possible account hack. I had not been on gunbroker for a while and came to discover that I had a listing posted for a firearm I dont even own. It was listed as a buy now under my account and the buyer reached out to me about payment. I informed him this was not posted by me. There is no one in my household but me and my wife here all the time. This had to be posted from another computer than mine. I cancelled the sale and filed for a credit. I have since changed my password. But if hacked from gunbroker..they will get the new information anyway
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AlbinsFirearms: 31516301876891/comments/31516338734747
Be aware of a possible scam from a potential buyer acting extremely naive regarding the Gunbroker bidding process. I've had at least two of those now and tried to provide some basic helpful information even though that same info was very plainly included within the listings. Their also seem to target the most expensive item which I had listed. Questions like, "What payment methods do you take if I decide to bid?" Their follow up message has been to send me a link and request that I open a PDF type file containing their personal information, info on their local FFL, etc. and requesting prior authorization from me for them to bid on an item that I have listed. When I declined to open the link which they provided, then I never heard from them again. I suspect the links are being used to get sellers to open malware of some type.
Just had a user try that now -- he messed up though as the item doesn't need an FFL; I'm not opening his link so I don't know what his exact scam is, but I see it's a redirect. I have notified GB (I don't know if they'll follow up on it). I won't post the user's name but it starts with "designerx..."; if anyone gets any messages from such a user, just ignore him.
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There is a 30.06 7600 carbine for sale now. It was listed as Sold on 07/03/2022 for $1350 and Sold again on 07/11/2022 for the but now price of $1450. On 07/11/22 it shows relisted. I am the only one that has bid on this gun for $1000.
I asked Gunbroker. They said he’s doing nothing in violation of their policies.
sure seems suspicious to me. Any opinions or advice?
Seller is unrated and has no other items.
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Madalyn: 31516301876891/comments/
There is a 30.06 7600 carbine for sale now. It was listed as Sold on 07/03/2022 for $1350 and Sold again on 07/11/2022 for the but now price of $1450. On 07/11/22 it shows relisted. I am the only one that has bid on this gun for $1000.
I asked Gunbroker. They said he’s doing nothing in violation of their policies.
sure seems suspicious to me. Any opinions or advice?
Seller is unrated and has no other items.
Got a link to the auction? How do you see it was sold so long ago?
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I paid for a gun and the seller now disappeared.
What can I do?
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chrisj: 31516301876891/comments/
I paid for a gun and the seller now disappeared.
What can I do?
Link to the auction? How did you pay? More info needed. Very ambiguous post with no information to help you.
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I am on another forum and from time to time we get asked about a certain online seller... I look at the website and one of the first things that I noticed is the English is funny. And of course no credit card and they have were you can chat. When ordering these days you must think like Sherlock Holmes and read the signs.
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Please update info if/as needed. Thank you, shootuadeal
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I paid cash to my gun dealer to order me an 1885 Winchester. He ordered it through GunBroker.com the first week in november and paid with his credit card. He told me it could be a few weeks. It is now Feb 4 and I have not gotten the gun or my money back. The seller claims he never sold the gun, then he said it was sold but it was not his department to do refunds. A claim was filed with GunBroker but as of yet no response from them at all. I filed a claim telling GunBroker what happened . They responded saying that since my name was not on the transaction there was nothing I could do and it was up to my gun dealer. He filed a report with GunBroker but says they have not responded to his claim. I will never buy from Treasure Hunter or GunBroker ever again.
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