ALERT: YOU WILL GET SCAMMED IF...

That is why I seldom buy used gear off of the internet aside from a trusted/reputable entity. If I really have to, I'd rather meet the person at a local bank or Starbucks.

Try use web..
search the user name, search the email address, search the address
search the photos he provides see if it is from internet

lots of ways to protect urself

one of the most important, never ever try to grab a''too good to be true''

I prefer to use American Express since I don't like credit cards. Took me 10 long years to dig out of a CC mess when I was young and that taught me a life's lesson. With AA you have to pay in full at the end of the month without interest so I use AA (as "pseudo-cash" with AA scam protection) through PayPal. Never keep money in PayPal and never use PayPal balance to buy stuff (I always transfer my entire PayPal balance to my PayPal verified bank and then go to that bank ATM transfer all of it from that Bank to my primary household Bank that is not connected to PayPal or my PayPal Bank (Wells Fargo, & BofA for instance), so it can't be touched without my express written consent or a court order. If someone has a legitimate claim against me I will gladly and promptly refund 100% of their money, no problem. But I want to be an active participant in that process. Not a helpless bystander watching money being taken from my account for who knows how long because of a false "charge-back" scammer filing a claim. Dealing with PayPal during a dispute is hit or miss at best and those times they miss it can really hurt... so don't pay with your PayPal balance because to re-coup that you have to file a PayPal claim...

If I get scammed I make a claim with AA which doesn't mess around with legitimate claims of fraud and let AA fight it out with PayPal. My bank account tied to PayPal is not the same one my wife and I use for paying bills and living. In fact it's not even at the same Banking company. That's hugely important because most people don't know that if you have more than one account with the same bank, whether you know it or not, they're all tied together. The Bank can take money from any of your accounts at the same bank to settle a shortfall in any other account if they want to. My brother who is on my elderly Mom's account in case something happens bounced a check from his personal account, not hers, at the same bank but because he's also listed on my Mom's account as a co-member they took the money out of her account to cover his check even though the accounts weren't directly linked. Read the fine print on your banking agreement, especially if you own a small business under your name.

No way is scam proof but the safest way I have found it to get a PayPal account, tie it to a Bank account that you do no other business with (at a completely different bank from where you do your personal finances), Keep the minimum deposit in that account to keep it open and use American Express as your method of payment when buying through PayPal. This has saved me from several scammers in the past where PayPal was less than helpful. And last but not least don't let shame or embarrassment keep you from filing a claim (this is what the scammers are hoping for). As soon as you suspect you've been scammed make a claim.

My rule is simple, unless otherwise agreed to, if I don't have a tracking number in 10 days, and if I don't have the product as described in my possession 20 days, I'm asking for a refund. If I don't have that refund in < 5 days (the 25 day mark) then I'm filing a claim (all days are calendar days, not working days - you may want to shorten those times, but do NOT go over them or you will run out of time and could lose your claim). If it all works out in the end then no-one is harmed beyond a few ruffled feathers, But if you wait more than 30 days you start losing some of, if not all of, your rights to dispute a charge (some places it's 45 days but why risk it - I use < 30 days for everything).

If someone I don't know personally, and who I thoroughly trust, can't have a product I bought from them in my hands in 20 days, or less, then I don't want it, and I want a full refund.

Do your own research. Make your own game plan. I'm sure there are even better ways to protect yourself than what I do, I'm not a fraud prevention expert. This is just what I do and I have never been successfully scammed and I've been on the internet since old "ix.netcom.com" days in 1996.

baj2k wrote in post #16036494
I prefer to use American Express since I don't like credit cards. Took me 10 long years to dig out of a CC mess when I was young and that taught me a life's lesson. With AA you have to pay in full at the end of the month without interest so I use AA (as "pseudo-cash" with AA scam protection) through PayPal.

curious.... what do you mean by "with AA you have to pay in full at the end of the month?" thought it works pretty similarly with regular cards--you pay right away no interest, if you leave a balance you get interest. no?

btw, good tips there. you probably go much farther than most (including me) but it's good to know what is possible.

Xyclopx wrote in post #16036625
curious.... what do you mean by "with AA you have to pay in full at the end of the month?" thought it works pretty similarly with regular cards--you pay right away no interest, if you leave a balance you get interest. no?

btw, good tips there. you probably go much farther than most (including me) but it's good to know what is possible.

American Express has something called "Sign and Travel" and another program but I forget the name where any purchase over $100 can be deferred. I don't use either of those plans. AA Optima (or whatever the call it now) is a regular credit card that works just like any other card.

The main reason I like American Express is that in my experience they handle fraud claims lightening fast and they start from the "card Member is right until proven otherwise" point of view. That has not been my experience with any other Credit Card company, including PayPal.

I've had a couple incidents where my American Express was fraudulently used and I called AA, they cancelled my card, removed the charges and placed them on investigative hold, overnighted me a new card, and even offered to wire me cash in case I was stranded without money while travelling. They sent me a simple "I did not make these charges" affidavit to sign and boom they were taken off my bill never to return. Who else does that? That's why I literally don't leave home without my AA card. It has saved my a$$ several times when I was stranded without cash because of a lost wallet, missed flight, broken down car, travelling to Timbuktu, etc... I've been a card member since 1981 and if you don't accept AA I probably won't do business with you unless I have the cash on me. And when my time comes I've asked to be buried with it in case it works on the other side...

And no, I don't work for American Express or any of it's affiliates...

Thanks. I just got a mental image of St. Peter looking disapprovingly at some poor guy and saying, "and we don't accept American Express", then pushing the button sending him down to Hell. I needed that.

Scammers will be on these forums and theres not much you can do except be smart. I've been part of a few forums and have seen a lot of suspicious activity and I have been scammed. One thing I will never do again is use money order. This guy had well over 2k post and was active. I bought an item that was a bit lower then used prices but not by a lot, maybe $20-40 less then normal prices but it happens. I swnt obey order and never received the item. He got banned and I lost out. Not much I can do anymore at that time.

I dont remember who it was, but I got a PM not long ago when selling an item and they wanted pictures of my item with a piece of paper in the image with their username. Zero posts. Red flag there. I had pictures already up and everything. I knew exactly what they were trying to do.

Invertalon wrote in post #16037504
I dont remember who it was, but I got a PM not long ago when selling an item and they wanted pictures of my item with a piece of paper in the image with their username. Zero posts. Red flag there. I had pictures already up and everything. I knew exactly what they were trying to do.

This request is exactly what I do to ensure that the seller actually has in their possession the items listed - and pictured! Several times I have seen the same pictures (not as stock images) of items for sale. Asking the seller to include something very specific in a picture of the item - post-it with their user name or email, local newspaper dated that day or other specific "identifier" is a common and easy way to give a bit more assurance that the deal is legit. I hope that my requests are not looked at as "red flags". I know that I do that when requested.

Invertalon wrote in post #16037504
I dont remember who it was, but I got a PM not long ago when selling an item and they wanted pictures of my item with a piece of paper in the image with their username. Zero posts. Red flag there.

No, the red flag is if YOU can't provide what they're asking for. They're asking you to prove that you have the item, and didn't just "borrow" photos of it.

Invertalon wrote in post #16037504
I knew exactly what they were trying to do.

What would that be?

Well, why would anybody ask you to supply photos of things you are selling with their screenname on it? I could see if they want your screenname on it.

They are too lazy to dig up photos themselves and put their own screenname on them to scam people.

Exactly ^

It is not that they wanted photos with some info in them (that is perfectly fine), it was the request that they wanted THEIR username in them and it came from somebody with 0 posts. They could have EASILY used the image, if I sent it, to make their own listing and scam somebody. I am almost 99% certain that is what they wanted to do. Moose, didn't you read this thread at all about what went on?

I have no problem to prove I have an item, but I won't put their username on it. Especially given my feedback, history on the site (FM and eBay as well).

moose10101 wrote in post #16038761
No, the red flag is if YOU can't provide what they're asking for. They're asking you to prove that you have the item, and didn't just "borrow" photos of it.


What would that be?

I'm sure he can if he wants to. You seriously can't see the red flag there?

baj2k wrote in post #16036494
With AA you have to pay in full at the end of the month without interest so I use AA (as "pseudo-cash" with AA scam protection) through PayPal.

AA? American Axpress?

morph2_7 wrote in post #16038909
AA? American Axpress?

I don't think it is the new Alcoholic's Anonymous visa card. It can be used for online transactions but not in bars or liquor stores...