ALERT: YOU WILL GET SCAMMED IF...

Invertalon wrote in post #16038887
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).

Ah - I see said the blind man! Or at least the guy whose reading comprehension was bit off earlier!
I concur with your observations.

TeamSpeed wrote in post #16038856
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.

Invertalon wrote in post #16038887
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).

I believe that whenever you are trying to sell something online especially expensive camera items, at the very least the seller just gotta be able to prove their Online Reputation. Whether that is eBay, or some forum...
It's your hard earned money, so Without solid reputation of the Seller, why take chance? just pay the little extra and buy new from reputable stores, B&H, Amazon, Adorama etc...

^ Not sure why you quoted the both of us in relation to your reply? Our quotes and your reply don't really coincide.

EDIT: Just to make the comments clearer (since a few folks didn't seem to comprehend the replies), imagine this scenario (which Invertalon actually had happen)...

Seller A is selling something, Buyer B contacts Seller A and asks that Seller A takes pictures of the items being sold and then asks Seller A to put Buyer B's screen-name on the photos...

This is unusual, completely uncalled for, and only would serve one purpose, Buyer B wants to scam other folks. I hope this clears things up. If I were Invertalon, I would have done exactly was was requested but added the word "Beware Of" as a prefix before the buyer's name.

We were scammed by Danny Doyle this week. He has $550 of our money and sent us AN EMPTY WHITE ENVELOPE! We have a ton of proof with this guy. He is good at what he does. He makes emotional connections and makes you trust him. PLEASE be careful when it seems too good to be true.

It's too bad folks have to resort to that just to make money. If they would actually put their talents to good use, they most likely would actually make much more in some industry somewhere.

They just need a good ol' fashioned smackdown, what goes around eventually comes around.

We have the FBI and our bank investigating him so hopefully he will get his and you're right, he's apparently very smart to have scammed so many, if only he would use his powers for good.

TeamSpeed wrote in post #16043333
what goes around eventually comes around.

Amen!

gbsonguitars wrote in post #16043372
We have the FBI and our bank investigating him so hopefully he will get his and you're right, he's apparently very smart to have scammed so many, if only he would use his powers for good.

Our prisons are full of people who thought they were too smart and too clever to ever get caught. They make wonderful inmates.

I'm speechless. Why are obvious scammers' posts not deleted. Why are they left to be read?

gbsonguitars wrote in post #16043287
We were scammed by Danny Doyle this week. He has $550 of our money and sent us AN EMPTY WHITE ENVELOPE! We have a ton of proof with this guy. He is good at what he does. He makes emotional connections and makes you trust him. PLEASE be careful when it seems too good to be true.

My sympathies. What a bummer. He/she tried to get me, too. It's so easy for honest folks to forget that there's people out there that are just out to scam us... because we would never do that.

Skip Souza wrote in post #16031570
We already have a 30 Day, 30 Post requirement. There will be no tweaking the software at this time because we have all new software arriving later this year.

Each and every member is required to vet their own buyer/sellers. There are a few guidelines that all should follow, the primary being: "PERSONAL MESSAGING REGARDING SELLING OR BUYING ITEMS WITH MEMBERS WHO HAVE NO POSTS IN FORUMS AND/OR WHO YOU DO NOT KNOW FROM FORUMS IS HEREBY DECLARED STRICTLY STUPID AND YOU WILL GET BURNED."

After that, be sure to know your trading partner and establish lines of communications outside of this forum.

Glad you posted about the 30 day, 30 post requirement Skip. I was going to ask if that had gone by the wayside, after reading up to this point. Glad to see it hasn't, although obviously there are people who know how to get around that.

I think what we all need to always keep in mind that common sense needs to prevail, especially when on the internet. Realizing that not all newbies are scammers, I also have made it a practice not to purchase anything from people with very low post counts, and I also check the feedback forum and ebay if there are any lingering doubts. Mostly, if it's a great deal, but you're not comfortable, don't do it!! Other great deals will come along.

eaglssong wrote in post #16044654
Glad you posted about the 30 day, 30 post requirement Skip. I was going to ask if that had gone by the wayside, after reading up to this point. Glad to see it hasn't, although obviously there are people who know how to get around that.

I think what we all need to always keep in mind that common sense needs to prevail, especially when on the internet. Realizing that not all newbies are scammers, I also have made it a practice not to purchase anything from people with very low post counts, and I also check the feedback forum and ebay if there are any lingering doubts. Mostly, if it's a great deal, but you're not comfortable, don't do it!! Other great deals will come along.

I suggest that if they are giving you their ebay user name, that you verify that it's the same person by contacting the ebay user. This "Danny Doyle" person gave me an ebay user name with a 400 count 100% rating. Although, I guess they could be good on ebay and still scam on forums. :/

I usually get references from other sites, then contact them through those sites to verify the ID is theirs.

MDJAK wrote in post #16044516
I'm speechless. Why are obvious scammers' posts not deleted. Why are they left to be read?

Two thoughts off the top of my head: First, removing posts will disrupt the flow of the thread leaving gaps in the progression of conversation (making the responses confusing).

Secondly and most importantly, hopefully people can learn from the mistakes of others. Exposure to the threat of being scammed may help cause the next potential victim to proceed with a little more caution.

Yeah, the only reason we bought from him was because he did provide an ebay account with a great rating. I guess he just picked a random username off ebay and of course, I always try to believe the best in people. That won't happen again unless there is substantial proof. Our first clue should have been it was too good of a deal. Sigh. I love this forum and we have bought things here before with no issues so it sucks it's not a completely safe place like I gullibly believed. Oh well, we learned from our mistake and will NEVER be that stupid again.

Lusting after a beautiful camera can blind anyone's common sense