Protecting yourself from scammers - "Bumped" as a reminder to all

I was thinking that list of question to have when you purchase off the forum. Then you check them off as the seller complies. I don't buy that much. I usually keep everything for long time that I buy. So maybe some one who has some experience could make a list of procedure's that buyers could print out and have on hand. What are your thoughts? 

I think the charge of $1 for joining this forum payable only with a credit card (not paypal) would go a long ways to deter most but the most professional scammers. Yes, there are scammers who can use fake credit cards bought on the net but most scammers will take the easy way and easy picking route,

"JoeWayneRhea"I'm not sure what the answer would be . But here's what frustrates me ...Thomas Allen is a real dude and its his real name and People know his address, his place of employment, his spouses name , and parents names and addresses . And as far as I know no one has even knocked on this A- holes door !!! He ripped off at the very least 3 members here and no ones done anything .
I'm happy the moderators locked his account , but surely there is a member who lives close by who like most of us have a buddy in law enforcement who could swing by . Or like me , a stepbrother who's built like an NFL lineman who wouldn't mind riding along for a chat .

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Sounds great in principle but nobody knows how big this guy is or if he is stupid / crazy enough to use a gun on you. Plus, with the way the law is, the person who went round to his house would end up with legal troubles while he got away free. 

Is there even a police report for this incident? It's the absence of consequences that will make him try again.

looks like this is the place to report the crime:

https://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx

If they haven't reported him, they need to immediately. 

Yeah its just frustrating as HELL knowing this guy may get away with it . I surely hope not though.
Plus in Texas no judge or jury would convict a man over a well deserved ass whooping
We don't sue folks cause the coffees too hot , or cause your dog bit me when I broke in your house . And I've spoke to two of the guys ( Mark and Kelvin) Two of the classiest nice guys you would ever hope to talk to .
Hopefully a good update isn't far away

Would it be worth having a known scam ads sticky or some form of searchable database of known scammers and ads? For instance just today I came across on the AA classifieds
http://www.airguns.net/classifieds/show_ad.php?adNum=123615&adSort=search&StartingAd=0&NumberOfPages=1
which is a scam ad copying this already sold gun's description 
/topic/fs-aa-s510-carbine-huma-regulated-pic-heavy/
The scam ad just went up today. I don't know how you'd be able to set it up, maybe have a program that takes the full description and slices it into 5 word blocks and checks for matches against posted links? For now at least there seems to be the least amount of intervention on AA classifieds to stop or identify scam ads so if your are gonna shop there, do so with extreme caution.

Thanks Moderator 2 !! I have a close friend that helps moderate an optics forum and it can be a thankless job at times . Folks just kinda expect things to get fixed so they click off the forum for a bit and low and behold its done like majic when they come back .
I had a great conversation on the phone today with a member I wouldn't have met unless it was for this forum , and a totally different conversation with another yesterday ( ajshoots, and fuznut) both great guys who enjoy this hobby like I do .
I'm hoping the steps you all take will make a huge difference . The AA forum is a good example of a forum not being moderated . Its very easy to see thru some of the scams , but others are more sophisticated. For the very casual forum members who just stop by occasionally it would be too easy to get taken . Without the work you all do behind the scenes the forum would be a joke .
Thank you for doing what you guys do .

"Moderator2"Thanks again for all the input, everyone! 
There have been some really good ideas presented here. I especially like the post minimum but would word it a little differently. "Quality posts" Now, that doesn't mean that a new member has to post a "sport changing epiphany" but, posting "a, b, c, 1, 2, 3" just isn't going to cut it! 
How many posts? I was thinking 10 quality posts. 
I also like the idea of adding this prerequisite to the SWAG section. 
I like the idea of showing IP addresses as well. 
We will discuss the other ideas (Escrow, $1 charge, etc.) as well. I want our members to feel more confident in their forum. The end goal here is to stop these scum to the best of our ability. 

Also, I will be handing out + accuracy to many of you for your input and assistance. I would encourage others to do the same. You are all helping to make this forum a better place for everyone. 
Thank you,
Mod2

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I think the the quality posts might be hard to police....

Perhaps we could use a vetting system where a vetted member (someone with an active [already vetted] profile would have to apply an accuracy point) could apply accuracy.

Then when an accuracy of 10 or greater was achieved, the person would be able to post in the swag/classifieds. It is also incentive for "us" to give accuracy points and incentive for others to post thought provoking conversation/arguments.

The anatomy of a scam (currently running on AA):


$1,200 Wolverine" B"on AA 

http://www.airguns.net/classifieds/show_ad.php?adNum=123607&adSort=&StartingAd=0&NumberOfPages=5 

General IP Information IP:105.112.34.224 (Nigeria)

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Recycled partly from this old YY ad by Greg Foust from 2015: 

http://www.network54.com/Forum/79574/thread/1437773079/Daystate+Wolverine+%26quot%3BB%26quot%3B+Hi-Lite++.22 

I have seen this ad twice before. Good job for letting every body know. Tim

Two more on AA, Brad took down the previous one already. This one was easy to spot, the scammer seems lazy looking for easy victims. One IP from Nigeria, the other from Manassas, VA, both use same email address and prices too good to to be true. No pics, but he may be using original (stolen from real ad?) pics to email you if you happen to ask for them as proof.

http://www.airguns.net/classifieds/show_ad.php?adNum=123668&adSort=&StartingAd=0&NumberOfPages=5

Ad#: 123668
Name: Wanders
Email: [email protected]
Date: 2016-07-13 11:37:45
ForSale: Custom .177 AZM Steyr with AZ everthing ! -AZ Free Floated 20" Walther Lothar center cut match grade barrel -AZ Stabilzer w/knee rest and weight -AZ Rear buttstock brass (3) weights -AZ 7" polished adjustable horizontal cant / vertical butthook -AZ adjustable thigh rest w/3 different length rods -AZ polished flip compensator -Steyr raised aluminum picatinny rail -70 plus shots per fill @ 880 fps internals -AZ port polished and tuned *comes with an AZ custom lane box "made to the gun" *Original manual, Steyr factory and AZ test targets and Steyr tools *Leupold 35X Silver Scope with AZ elevation knob (zero stop) and Rick Lake sidewheel not included but can be with sale of gun for an extra 1K. $1700 plus shipping (shipped in a hard case). Asking Price: $1700


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http://www.airguns.net/classifieds/show_ad.php?adNum=123666&adSort=&StartingAd=0&NumberOfPages=5

Ad#: 123666
Name: Mel
Email: [email protected]
Date: 2016-07-13 09:35:31
ForSale: I’m selling my regulated AAS510 Carbine to make room for a next gun down the road. It has a Huma regulator installed and a lightened hammer. It shoots a very flat string of around 35-38 shots at 862fps. It likes JSB 18’s maybe slightly better than 16’s. Sub ½” groups are pretty easy with this gun. It holds air 100%, no seeps or weeps. It has two magazines,also a foster quick connect.It also includes a very nicely made LDC that makes this gun probably my quietest PCP.It will also come with scope and manual.The wood on the gun is very nice. I’m asking $550 shipped.Will accept payment via Paypal gift only. Asking Price: $550

Might want to report these to Alphabet org fraud division. They keep active files on internet and mail fraud cases and perps.

moderator2. As Joe states, Thank you for all you do helping to protect us from scammers and the work maintaining this sight. We all are in your debt. THANK YOU! Sylvan

Really appreciate AGN taking the initiative to help protect the members. I attempted to sell a Rifle, and it was a scary ordeal. A new member with a few posts contacted me, and I gave him my phone number to call me so we could discuss everything, he refused to call me 1st red flag. Asked me to not to put selling amount in package because he did not want his wife to find out how much he spent, 2nd red flag. Address to ship Rifle was a international shipping outfit in Miami. I did not feel comfortable with the transaction and backed out. He gave me a minus in accuracy and I appreciate the minus being removed. After that experience, I have been gun shy to list anything else.

I'd like to add few points:

• Talk to person on the phone, ask them lots of questions about airgun
• Ask their address, look it up on street view.
• Ask for specific pictures.
• Verify that they can be trusted.
• When using PayPal, pay the fee, it is your protection if you don't get what you paid for.

Perhaps the forum could set up some kind of "Sales Feedback Points" in the user profile based on favorable sales feedback .No Sales Feedback Points for a poster, would alert people to use additional measures to protect themselves from fraud.