Almost got scammed on Target Talk!

[baranjhn]

A couple of days ago I placed a WTB ad for a Hammerli CR20 (hard to find) here and on a few other airgun sites. I was contacted on Target Talk by someone who had one for sale. He sent me a three pics and he even put my username and date on them. We agreed on a price and I was planning on getting a m.o. out today.

This morning, during my daily classified search/coffee time, I got another potential seller contact (again on Target Talk). It struck me a little odd to find two CR20s so quickly, but it is a site oriented to target guns. So I thought I’d get some pics and see how much he wants for it. He sent several pics that all looked similar to the first three from the other seller. Here is one in particular.

This guy has been a member there since 2022, but he’s made no posts. So I went back and noticed the first guy has been a member since 2022 too but hasn’t posted anything for a long time and he only had 22 posts.

Well, Hell. Those are too close for comfort. One of these dirty s.o.b.’s are trying to rook me. So I did a google search.

I came across this Polish web site:

Karabinek Hammerli (Walther) CR 20 (AR 20) Super | Warszawa | Kup teraz na Allegro Lokalnie

Kup teraz: Karabinek Hammerli (Walther) CR 20 (AR 20) Super za 2200,00 zł i odbierz w mieście Warszawa. Szybko i bezpiecznie w najlepszym miejscu dla lokalnych Allegrowiczów.

allegrolokalnie.pl

They are both trying to scam me!

Usually I’m cautious, but I admit I got caught up with finding what I was looking for that I neglected to do my due diligence. After scrutinizing the first scammers photo, the piece of paper with my user name and date does appear photo shopped.

 

[suprawr]

I would never send out a m.o. Always use PayPal service goods

 

[Scotay42]

Oh yeah, that piece of paper jumped at me as fake first look. Of asking for a name like that make sure it is 3d, paper rolled up or similar, i want to see a shadow. Or even the pen there too. Lol

 

[baranjhn]

I would never send out a m.o. Always use PayPal service goods

PayPal is anti gun and has policies in their user agreement that allows them to seize your money. And most sellers want money sent as friends and family, so there is no recourse there as well.

 

[Billinoregon]

Glad you saved yourself some grief! Man, I was looking for a certain powder burner the other day and came across numerous "gun stores" that posted no actual street address and took payment in crypto. Nein, danke!

 

[Sqwirl57]

I've had a few low activity accounts reply to my WTB ads here and elsewhere and say they only did MO. No problem. Send me the gun and when I get it I'll send out a MO. If you can't trust me then why should I trust you? Most have said no and that is their right. I move on to the next guy and so do they.

 

[baranjhn]

I've had a few low activity accounts reply to my WTB ads here and elsewhere and say they only did MO. No problem. Send me the gun and when I get it I'll send out a MO. If you can't trust me then why should I trust you? Most have said no and that is their right. I move on to the next guy and so do they.

See that would be an automatic red flag for me. I would never expect a seller to send me goods before I pay.

I usually like to call and talk to sellers first when buying. I totally let my guard down on this one. Well almost.

 

[beerthief]

this is why i now only buy in person if close enough (up to 5 hour drive one way depending on the gun ) or at gun show, cash and gun in hand .

 

[Joedirt199]

There was another one on here that photo shopped a piece of paper in the photo. The above attempt was much better than the previously mentioned scam where the picture was more of an angle and the way the note sat just didn't look right. With the way people are with photo editing, it is going to get much tougher to spot fakes. Due diligence is the only safety net.

 

[Trucker3573]

WTB ads are a scammer draw big time. Almost as annoying as that Ohio guy listing his mk2 wildcat every 5 minutes

 

[starlingassn]

WTB ads are a scammer draw big time. Almost as annoying as that Ohio guy listing his mk2 wildcat every 5 minutes

BAAAHAAAAAHAAAAAHAAAAAAAAA

you noticed that too huh? lol

with different prices in every listing to boot haha

 

[Sqwirl57]

See that would be an automatic red flag for me. I would never expect a seller to send me goods before I pay.

I usually like to call and talk to sellers first when buying. I totally let my guard down on this one. Well almost.

Not sure how that could be a red flag. You have the gun in hand, they get a check in the mail. Everyone wins. The catch is that the seller isn't going to do if if they can't trust you either. That's the benefit of being active and having good feedback here. That system probably wouldn't work too many other places

 

[Trucker3573]

BAAAHAAAAAHAAAAAHAAAAAAAAA

you noticed that too huh? lol

with different prices in every listing to boot haha

Lol…will say the latest post actually has pics (not good) caliber and price. Thumbs up on that. Yeah been driving me insane.

 

[Trucker3573]

No

Not sure how that could be a red flag. You have the gun in hand, they get a check in the mail. Everyone wins. The catch is that the seller isn't going to do if if they can't trust you either. That's the benefit of being active and having good feedback here. That system probably wouldn't work too many other places

My initial thought was if it were say you I wouldn’t have a problem with that as I see you active a lot here. However, now I would be paranoid to ship first thinking maybe someone hacked your account even with the double check log in system. It’s a jungle out there. Lol. I like to do a phone call for sure to feel the deal and person out. Def not fool proof though.

 

[cmatera]

BAAAHAAAAAHAAAAAHAAAAAAAAA

you noticed that too huh? lol

with different prices in every listing to boot haha

Several sites I frequent do not allow a user to have more than one listing on Page 1 of the classifieds. I would suggest that become a rule here. Perhaps someone can suggest it to the owner of this board since he will likely listen to anyone before me. You have a free classifieds and someone always has to game the system and try to make it all their personal property. Also tired of those selling printed parts listing over and over. Make them get a business account and charge them to use the classifieds.

 

[karl_h]

And then there are the way too trusting sort out there. Last higher end scope I bought was over 10 years ago, a 3-12x50 Schmidt & Bender Zenith flash dot a guy was selling new/unused never taken out of the box at a big discount. I contacted him, exchanged a few emails, told him I wanted it but could not get a money order out until after the coming weekend, I was actually on my way out to hunt 4 days with friends in the boonies. I got back early on a monday, and had an email from him with tracking number, it was out for delivery already. I actually had it in my hands before I went to get a money order and mail it. Can't believe people like that exist in this world.

 

[Jaxflats]

I’ve never been scammed but generally have dealt with sellers with at least some sort of rating history.

 

[willy]

I put my e-mail add on a pice of paper when im saleing on line.That kinda keep the low life from copy and pasten my gun to someone else?

 

[suprawr]

PayPal is anti gun and has policies in their user agreement that allows them to seize your money. And most sellers want money sent as friends and family, so there is no recourse there as well.

Didn’t know about that, now I know.

 

[Jaxflats]

That surprises me that they can seize your money (not saying that’s not the case, just surprised). I could see other scenarios where either the funds are returned back to the buyer (transaction even if through f&f null and void) and or banning the individuals. But for Paypal to outright keep the money, that would be surprising. If PayPal did reverse the transaction, most honest buyers would pay by other means even if the item had already shipped.