Sorry to hear this - hope the deal goes through for you.
There is a forum I frequent called Canadian Gun Nutz (https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/forum.php) that has an "equipment exchange section and they are very strict about how it is used. Here is a copy of their guidelines for avoiding fraud and bad deals, hope that this can help save people from future grief...
Fraud and Bad Deals Awareness
It is your legal responsibility to obtain the name, PAL number, PAL expiration date and phone number of the other party and verify this information with the RCMP at 1-800-731-4000 before money and item change hands.
1) It is very important to obtain information of the counter party - Full name, address and phone number, before sending money or goods. If the other party refuses to provide basic information, you may want to evaluate whether you want to t take the risk;
2) It does not hurt to spend 2 minutes to have a real conversation over the phone if that makes you feel more confident, and it is a perfectly legit way to verify the phone number provided to you;
3) Always make it clear when money and goods will be delivered in a deal, in no uncertain terms. Unless there is an agreed timing and condition concerning when and how money and goods will be delivered by both parties, there is NO deal;
4) Always consult the Feedback Score (formerly trade rating) and history of the person that you are dealing with; Read the details and comments in the trader rating feedback, consider there are always two sides to a story. You can review the Feedback score of the other party by clicking his/her username in left column above his avatar (picture). Select " View Profile " and then the tab "Feedback Score";
5) The attitude and the manner people communicate could be an indicator of his character - will you deal with a real person who communicates the way he/she does in real life? Do a search in the forums to see how this person behaves;
6) If the deal is too good to be true, there is always a possibility it could not be true;
7) Walk away if you don't feel right - Do not rush to making the offer or taking the offer;
8) Beware of solicited response to WTB request - scammer always take advantage of buyer's urgency and desire. Do not let your guard down because you want something very badly;
10) Do not answer to any solicitations or offers made outside of the Equipment Exchange forums. You must ask yourself why this person is trying to avoid the rules of the Equipment Exchanges forums;
11) Do not post WTB solicitation in the WTS forum. Do not post your phone number and email address in your ad. Use CGN PM system to initiate the first contact before exchanging phone number and email address. We won't be able to catch the bad accounts if you do not even know their CGN account names;
12) You should be aware that for non-restricted firearms, even in the absence of the Federal Firearms Registry, the purchaser must still possess a valid Possession and Acquisition License (PAL) to purchase a firearm, and that seller must still possess a valid Possession and Acquisition License (PAL) or Possession Only License (POL) to legally possess the firearms that he/she is trying to sell.
13) Beware of the trading of precious metal over the internet. You should be aware that the maximum liability coverage by Canada Post over precious metal and stone is $500.
14) Ask the seller to prove possession of the item and the authenticity of the picture posted in the ad by requesting a picture of the item with a specific item of your request. For example, you may want to consider asking the seller to post a picture of the item next to the computer screen with his/her account profile on display, or write his/her name on a thin piece of paper and tie it around the trigger.
There is a forum I frequent called Canadian Gun Nutz (https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/forum.php) that has an "equipment exchange section and they are very strict about how it is used. Here is a copy of their guidelines for avoiding fraud and bad deals, hope that this can help save people from future grief...
Fraud and Bad Deals Awareness
It is your legal responsibility to obtain the name, PAL number, PAL expiration date and phone number of the other party and verify this information with the RCMP at 1-800-731-4000 before money and item change hands.
1) It is very important to obtain information of the counter party - Full name, address and phone number, before sending money or goods. If the other party refuses to provide basic information, you may want to evaluate whether you want to t take the risk;
2) It does not hurt to spend 2 minutes to have a real conversation over the phone if that makes you feel more confident, and it is a perfectly legit way to verify the phone number provided to you;
3) Always make it clear when money and goods will be delivered in a deal, in no uncertain terms. Unless there is an agreed timing and condition concerning when and how money and goods will be delivered by both parties, there is NO deal;
4) Always consult the Feedback Score (formerly trade rating) and history of the person that you are dealing with; Read the details and comments in the trader rating feedback, consider there are always two sides to a story. You can review the Feedback score of the other party by clicking his/her username in left column above his avatar (picture). Select " View Profile " and then the tab "Feedback Score";
5) The attitude and the manner people communicate could be an indicator of his character - will you deal with a real person who communicates the way he/she does in real life? Do a search in the forums to see how this person behaves;
6) If the deal is too good to be true, there is always a possibility it could not be true;
7) Walk away if you don't feel right - Do not rush to making the offer or taking the offer;
8) Beware of solicited response to WTB request - scammer always take advantage of buyer's urgency and desire. Do not let your guard down because you want something very badly;
10) Do not answer to any solicitations or offers made outside of the Equipment Exchange forums. You must ask yourself why this person is trying to avoid the rules of the Equipment Exchanges forums;
11) Do not post WTB solicitation in the WTS forum. Do not post your phone number and email address in your ad. Use CGN PM system to initiate the first contact before exchanging phone number and email address. We won't be able to catch the bad accounts if you do not even know their CGN account names;
12) You should be aware that for non-restricted firearms, even in the absence of the Federal Firearms Registry, the purchaser must still possess a valid Possession and Acquisition License (PAL) to purchase a firearm, and that seller must still possess a valid Possession and Acquisition License (PAL) or Possession Only License (POL) to legally possess the firearms that he/she is trying to sell.
13) Beware of the trading of precious metal over the internet. You should be aware that the maximum liability coverage by Canada Post over precious metal and stone is $500.
14) Ask the seller to prove possession of the item and the authenticity of the picture posted in the ad by requesting a picture of the item with a specific item of your request. For example, you may want to consider asking the seller to post a picture of the item next to the computer screen with his/her account profile on display, or write his/her name on a thin piece of paper and tie it around the trigger.
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