SCAMMER ALERT !!!!!!! BY SEASONFIRE

"timbphoto"Thanks for your help. I do have trust in fellow human beings. I really like the air gun community everybody is so helpful. I just don't want this happening to anybody else. Thanks again, 
tim

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Thank you for bringing this public...it's not easy and it's painful....but will help all of us. And hopefully will stop this scum and others like him in their tracks...

PayPal friends does not protect you. I bought a FAS 609 from Top Gun Air guns. They were a sponsor here and had lots of positive BOI on yellow so I did PayPal friends . Received the wrong fill adapter and leaking cylinder. Finally got Peter to send me a correct fill probe and a new cylinder. Guess what? Other cylinder leaks too and gun will not fire. Peter received many emails and calls and apparently decided to disappear and leave me hung. PayPal would not do anything so I filed a fraud case with my bank where the money was drawn by PayPal 

Called Joe B as he bought TGAG, but his position is he bought a story from Peter and can't help me either.

Moral of the story, use a credit card or buyer protection.

I only use PayPal with buyer / seller protection. I have read that PayPal can be hostile towards air gun transactions but it's not like anybody else is offering a safer alternative.

If you buy through PayPal and they don't send the goods then you get your money back usually. Why would anybody risk doing anything else when buying something so expensive from a stranger?

If someone says they won't accept PayPal then I automatically assume they are trying to scam me. There is no reason why a reputable seller can't accept a PayPal payment. None. 

Obviously being on BOI means nothing as anyone can say they are on there. It's great that, with a postal order, the PO will investigate when you get robbed but that's cold comfort when you're out $1700. Even if they got arrested it doesn't mean you get your money back. It's not much different to sending cash.

It would be great if someone set up an air gun escrow service where a trusted third party holds the funds and doesn't release them to the seller until the air gun has arrived in the described condition. 

At the least, ask to skype with people, get them to show you the air gun in real time (not a pic) and hold up their drivers license...

damn, that's awful I hope he comes to his senses and you get your money back. thanks for letting us all aware about the guy surly its the same guy from the other post

This is crazy! My metal detecting forum is dealing with a few new members who've been scamming/trying to scam the community. 

Sorry to hear about the bad deal. If you can get any personal info (Facebook,Instagram,Twitter) post it so we can blow them up and let everyone else on their "friends" list know they are out ripping people off

Man.....when I buy from somebody I speak with them on the phone. Ask alot of questions to make sure they are in the hobby. I also ask where they work. I then google their work number and talk to their boss. Im really sorry you got burned and feel for you. Thats alot of money and 8 months of saving down the hole.

For the folks that used Postal MO, report it. It is a federal offense to commit fraud with PO MO. Not sure if crossing state line also adds to the offense.

I know a girl that works for the postoffice and scamming someone that used USPS will be investigated and if caught will face federal charges plus the fact it crosses state lines adds more charges. She has people come in all the time that have sold stuff on e-bay that they are sending to Africa. She tells them not to send it that it is a scam. The person in Africa wants the tracking number right away and as soon as the seller sends them the tracking number they know the item has been sent. Then the buyer cancels the transaction with Paypal and the seller is out the item. Some people listen to her and don't send it some don't understand how the seller can cancel the transaction so they send it anyway. She has had people come back and tell her she was right that they got screwed out of diamond rings and other expensive jewelry.
The scam I see is the one where the person is selling a car or motorcycle the person that owns it is in the service and the item is in route to a location please end the money and they will have it dropped shipped to at there place by the military. I screw with them every once in awhile and e-mail them I live in the area and will pick it up at their place and will have the money for them. They never reply.

Sending items to Africa? If you were not "issued" common sense during your lifetime, you will not pick up common sense at the post office nor from anyone else...

I question that you have no recourse if using Paypal and the buyer cancels payment after you give them a tracking number. This does not make sense since the money (if received money for goods/services vs. family/friends) is already in your bank account at that time or held by Paypal while the transaction is pending. If you as the seller put the shipping/tracking info in the system why would Paypal allow the cancellation of the transaction by the buyer? May be I am missing something..

As far as the military drop-ship...yes, I can testify to that as my friend got almost scammed with a car. Well done email that was quite believable, and even I (with long mil. service) had to read and re-read it a few times to detect inconsistencies. FYI: the U.S. military will never drop ship things on anyone's behalf as part of a private sale even if connected with a PCS move. They will use legitimate military address, usually on bases, but these are admin or HQs buildings not actual residences. Also they may use real names or real military personnel. Their English is perfect and they do have some inside knowledge of the military and the lingo. These are not your average Nigerian scammers using the flowery old-British language. These are sell-out home-grown scum Americans who prey on us if we let them. At the end it comes down to this....if the price is too good to be true...it's very likely not true.

"DaBinChe"For the folks that used Postal MO, report it. It is a federal offense to commit fraud with PO MO. Not sure if crossing state line also adds to the offense.

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Let's see...nowadays you get one year in jail for homicide, one day in jail for rape....what is the deterrent if the postal inspector opened an investigation along with 10,000 other same cases? Sending a $1,000 USPS MO (i.e. cash) is not the end of your troubles, but the start...

Sir, I’ve been doing some research on a woman who has been frauding me and the same person came up on your forum thread. Please respond when you can because I am investigating her and need any info you have on her. I made this profile just to be able to talk to you about it. Send me your number please and I will call you immediately. I live in Florida 

"timbphoto"Here you go!! My wife is in the best position to receive funds as she is always free and I may not be available to receive it,so you should Issue it in her name. Teresa Estrada 499 S. Lakewood Ave. Ocoee, Florida 34761 Let me know the tracking# when you have gotten It out. ;(281) 783-9271
Houston, TX

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I’m trying to reach timbphoto 

She has scammed many people using others good names or by joining up as a new member.. NEVER DEAL WITH A SECOND PARTY LIKE SEND THE FUNDS HERE( TO MY WIFE ,DAUGHTER, SON , HUSBAND OR WHATEVER) !!!!!! TALK PERSON TO PERSON ! ASK THEM TO SEND A PICTURE OF THE ITEM WITH A CURRENT NEWSPAPER AND A UTILITY BILL WITH THEIR NAME AND ADDRESS CLEARLY SHOWN !! IF UNWILLING PASS IT UP AND REPORT !!

"ashes5"Then the buyer cancels the transaction with Paypal and the seller is out the item. Some people listen to her and don't send it some don't understand how the seller can cancel the transaction so they send it anyway. She has had people come back and tell her she was right that they got screwed out of diamond rings and other expensive jewelry. 

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If true that a buyer can cancel a PayPal payment, then this explains the transaction (Scam) that I backed out of because nothing added up with the Buyer, I saw nothing but red flags and my gut feeling said Fu@ck No! Confirms I would have lost a Rifle.

I recently posted a WTB on AA Classifieds. I received six responses. Five were from obvious scammers and one from a fellow who didn't seem to know what kind of gun he had.
I sorted out the scammers by requesting a photo of the gun that included a note with the seller's name, phone number, and the date in the frame. One of the responder's was outraged at this request. None sent the requested photo.
Avoid dealing with people who cannot spell or use proper grammar. Use PayPal. If you have a bad feeling bail before finalizing the deal.

I hate that this happened to you. I don't know how to protect yourself completely. However, I'm a big fan of a certain credit card that a lot of retailers don't like (higher fees). If they don't take it, I find another place to do business. 

I usually provide some information about myself that the buyer or seller can check out. I then ask them for the same.

I've made nearly 200 archery transactions over the years. Never been burned. So far not on an air rifle either. 

When buying here I look up their name/handle and do a search for their posts. Not a guarantee that someone with almost no posts is to be avoided, but someone that is regular with posts is as good as gold.