Folks Of Interest SCAMMER

Not on dating apps. Lol!

 

I used to get the deposed foreign dignitary emails claiming that they will deposit a few million dollars into my account. I used to respond saying that I would love to help them out and call in the morning - and give them the phone number to the FBI.

 

I posted a project car recently for my neighbor. In no time, he got a call asking for his address so he could send a check. They didn't ask any uestions about the project car but were ready to buy. Before my neighbor told me about it he sent his address and I told him it smacked of a scam. He had received a text that a check was on the way, a tracking number was sent, and it mentioned that an error was made on the amount of the check (too much money) but they could settle it later.....yeah, right. Sure enough about a week or so passed and an envelope arrived with a check for $4750 more than he was asking for the car. The initial call supposedly came from PA from a gentleman with a "heavy" foreign accent, the text came from a OH number, the check was sent from a shipping company in FL and the check was written on a bank in MO.

Well, my neighbor was convinced too that it was a scam but he took the check to his bank who made a call to the bank that the check was written on and, no surprise, it was bogus. His bank made a copy of the check and the envelope and talked like they would maybe try to follow up on it. I doubt if anyone will be located, but at least my neighbor still has his car and is no poorer for the educational experience.

Lynn

 

Your neighbor is one of the lucky ones!

 

Small piece of advice on Instagram. May not work for all but usually works for me. The rob kustim site looks semi legit, looks like he bought alot of followers, lotta posts, etc. I searched for a couple minutes and I can't find one item marked sold. I also can't find any duplicates, like"hey still got these...." Usually guys that are selling shit mark sold items. People also will relist items or adjust prices when they're actively trying to move shit. I study pages pretty closely and also look at who's actually liking their posts. It's a small community and if ur following a bunch of hotrod shit u shd have some people in common. That can also be a red flag. That being said I've spent thousands on Instagram and I almost got took for $500 last year. Sux when u really want/ need something and it magically appears. Have some rules and follow them, no matter the item.
One more: Always ask for a photo of something stupid that they'd have to go and get a pic of. Shouldn't take 2 days and should b the same part, same garage, same something.

 

Happened to me a few weeks ago, not here. It was on FB MP. But thought I did my homework, never been scammed in 20 years dealing on the internet. But it was $115, not a lot but still...it was still stolen.

I'm doing more PP with extra $$ for fees so I'm covered.

Watch out for Zelle, and other peer to peer with no protection.

 

@redoxide I am curious, did your friend ever speak with this person on the phone? Or did they only communicate via text message? or electonic messaging?

 

darn, he stopped responding

 

The reason I ask is this, I have a strict policy of moving off-line and on to the phone as soon as possible for any offer to be taken seriously or any exchange of information like home address or even Paypal/Venmo information.
Sincerity has a sound and you can't hear it over text or instant messaging. Talking one-on-one over the phone is a helpful way to gauge if you are dealing with someone who is legitimate or not. And if they make excuses as to why they can't talk on the phone, that's a big red flag.

 

Hundred of people get scammed over the phone every day. It has far more to do with lack of knowledge of what to look out for in scams than it does on the means of the scam taking place these days. If you are going to buy things from anyone other than a known legitimate business you need to educate yourself on what is happening out there.

 

Same here....guy send check mailed from Calif, drawn from a bank in Chicago, he was supposedly from Pa moving to Detroit in 2 weeks, check was over paid by $1400. Told me extra was for 3rd party shipping company. I said a PMO is way faster, find cash or no deal.

 

@K13 you are absolutely correct, however, it is challenging for the collector who is just trying to sell a car or a part to stay ahead of the latest scam considering the scammers are working 24/7 to create the next way to scam the hardworking guy/gal. My point is, if you talk on the phone and listen carefully, it CAN be easier to identify red flags than it is via text or electronic messaging.
With the advancement of AI, it is much easier for them to hide with electronic messaging.

 

I think I worked out who is sending the "Sorry, I sent you too much on that cheque " scam - It's the banks! I don't know about the U.S., but if you present a dud cheque here, the bank charges about a $30 "dishonored cheque" fee.
A couple of times while selling stuff I have had a buyer who smelt a rat and backed out because I had "bad communication" and took too long to answer questions. I only use my phone for -GASP! -phone calls, and it could be anywhere in the house, shed or cars, so I am not chained to it. I fire up my computer once or twice a day and check messages, if they expect lightning fast service, I ran out of that years ago.

 

**Update on my SCAM ALERT. . **

I was just reunited with my money curtesy of my banks internet fraud division..
I'm a cash and carry guy from now on. .

 

Good to hear of a positive outcome . Hopefully the scammer ends in a cell with a very large friendly man. Or two.

 

Damn... asked him about measurements of the wooden seat back frame ( I saw one on the pictures from his wall ) Never came back with answers... now I know , simply because he don't own anything like that and picture was probably stolen from someone.

 

Fuckin piece a shit

 

I basically agree with what you are saying, but still say that Paypal is the answer to protecting your money. Like you, I like to talk to the seller if much money is involved. One problem is that a LOT of people refuse to call you or give a number to call them............and a lot refuse to take Paypal and won't get an account. I have several items I have offered to buy and the people are too lazy or too distrustful to ship or get an account.........so I keep looking. Usually I end up with something better, so I just consider it par for the course.

 

I am such a cheap bastard and generally only trust a scant few people, I am scam-proof. I have bought relatively expensive parts here with great success.

Other than that I buy on eBay after checking the seller out. Anyone just joined, no deal with them. Everything else is cash and I drive to pick the item up.

 

@ekimneirbo I hear ya! Getting people on the phone can be challenging. But I agree with your process of just moving on to the next possibility if they are not willing to have a one-on-one live conversation. For me, that is a big red flag, either they are not genuinely interested or they are not on the up and up, either way, next!!

 

We all hate to get ripped off, but on the other hand..........we all hate to miss out on a really good deal.
Thats especially true if its that really hard to find item. I have, on rare occasions sent a money order and taken a chance on a few things. I figure that I find enough good deals that I'm still way ahead if some low dollar seller does get me. Many things are just too far away to drive there. The thing I'd like to see you try is setting up a Paypal account and then buying some really good deal that someone is willing to ship....and take a Paypal payment. I think once you do that, you will get a lot of good buys that you would have missed out on otherwise. Don't use the "Friends and Family" option. No Fee= No Protection. As long as you use the option "Payment for goods or services" you will pay a small fee and they will make sure you get a refund if there is a problem.

 

If you're a seller, don't bet on it... scumbags'll just take your sent goods, put some junk or a damaged-version of what you sent(they're upgrading), take pics, claim to PP that you've ripped them off, goods aren't what or in condition described, & for PP to moderate/deal w/you. 99+% chance they get to keep your goods, get the $$ money refunded - taken directly out of your acct, & you lose the shipping, + transaction fee. If you counter-complain, send pics of what you sent, most you'll get back is the junk or the sellers' old matching piece. *You* are still out *everything*. PP use to side near-100% w/sellers, then went to near-100% for buyers. No happy medium. I asked PP if a vid at the Post Office showing the PO employee packing/taping/sending it would be enough "proof" to counter-claim. Nope. Asked how to counter the aforementioned scam. PP said there isn't one. So, I'll use PP to buy(I won't scam people - I've had it done & don't like it, & there's Karma, but that takes time. Personal visits invite the law to get involved, usually to the visitors' detriment. Fkd-up world & attitudes, not getting better.), won't use F&F to buy, & won't even consider accepting PP as a seller. So, yup, parts/stuff get used, sit/rot, trashed/scrapped, or given away. Maybe have a friend sell, but that costs 30% for effort - fair enough, I guess. None of this concerns or is a problem from/with Honest people - but that's the issue then, since there's virtually no accountability anymore.
If this can be fixed, other than cash = swap(& that has difficulties too), then I'm all ears.
Marcus...

 

I've said it before. POSTAL MONEY ORDER. It's a federal crime that DOES get prosecuted if either party scams using USPS as their tool. It's mutual protection, and so what if there's an extra day or 2 involved. Pay the sodomizing fees of next day if that's the case but it likely won't matter. I'm running 100% happy both sides over the last cpl years and too much shit bought n sold to recall. Being old has It's advantages

 

I remember trying to buy a paint gun off a forum member. They only wanted friends and family, swore up and down they had a great reputation on here.

You may not be a scammer but....you're doing the thing every scammer does so....no deal.

They wouldn't even sell it if I paid the fees.

 

Hey, Highlander;
I've known, & used, USPOMO before. Prefer it. & now I'll have to re-ask again on the threshold for usps to chase down & prosecute thieves. Last time I checked, ~ 3-4 yrs ago, they said "probably not, if under ~$10K". Maybe guy didn't know or care. Got a bit disillusioned after that one, since I had always been told they go after Dollar-One. Think I'll check w/the Postmaster. I do know they've had a rash of counterfeits all over lately - or so I was told.
Marcus...

 

I havent been back here for a bit but noticed there was still a wee bit of interest . Hope it just raised awareness again. We tend to get fired up then forget. Just keep vigilant ,

To answer a couple of questions , my buddy didnt speak directly with this scammer., the transactions were all via the anti social media site . He did report the matter to his bank but having linked his debit card to his paypal account there was zero protection from that end, credit card might have covered it but to late . so a big loss of $900.

I hate to think it but this fella appeared to have some knowledge , other than being just sat in a scam centre picking pockets , he mentioned re casting the steering wheel and using a Dodge wheel on his 27 T , even offered to send the outer column section to mate with the taper on the underside of the wheel .. There was that level of detail in the conversation. I would hate to think that they were hot rodders , if they are not they have definitely done there home work and talk the talk .. or at least type the talk

My old buddy has got over it now . I've revisited what he wants on his build and streamlined a few things to offset the scam loss. That might sound stupid, its robbing Peter to pay Paul, but it has got things back on budget .. and masked the pain ..

 

Fortunately, I’ve never fallen for a scam online. Just lucky, I guess. But unfortunately, people have been cheating others since long before the internet. The internet is just the latest tool to facilitate it.

I did business with a well known hot rod shop in SoCal. The guy did good work. He had several how-to articles in hot rod magazines. Actually got to kinda be friends with him. Had him start a big project and he needed some upfront money. It got to where his asking for more money seemed to be out-pacing what he had done. Next thing I knew he moved out of state, along with all of my stuff and who knows who else's stuff. I could reach him by phone for a little while, and asked him to just ship me my stuff. But he eventually just stopped answering my calls, and never sent it. Lost a lot of money. Then I started seeing posts from others who’d been ripped off. I never saw it coming. You just never know.

 

@redoxide thank you for the update. I am glad that your friend has moved on from the matter and is continuing his build. Onward and upward.

 

I have been 'following' Justin_robkustim for a while on insta, always has a lot of nice stuff, almost too nice... Then I saw a quickchange he was advertising, but I recognised the picture as belonging to a guy on here. I asked the HAMBER who confirmed it was his pic, it was old, and NOT for sale.
So I called out the post on Justin_robkustim page, (he deleted the post, suprise suprise) told Partsswapper he was probably a scammer, and posted it in my Insta story. This was the beginning of November 23

Be careful people, I now don't buy online unless I know someone that can vouch for the seller, or the seller is a known good guy