Just a note to tell people to do some research on on-line vendors if possible if you have never dealt with them before. I have run into two cases where vendors regularly take credit cards and then fail to deliver. I contacted the credit card company and they said that internet sales fraud has skyrocketed. The vendors know the credit card companies will reimburse the card holder and also know that the card companies will not go afer them since thye have no authority. In one case there is actually a Facebook page for victims of the fraud with over 500 documented cases in a year. Be careful out there.
I’ve come across many sites when doing a search, see a price that’s better than the “known” suppliers have. Then read the reviews about how great they are. Looks like each review was written by the same person with just a bit of change up in the wording as well as the reviews are within days apart. Pass.
Wherever they say that they are, Bulgaria, Upper Volta or Ulan Bator, I always tell them that my brother lives nearby, and he can pay for it and pick it up. The scammers never respond, or if they do they give you some story why that can't be done. If they say they "don't take cash" or some other BS, that's a good sign to keep your money in your wallet. I did this a couple of weeks ago, they said they had a mint grille for a '47 Chevy sedan. I asked where it can be seen, and the location given was in a regional town here in Oz. As soon as I said my mate lives nearby and can pay cash and check it out, they said sure! send him around. They sent me an address that didn't exist. (Thanks Google maps!) Then I asked for a close-up photo of the chrome and the badge (there is no badge) , they said that "no photos needed mate, if your friends coming to see it". I said "no photo, no sale", so they sent me 4 photos of different painted grilles, but they were all pick-up grilles! After telling them where they could insert these grilles, and have a nice day!
These were both well known companies who advertize all over. Google the companies before you buy anything unless you are familiar with them.
I'm a prince from Nigeria..... I will sell you what you want, and give you 4 zillion dollars! Please send your bank account number so I can deposit your funds...........
Really, why keep us all guessing? ??? I'm not kidding... If they're ripping folks off, then they *need* to be outed! I don't get this... Marcus...
Pop up adds on FB advertising something real interesting are all too often scammers. Or they are advertising something that you can get through a known legit source for the same or less money. Then there the ones who offer "unsold" Miller mig welders for 100 bucks . I haven't seen those adds for a while though.
I did have some fun with a scammer about a month ago. Posted an ad on CL, she emailed that she would send me a cashiers check for over the amount, let me deposit it and keep extra for my effort. So I played along. She did send an official looking check, from Boeing Employees Credit Union. Totally bogus. However, I told her I was going out of town, didn't own a smart phone, bank was closed on the weekend, then I tested positive for Covid and had to quarantine for 3 days., blah, blah, blah.. Finally, I sprung the trap. At least it cost her an overnight envelope delivery charge and two weeks of stalling, plus a total of 52 emails. She was gone like a wisp of smoke, haha.
We have the same issue in our Facebook group of ford trucks. But in sometimes we try to save money and get the best deal. But if you see a $500. Plus grill including shipping for $300. Come on people you better watch out for third world parasites
Most scammers are easy to spot but they are getting more sophisticated, setting up business websites and FB pages. Simple stratigies I use these days. Look how long they have been a member of that group etc. Check the background of the pics, if selling multiple items with multiple different backgrounds its suss. Use google images to do a reverse image search Live video chat with seller and the parts and some ID. If its on FB 99.9% chance they have messenger. Offer to have the parts picked up by a nearby friend. (Even if you cant its a great filter) Only pay with paypal GOODS and SERVICES
I am old enough to have received a hand written letter from the Nigerian prince. Going by the last email I got he still has not found a way to get his funds out of the country.
The old days of spotting a scammer by their dodgy grammar are over. I got a text message on my 'phone telling me to click this link because of discrepancies with my paypal account. Spelling and grammar were correct but I didn't trust it so went straight to P-pal login. No discrepancies.
Pretty much every facebook group is rife with scammers, especially the t-shirt vendors that try to lure people in on the car groups. It's mind boggling how many people still respond to them when they've really become the facebook equivalent of the nigerian prince scammers.
If people did some research before purchasing the scammers wouldn't be as successful. People tend to be lazy rather than proactive. Scammers don't tend to use the same name or company very long. A list of names would be outdated by the end of a month. Most of the public facebook groups have scammers. Any group that gives a damn has gone private giving the admins ways to keep out the the riff raff.
It’s so funny when I read about things like this, I will not do business with anyone who refuses to provide of phone number be it in the ad or private message. ‘To me this is clue number one it is a scam. Plus a phone call is truly the only form of instant communication, I ask you a question and within seconds you answer. There is no way to get a read on someone through a text, subtle clues like hesitation, back peddling, long silences are good tells to back away. The only way to get those is by talking on the phone!