So I posed in the wanted section on the marketplace today and after a short time received a message from a user called andjack3572 that suggested I email dealerpart103@gmail.com as he had the part I was looking for. The price he gave was low and I had a suspicion it was a scam. I asked for pictures and immediately identified that it was from an eBay listing I saw - for the wrong part btw. I informed him that I was aware he used eBay listing pictures and then sent me another one. What I used was Google Image search - https://www.google.com/imghp?hl=EN - and this came back with an image from an ended auction. I again informed him that his pictures are being lifted from eBay and it was apparent that this was a scam. He no longer responded and the conversation with him on HAMB seems to be deleted - likely his account is deleted. I could have easily been scammed out of a few hundred bucks, but I've been working with technology for longer than I care to admit and have seen a lot of this, so I wanted to post the experience here for others so they can avoid it: Never believe a price that is too good to be true Look at the reputation behind anyone on a forum - a scammer is less likely to put in a year or so effort into posting on a forum first If you are sent pictures, use Google Image search. They should only come back to the posters listings or be entirely unique. If you have doubts and still want to give it a shot, don't sent friends and family via PayPal or you will loose any protection for your money once nothing shows up. Take care all!
I'd say that there is a cadre of scammers that search parts wanted adds here and across the net every day in hopes of scamming someone . I seldom venture over on the classifieds but always check on any seller's posts an the one time I was looking for checked the profile of the guy who responded to me and found out that he had just signed up a few minutes before answering me. NO SALE there. The scammers seem to be everywhere. I've reported some outfit on FB that shows a super high power led flash light and uses the actual maker's webpage info in their add, They are advertising it for 29.95 plus shipping and the real deal one is something like 550 bucks. The scammer changes names on his account every day to try and stay ahead of the scammer chasers.
Had a scammer a few months back that I was able to turn into the authorities. Hooked him and kept him on the line for a few days. The clown posted a pic of an ebay item and an item that I had advertised.
It seems like very few of these people get caught even with all of the high tech items that we have on the shelf. They have become the invisible thief's. I have never been taken to the cleaners but my day is probably coming, so I pay when I pick up.
.........Just curious as to the outcome of this. Like COCONUTS says, they are pretty much invisible and difficult to catch. Thumbs up to you for trying to punish the creep.
Fellas - really important that you report these to Mods right away - Their HAMB member name so we can bann them as quickly as possible. Thanks for the heads up.
There has been a bunch of them recently, maybe make it a little less attractive to thieves. How about a 10 post minimum before you can place an ad or start a conversation.
...........That's been suggested in the past, but the only problem is, when the scammers figure it out they will just post 10 welcomes on the intro section........We used to call that "Riding the Welcome Wagon" when folks would up their post count by welcoming everybody!
FACE TIME!!!!!! Yes, use modern technology and utilize face time as a tool. I've done it quite a few times with parts and even entire cars. If they have a smart phone, schedule a time to do a face time call when they're with the parts or vehicle (their home, shop, storage facility). Real time, they can show you the part, right down to showing there's no pulled threads or repairs on that intake you're buying. I helped a friend buy an out of State vehicle this way. He face timed the seller through his Mac book (larger screen than a phone). The seller walked us around the car, cold started it etc. Per our request, showed oil pressure gauge, wiring under dash, chassis, confirmed seats/headliner condition, etc. Pulled up the carpet to show floors and even did a magnet test for us on the rockers and lower body panels. Shared info and answered all of our questions real time w/o BS. Essentially did all the things we would do if we were on site short of test driving the car. The owner was more than happy to give the tour and it got him the sale. This was better than sending payment and a transporter, then finding out it was a bondo barge rust bucket when it arrived. We've read that nightmare too many times! If you get a photo sent to you, investigate it! To search the internet for a picture sent to you; Right click on the photo, then scroll down to "Search Google for image", then click on it. This will open a new browser of Google images. You'll sometimes find the photo was copied from an internet ad such as ebay. If it doesn't reveal the photo, do exactly what the scammer is doing; type the name of the part into Google search box, then select 'images'. This may reveal a stolen photo of the part such as it did for me in this recent scam post; https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...a-m-b-s-wanted-section.1210271/#post-13801685 It's probably one single person/scammer prowling the HAMB all these years making a good side living off of us. Scams someone, then opens yet another new account. Scammers would dry up and not exist if people didn't fall for their scams. He keeps coming back to this honey hole because he keeps hooking people with his bait. Even after all the scam warnings here, people want to believe they're getting their sought after part for a good deal from someone answering their want ad.
Or they will move on to another site. I think it was brought up about posting ads but I never myself read where it mentioned to curb scams. It very well could have been. I second it then. It might not work but it’s something. Thieves are lazy by nature, I believe.
I got a similar response from andjack3572 sending me to an e-mail address stating that he had the 32 Ford hinges I was looking for. I checked him and saw he had joined the same day and had no posts. I dismissed him as a scammer and reported him to Ryan. Also had another HAMBer respond he had the parts but refused to send pictures so I dismissed him also.
The authorities did get the guy. They asked for my emails with him. Had the same thing happen thru my paypal. They also got the guy in this one.
The Jalopy Journal
