Use caution on sales

[sbrookman]

Just a heads up. Was contacted yesterday by a potential buyer who asked no details. He started with "Is the FIREARM still available?" and in the same message, offered to PAYPAL me the money plus 3% . He advised he was out of town working but said he lived in a town 5 miles from me. He then stated we could meet this week at a local shop for paperwork. When I advised him I didn't do PAYPAL, but would hold it for a few days to meet in person, all communication ended. I Looked into his status and he was,a new member as of 3 weeks. Just a warning,before I retired from L.E., I saw a lot of this from Craigslist and am a little alarmed it is startingon here. Just be cautioned!

[Arisaka]

I don't think I get it, do you think he was trying to steal it?

[HOGLEG]

CASH ONLY! Meet FTF at FFL.

[xOperator]

I think it someone who had access to a stolent credit card, and was going to use paypal with it and/or was going to make an attempt to steal it from him

[sbrookman]

That or a very common one is they will cancel or dispute the payment after getting you to ship your item. Took dozens of those reports. Like I said. Very suspicious but not certain, so I won't bash the user name.

[xrayoneone]

Sound advice. Also check any currency you receive to make sure it is not counterfeit. Same goes for money orders. If you do take a check wait several days for it to clear. Remember POSTED and CLEARED are two different things.

[tradecraft]

So basically you are afraid of PayPal payments? I dont understand what this warning is all about.

[Apec]

So basically you are afraid of PayPal payments? I dont understand what this warning is all about.

This.

I don't get what the fuss is about either. You are meeting in person for a PPT, it's not like you're going to ship the gun without going through a FFL.

[TML]

If PayPal is not porn friendly, I'm tempted to say that they are not firearm friendly either. Something about the first and second amendment that nobody likes but us weirdos.

[WinstonMonty]

So just do a discreet PayPal with no mention of guns...

[thaiphob25]

You guys are missing the point.

It is common paypal scam when people pay using paypal and then take possession of the item. Once they have the item in hand they go back and file a claim with paypal that the item was not recived and then paypal would take the money out of your account.

[Apec]

Then request it as a personal/gift payment. Can't recall or dispute a gift/personal payment. And don't put in any comments in the payment, let alone anything related to guns.

Besides, that would be the stupidest thing to do...paypal scam someone on a gun that's going through a PPT? Their information is going to be taken by the FFL. Scammers operate on anonymity - which just isn't possible here. Maybe if it were a state that didn't require a FFL to process it, but even then people have the option to take copies of IDs and write bills of sale.

[sh1nk3n]

This was attempted fraud. The fraudster is insistent that you give him your Paypal email address so he can send you a Paypal Transfer. He then sends you a phishing email that appears to be from Paypal that asks you to log in, and if you click through and log in, the fraudster then has your email address and your password. He then logs into Paypal using your login information and buys himself something nice. With your money.

[rman]

another scam I've run into is they will email a copy of the paypal notification email, so it looks like PayPal is telling you they sent the funds.

I've had some international people do that, I told them my name was "insert funny genital slang here" and they actually emailed me saying

"@#$^%$^"
So and so has just sent you $1050. Blah blah blah.

It was classic.

[Oldmandan]

There's also a chance he couldn't afford it, and Paypal lets him make payments to them for 0% over 6 months.