Did something happen?

[billxxxy]

Name the seller so he can come in this thread and give his version of the story.

(Flight now)is the username.

[heidad01]

(Flight now)is the username.

I did a quick looky,

"Flight now" seems to be a legit calgunner. Two possibilities come to mind.

1. There are a lot of scammers reading the WTB ads and reply directing you to email. So you were not in email communication with the real Flight now.

2. "Flight now" suspected YOU for some reason and decided not to deal with you.

My guess is the second.

[Pingo Ringo]

It seems obvious to me that the seller just did not want to go through an FFL. These quotes tell me this:

"They asked if I had a valid ID and HSC, which I said yes. They said that is good enough."

"Everything was fine and the seller was pretty chill until I asked what store are we going to do the transfer at, they reply "no store"."

"When I asked if they were a FFL, they replied “ no I’m an American, forget it too much hassle”."

[heidad01]

Then the buyer was communicating with a DOJ Agent trying to trap him or a scammer trying to scam him.

No way in hell would a Calgunner (seller Flight now) with that kinda iTrade would refuse a transfer at FFL and imply he wants to do an illegal gun sale.

I do not know either party but do not suspect the seller.

[deckhandmike]

I got nothing but scams when I posted in WTB. It should really just go away.

[FightYouRightNow]

check out the visitor messages, looks like something went sideways in Dec. 2018

[heidad01]

Ok OP, here is a copy of your ad. What item were you offered. Tell us the whole story.

"#1*****
*03-30-2020, 12:40 AM
billxxxy*
Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: san francisco
Posts: 87
iTrader:*2*/ 100%
Feedback Score:*2*reviews, 100%

*WTB/WTT for Tokarev/Makarov/Radom/ or any Ruger Mark Pistol

Looking to buy/trade for: Tokarev/Makarov/ any C&R handguns or any Ruger Mark III/IV pistol.

PM me what you got!

Located in the Bay Area but willing to drive if not too far. Thanks"

Are you the same guy as 2wheel....??

[ar15barrels]

It means the seller may have an un-papered gun and does not want to be found to be the transferee of that gun because it's possible that it might come back stolen and the seller does not want to open that can of worms.
There are probably LOTS of stolen guns that transfer illegally and never get found because they are being transferred illegally which bypasses the mandated logging and checks to see if they are stolen.

[billxxxy]

Ok OP, here is a copy of your ad. What item were you offered. Tell us the whole story.

"#1*****
*03-30-2020, 12:40 AM
billxxxy*
Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: san francisco
Posts: 87
iTrader:*2*/ 100%
Feedback Score:*2*reviews, 100%

*WTB/WTT for Tokarev/Makarov/Radom/ or any Ruger Mark Pistol

Looking to buy/trade for: Tokarev/Makarov/ any C&R handguns or any Ruger Mark III/IV pistol.

PM me what you got!

Located in the Bay Area but willing to drive if not too far. Thanks"

Are you the same guy as 2wheel....??

Same ad but im not 2wheel lol. I was offered around 5 ruger mark IV models, either new, custom, or used. I have the whole email transcript too if that is allowed to be posted, just me and him going back and forth on what models he got until I asked to meet.

[SkyHawk]

It sounds to me like the seller was trying to do an illegal transfer, and long time member or not that is uncool. That is the type of thing that can bring unwanted attention to this forum at best, or land an uninformed new Calguns user in jail at worst.

OP says the seller moved out of state, maybe the seller had just gotten too used to doing legal parking lot deals there and wanted to do the same here.

Op says the seller moved out of state but was 'back home in CA', which is confusing. What state is this seller a resident of?? If the seller did not have CA ID, there was no way to do a sale of off roster guns even if he wanted to use a FFL.

Maybe this seller was back in CA to visit and wanted to flip some guns for profit while here, then realized he could not unless he did it off the books? But he is posting for sale ads claiming to be in the East Bay, for months now so I am not sure why even the mention of moving out of state.

The other possibility is that 'Flight Now' account has been hacked and is being used by a scammer now.

[SanDiego619]

Even if he is an American, the transfer still needs to be done through an FFL. I would never mess around with that. Who knows where he got the gun, especially if he is unwilling to go through an FFL. He should know the law and for some reason did not want to follow it.

Having an ID and HSC is not "good enough". You didn't do anything wrong. You avoided a lot of potential trouble.

[billxxxy]

The previous attachments were too small. Reuploaded, names, and emails are blocked for privacy.

[billxxxy]

top to bottom order^ my bad if it's my fault somehow lol

[deckhandmike]

I don’t think it’s necessary to roast the seller further. We get he might have made a mistake. If you’re so curious just ask him directly.

[sfe187]

They asked if I had a valid ID and HSC, which I said yes. They said that is good enough.

When I asked if they were a FFL, they replied “ no I’m an American”

Those are the codes for under the table deals. Makarov/Tokarev are 03 eligible and he would be in the clear. If buyer understand the code talks and has an 03/COE, the buyer might play because instead physically traveling to out of state, buyer can get it and register thru CFARS as if he actually went out of state and got it.

Or maybe Seller is just looking for an under the table deal and see who bites.

If Seller was in CA for some reason, he might be thinking might as well post it up see who wants to play as he's iTrader gives him credential. I don't know but so many scenario or agendas Seller can have offering this route. Each's own.