CA FFL only accepting money wire, is this strange?

[tattedgunner]

Hello fellow cal gunners!

I saw and off roster HK handgun that I wanted to buy on armslist.com. The ad stated that it was for a PPT, but they were an FFL and would ship me the gun one everything with the DOJ cleared. I looked up this FFL and they are register and legitimate. For payment, they only accept money wires to their bank account and this made me suspicious. The FFL is called big bear arms and they are located in sugarloaf, CA. They even sent me a cop of their FFL license. Should I be suspicious and not buy from them? Or is only accepting a money wire normal? Please let me know your thoughts on this.
Thank you

[Fizz]

Armslist, Wire transfer, "ppt", and shipping a firearm direct to you?

I say run away.

FFLs can't ship a firearm direct to you. An FFL in your area would need to take possession of the firearm, run the paperwork, etc. and then THAT FFL can release the firearm to you.

[edgerly779]

Bank transfer fine I do business with led mfg in China and they only accept bank wire transfers. Of course you cannot receive firearm must go thru ffl .

[RickD427]

Run.

This has all the making of a "Phishing - False Personation" scam.

I'd be very surprised if the actual FFl holder has any idea that his identity is being used in this manner.

[XxWoodsHunterxX]

Run.



This has all the making of a "Phishing - False Personation" scam.



I'd be very surprised if the actual FFl holder has any idea that his identity is being used in this manner.

Yea id make an attempt to get info over the phone with actual ffl

[tattedgunner]

Thanks for all the quick responses. I am trying to track down the phone number of the person whose name is on the FFL and let him know what is going on.
Thanks

[SonofWWIIDI]

Keep us updated.

Better to stay informed of the scams that are out there. Might save somebody some $$$.

[kemasa]

A PPT is where both the buyer and seller go to the FFL. After submitting a DROS, the FFL has to have you sign it and put your thumbprint on it. The FFL has to read the mag strip from your ID. After 10 days, you have to come back and sign the final DROS stating that it was delivered. You also have to sing the 4473 two times.

So, the story is fishy, to say the least.

[tattedgunner]

I got a hold of the FFL holder and he was shocked. He said that big bear arms was never a shop. He used to be an officer and used his FFL to transfer firearms to police and swat units. Needless to say, the people I was in contact with were scammers. He also mentioned that earlier today he got a message from the ATF regarding something similar, so it seems like they already know about the scam.

Thanks everyone for your help. Seems like we did a good deed.

[SkyHawk]

Report it to Armslist - that place is infested with scams.

[DSB]

Since this issue has been resolved, I'll go a little off target: why is Amslist so much more infested with scammers than gunbroker?