savewave

There are people out there who would take advantage of our tendency to believe everybody is as fair and honest as we would be in an online transaction.

We’ve had some recent examples of people registering for the purpose of scamming others by “selling” parts that don’t exist.

A few have included the added twist of hijacking user IDs by including a link that tricks you into believing you are logging into the Forum and, thus, recording for the scammer your user ID and password. Then, they sell bogus stuff using your user ID to people who think it must be legitimate because you have tenure and a good reputation on the site.

To avoid problems, consider these suggestions:

• Don’t follow links sent by people you don’t know.
• Don’t give anybody your password. There is no legitimate reason for anybody to ask for it.
• Don't post your email address or phone number in threads. If you do, scammers can harvest the information and bypass the site to contact you directly to avoid sanctions or oversight.
• Be wary of deals that sound too good to be true.
• Exercise caution in dealing with newly registered users with no track record.
• Ask a lot of questions. Ambiguous answers should raise a red flag.
• Ask for pictures of the parts being sold. If the item/s don’t exist, you won’t get a picture or you’ll get a generic image stolen from the Internet that probably doesn’t match what you need.
• If at all possible, inspect the items in person. If that’s not possible, ask if there is another Forum user in the area that can inspect them for you.
• Check references. Who on the Forum has the seller done business with in the past? Did they have a good experience?
• Search the Transactions Feedback section for complaints.
• Pay for any item using PayPal and/or a credit card so you’ll have some recourse on a charge-back if a problem arises. Note, however, if you designate the PayPal payment to "friends and family" and they determine it was for goods and services, no protection is afforded.
• Run if someone insists you pay by money order or some other means that doesn’t allow you to recover your money if you don’t get the item you were trying to purchase.

If you are contacted by someone you believe is suspicious, report it to a moderator/administrator. The scammers like to monitor WTB threads and will PM those who have posted to say they have the parts the user said he needed. If you list a phone number or an email address, the scammer may contact you in that manner.

savewave

Surely all of you know not to fall for the scam where somebody sends you a check for more than your asking price and then asks you to send them the difference after deducting a small amount for your trouble. Anytime you see a request like that, it is a scam.

Also, the scammer/s referenced in the first post have been telling potential customer his PayPal isn't working and to send him the money via Moneygram. Don't do it. Once the money is sent, you are stuck whether you get the item you purchased of not.

savewave

Also be aware that scammers sometimes hijack the user IDs of others and attempt to use PMs to scam others on parts sales.

Typically, they do that by sending you a malicious link that allows them to record your user ID and password. So, use caution in clicking on links sent to you, particularly by people you don't know. And don't provide your user ID and password to anyone.

A recent example reported here and other automotive sites is someone using the email address dunnd891@gmail.com.

savewave

A recent example of the above-referenced scam involved the hijacking of the user ID of DocHorton and then using it to offer parts via PM.

Dakota Slim

Has anyone had any issues with a Forum Member called LDPPS? List himself as an "emerging Vendor" whatever that means. He has a lot of items listed. I bought a set of tires from him and sent money via PAYPAL 11/28. I still do not have a tracking number. He has given me a couple excuses about being in the hospital. He said he would ship tires by today but I just texted him and he said he just got out of eye doctor and eyes were partially swollen shut. I don;t know if I am being scammed or if this is legit. Any thoughts anyone????

DWillys

Hospital and then eye doctor? Sounds suspicious. Regardless, no reason he couldn't ship Friday.

Jstan2014

This sounds questionable at best. Have you received the tires?

Argentimage

Even better are members that then instult you or text you with threats after you decline.

savewave

Site rules prohibit hostile posts, personal attacks or threats against community members. If the messages you reference come through PMs or posts in open threads, use the triangle outlined in red at the top right to report the message to moderators. If it's a text, we have no direct control over that. If it stemmed from a transaction that originated on Corvetteforum, however, PM the details to moderators so we can see if there is a way to intervene.

Argentimage

I reached out to you guys when it happened and I got blown off, I'll be glad to cause I was a bit worried of a terror attack by the guy after saying not what I need and before that there was Zero - let me say it again - zero commitment to buy...

you see, purchasing parts on line is a new thing, maybe 20 years ebay and CF too, but searching for a rare big block vette part was going on back to the 70's: printed magazines, catalogues, the NCRS Driveline, and others, so given that and having hundreds upon hundreds of buy sell...one can find the loser in the pile if the swap is drained enough.

In this case there is a CF listing for a part.

OK you only show...please post send pics...

yes a great seller would have had all four sides, so the PM or the post as for more pics and they come via PM, text me etc.

I reply that I can considering two options and would advise, holidays are in the mix

and the rest I should be able to find...

savewave

Argentimage, I'm not following your post. I'll be glad to try and help you, but I asked you to send me details via PM.

PHILLY JOE

Watch out for scamers; if you text a phone number for a photo if you want to buy they take pictures off a catalog. Look great. Then want shipping address paypal. With a bad address paypal. They gey take your offer the next day. Hope this helps. They have you. Philly joe// joe palio

6667vette

Thanks I have been approached 3 times in 2 days from different text numbers . I get to speak to them they all have the same accents and voice tone. They asked to send funds via PayPal friend and family as you mentioned earlier. I just thought I’d communicate my experience with you.
Thanks 🙏

savewave

If you have the Forum user ID on any of the scammers, please let us know. That will allow us to ban them and send a warning message to everybody on their PM distribution list. When community members post a phone number or an email address on the site, it allows scammers to contact them directly, rather than through the Forum, so we never know about it and aren't able to take any action.

6667vette

They contacted me via email and text

ukjosh26@gmail.com. 323-412-7743

ugo4kingstown@gmail.com

maybe forum name batman4t4

savewave

We banned batman4t4 on June 7, 2021 when a community member reported he had gotten a suspicious PM from that user. This illustrates that even after we ban a user and prevent them from sending scam PM messages, they are still out there on the fringes watching for someone to post their email address or phone number in the For Sale section, especially a WTB post.

The email addresses you listed have never been used to register a user ID on the Forum.

John58

323-412- 7743 just contact me trying to scam me out of $1000 Borla exhaust system.

durrett1970

I advertised an WTB ad. I was contacted via email by someone using Batman4t4 as their handle. Their venmo was different than their name. I gave my phone number and when Batman4t4 called I could barely understand him. Has anyone dealt with batman4t4 before? thanks

savewave

He's a known scammer. See previous references in this thread.

6667vette

yes I did a few months ago trying to buy a transparent roof panel. He’s fishing for your money. I got roped in and sent money via PayPal/Visa card I was lucky enough get transaction reversed and my money back .