I got scammed out of $1700. Don't be me. - Page 1

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - I got scammed out of $1700. Don't be me. (Page 1 of 4)

Posted: 2/28/2018 8:04:28 AM EDT

Yes, make fun of me, call me stupid, I was stupid. That's fine. I am going to tell my story.

I have always wanted an Ed Brown. Planned on purchasing one from the website for about $3000. I have been saving and had about $1700. I had seen used ones go for around $2000 on some sites, but never exactly what I wanted. Stainless steel, 9mm, bobtail.

Saw one on Armslist for 1700, it was exactly how I wanted mine. I have done maybe 30 Armslist deals and never had a problem. I message him about 1000 and a partial trade, he's not interested because he's saving up for his own project gun. I ask for additional pictures, he sends them, I ask for closer pictures of a certain area, he sends them. I ask if he would be willing to ship to my FFL (he is from Texas). He said he would and asked how that would work since he's never done that. I suggest PayPal since it protects both of us, he said he doesn't like PayPal since they are antigun and suggests USPS money order. I say I'm not comfortable with that. He says he understands, but if I want to go ahead he'd send me a picture of his ID so I know who I'm dealing with. I finally accept.

I look up the guy on facebook just to see if he's real. He is, has a private profile with a moderate amount of pictures and comments. Location, picture all matched his Texas ID.

So the $1700 in money orders gets delivered to him on Sat. I don't hear anything until I ask if he got them Sat night. He said he did and cashed them and would ship the gun and give me the tracking numbers Mon. Monday comes and goes with no contact, even after sending him inquiries. Nothing from him at all today as well.

So I plan on contacting his local PD with the story and his DL # even though it is probably fake, and submitting a fraud report through the USPS.

Just mainly want to warn people, take my lickings, I don't expect to ever see my $1700 again, or probably ever get an Ed Brown.

Posted: 2/28/2018 8:05:30 AM EDT

[#1]

You really sent a MO to a stranger on armslist?

Go full killdozer on him right now.

Posted: 2/28/2018 8:06:16 AM EDT

[#2]

I wouldn't be surprised if it ships this week, but good luck either way. He owes you a response.

Posted: 2/28/2018 8:07:02 AM EDT

[#3]

Don't worry OP, the rest of us aren't that stupid.

Posted: 2/28/2018 8:07:52 AM EDT

[#4]

Give it until Friday.

Posted: 2/28/2018 8:08:16 AM EDT

[#5]

You mean its been 2 whole business days? Relax a bit

Posted: 2/28/2018 8:09:06 AM EDT

[#6]

Quote History

Quoted:
Don't worry OP, the rest of us aren't that stupid.

View Quote

No shit...

OP is a moron.

Posted: 2/28/2018 8:09:07 AM EDT

[#7]

Where in tx.

Out him now.

Post his pic.

Posted: 2/28/2018 8:09:41 AM EDT

[#8]

Quote History

Quoted:
You really sent a MO to a stranger on armslist?

Go full killdozer on him right now.

View Quote

I kept trying to tell a coworker not to do that. He was adamant about sending some guy $110 or $1200 For a rifle.
I kept telling him to do Armslist face to face only.
Yep, he got taken.

Posted: 2/28/2018 8:10:56 AM EDT

[#9]

in for results....

Posted: 2/28/2018 8:11:04 AM EDT

[#10]

Quote History

Quoted:
Where in tx.

Out him now.

Post his pic.

View Quote

Belton TX, I won't post his pic because it probably isn't him, he likely lost or had his ID stolen.

Posted: 2/28/2018 8:11:07 AM EDT

[#11]

Dude I will help you. Send me a money order for $500 and I will drive over to his house and get for you and mail it to you. PM for details.

Posted: 2/28/2018 8:11:27 AM EDT

[#12]

Quote History

Quoted:
You mean its been 2 whole business days? Relax a bit

View Quote

This, wholly cow. It's not the best situation to be in, and $1,700 is a lot of money, but OP isn't in scorched earth territory yet. He may be trying to research how to legally ship a handgun even or found out he's supposed to overnight it for $100, and is now trying to find a transfer dealer to ship through.

Posted: 2/28/2018 8:11:59 AM EDT

[#13]

Quote History

Quoted:
Where in tx.

Out him now.

Post his pic.

View Quote

This!

Posted: 2/28/2018 8:12:03 AM EDT

[#14]

Quote History

Quoted:
Dude I will help you. Send me a money order for $500 and I will drive over to his house and get for you and mail it to you. PM for details.

View Quote

Sounds like a good deal. I'd do it OP.

Posted: 2/28/2018 8:13:12 AM EDT

[#15]

Kind of early to panic

Posted: 2/28/2018 8:13:42 AM EDT

[#16]

Armslist?

fuck that

Posted: 2/28/2018 8:15:07 AM EDT

[#17]

Well I don't know if you got scammed or not but we have all fucked up and cost ourselves money.

Like I tell my men at work if we live through it everything else can be fixed.

I fucked up and cost myself 6500 dollars the other day and while I will not tell you, I told everybody at work for two reasons. first so they wont make the same mistake and second so they know we are all human and make mistakes. And I don't make many in my work.

Posted: 2/28/2018 8:16:10 AM EDT

[#18]

Quote History

Quoted:
Kind of early to panic

View Quote

Are you sure you're on the right site?

On Arfcom it's NEVER too early to panic!

Posted: 2/28/2018 8:16:13 AM EDT

[#19]

How do you guys work deals on EE if not with a money order???

Posted: 2/28/2018 8:16:18 AM EDT

[#20]

He was supposed to have shipped on Monday and it is now early Wednesday morning. While the lack of communication is not a good sign, it may still work out. You did your due diligence in vetting the seller. It is hard to believe he set up all that credibility for one $1,700 scam.

I hope it all works out for you.

Posted: 2/28/2018 8:17:14 AM EDT

[#21]

How do you know if you got scammed OP? Its been 2 days.

Posted: 2/28/2018 8:17:25 AM EDT

[#22]

Quote History

Quoted:
You mean its been 2 whole business days? Relax a bit

View Quote

This.

Posted: 2/28/2018 8:17:52 AM EDT

[#23]

Quote History

Quoted:
Don't worry OP, the rest of us aren't that stupid.

View Quote

Yeah, no way I'd ever do that.

Posted: 2/28/2018 8:18:27 AM EDT

[#24]

When you buy from online sellers, remember they are NOT businesses. And sometimes life gets in the way. Dont worry OP. I think you are over reacting.

Posted: 2/28/2018 8:18:45 AM EDT

[#25]

Quote History

Quoted:
You mean its been 2 whole business days? Relax a bit

View Quote

Posted: 2/28/2018 8:20:17 AM EDT

[#26]

If he's against PayPal for being Antigun, he just may be looking for a shipping alternative since fed ex made some dumb comments yesterday.

Posted: 2/28/2018 8:20:22 AM EDT

[#27]

Quote History

Quoted:
Kind of early to panic

View Quote

This ^^^

Posted: 2/28/2018 8:20:25 AM EDT

[#28]

Seems like you are freaking out and it's only been a few days .... Relax

Posted: 2/28/2018 8:21:15 AM EDT

[#29]

Paypal isn't the only peer-to-peer payment system out there. There are a number of others, and each afford some recourse in addressing a scammer taking payment and not sending your merchandise. Lots more recourse than sending a demand instrument through the mail anyway.

OP, Belton, Texas isn't the center of the universe. It's a small berg along the interstate. I'm hoping your guy is just trying to find time to drive to Waco or Killeen to find a FFL to ship it for him.

Hope it works out for you...even if you are buying a 9mm 1911.

Posted: 2/28/2018 8:22:32 AM EDT

[#30]

Quote History

Quoted:
If he's against PayPal for being Antigun, he just may be looking for a shipping alternative since fed ex made some dumb comments yesterday.

View Quote

And if he's never shipped a handgun before like OP says, he was probably surprised when USPS told him he's not allowed to ship it through them and then UPS told him it has to go Overnight which costs an arm & a fucking leg

Posted: 2/28/2018 8:23:49 AM EDT

[#31]

Yeah terrible choice OP

Armslist should be face to face only

Posted: 2/28/2018 8:24:12 AM EDT

[#32]

Some people are just bad at communicating. I sell a lot on a local PA gun forum and what I learned over the years is that it can take time to get a response from some people.

As others have already pointed out, it's still pretty early, so give the seller the benefit of the doubt. Now, if you don't hear from him or see the pistol next week, than double your efforts.

Keep us updated.

Posted: 2/28/2018 8:26:03 AM EDT

[#33]

Was the address on his ID the address you sent the MO to? When you looked the guy up online, did his name match the address you had?

Also, I think the last time I used a USPS money order to pay for anything was in 1989. Just saying.

Posted: 2/28/2018 8:28:42 AM EDT

[#34]

Quote History

Quoted:
Kind of early to panic

View Quote

No shit. Calm down OP.

Sounds like everything checked out. I don't know may scammers that would have an fake ID, fake Facebook, etc...

Posted: 2/28/2018 8:29:25 AM EDT

[#35]

The longer you wait the harder it is to find him.

Posted: 2/28/2018 8:29:53 AM EDT

[#36]

My vote is that OP is panicking early. Seller just isn't an awesome communicator

Posted: 2/28/2018 8:32:26 AM EDT

[#37]

Quote History

Quoted:
Was the address on his ID the address you sent the MO to? When you looked the guy up online, did his name match the address you had?

Also, I think the last time I used a USPS money order to pay for anything was in 1989. Just saying.

View Quote

Yep, name on ID was where I sent MO, got the certified mail signature back yesterday from where he signed for it.

Posted: 2/28/2018 8:35:49 AM EDT

[#38]

PayPal isn't going to help shit if it's a gun purchase. If anything, they'll freeze your account.

Posted: 2/28/2018 8:36:00 AM EDT

[#39]

Quote History

Quoted:
Seems like you are freaking out and it's only been a few days .... Relax

View Quote

This....

Maybe practice a bit with suppressors in ATF jail....you'll learn to relax...

Posted: 2/28/2018 8:38:13 AM EDT

[#40]

Shipping takes effort. All that wrapping and labeling and driving to the UPS hub or PO ...

Some sellers just need a little extra time because it's soooo hard. LOL.

Seriously, though, don't push the panic button yet.

Posted: 2/28/2018 8:38:51 AM EDT

[#41]

Quote History

Quoted:
Yep, name on ID was where I sent MO, got the certified mail signature back yesterday from where he signed for it.

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
Was the address on his ID the address you sent the MO to? When you looked the guy up online, did his name match the address you had?

Also, I think the last time I used a USPS money order to pay for anything was in 1989. Just saying.

Yep, name on ID was where I sent MO, got the certified mail signature back yesterday from where he signed for it.

So why are you panicking, exactly? Yes, you are in quite a vulnerable position on this transaction--but how did you not know that before you sent him the money?

I'm betting you actually get your pistol. But hey, I'm an optimist. Who doesn't send strangers large sums of money for suspiciously underpriced items.

Posted: 2/28/2018 8:39:58 AM EDT

[#42]

Quote History

Quoted:

Belton TX

View Quote

2hr drive from me...

Posted: 2/28/2018 8:40:37 AM EDT

[#43]

Posted: 2/28/2018 8:40:40 AM EDT

[#44]

Quote History

Quoted:
Where in tx.

Out him now.

Post his pic.

View Quote

This, there are a lot of us here.

Posted: 2/28/2018 8:40:41 AM EDT

[#45]

If he doesn’t ship by EOW go knock on his door or buy someone lunch to do it.

Posted: 2/28/2018 8:41:39 AM EDT

[#46]

The guy probably has a job, it's hard for him to break away during the week and is trying to figure out how to ship the fucking thing. Not writing back because he hasn't the time or hasn't figured out exactly what he's got to do to ship it yet.

Chillax.

Posted: 2/28/2018 8:42:04 AM EDT

[#47]

Quote History

Quoted:
Don't worry OP, the rest of us aren't that stupid.

View Quote

That's cold

Posted: 2/28/2018 8:42:40 AM EDT

[#48]

Quote History

Quoted:
You mean its been 2 whole business days? Relax a bit

View Quote

Posted: 2/28/2018 8:44:10 AM EDT

[#49]

Oh, wait--Is this McLoving in Houston? That guy has fucked me a buncha times.

Posted: 2/28/2018 8:47:11 AM EDT

[#50]

Quote History

Quoted:
Yep, name on ID was where I sent MO, got the certified mail signature back yesterday from where he signed for it.

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
Was the address on his ID the address you sent the MO to? When you looked the guy up online, did his name match the address you had?

Also, I think the last time I used a USPS money order to pay for anything was in 1989. Just saying.

Yep, name on ID was where I sent MO, got the certified mail signature back yesterday from where he signed for it.

Do the signatures roughly match?

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - I got scammed out of $1700. Don't be me. (Page 1 of 4)

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