Well this is the second time it has happened ,so its a pattern to me anyway.
I have bought/sold /traded handguns on this forum with out one bit of trouble. I have met some really nice guys.
However ,as I said this is the second time the same thing is going on.
I generally find a gun I like under the for sale forum, make contact ,do a little checking out,like the number of posts, likes excetra.
So I place a ad in the WANTED forum, and in a week or so I am contacted by someone who has just the gun I want at the right price.
So I ask some questions ,like what is the name of your FFL , what is your address, and how would you like to get paid.
Then I go look at his profile.

The responses are the same , I am using a local ffl,I want to be paid in a postal money order.

I say again , send me your address and FFL and your phone number.
I get the same response. This last one is not a member of the forum, but picked a name that was the same as a members.
Maybe this is a well known fact and I am late to the party ,but I wanted to put it out there. It may not be trouble and I apologize ,but I asked 4 times for your information.
So the last guy trying to sell the perfect gun is going by the name, Fredrick Hall.
If this is a reoccurring theme please share. Sorry fo rthe long post ,but at near $1000. a man has got to know his limitations

I guess I'm a little confused. If the gun you want is already posted in the For Sale, why not buy it instead of placing an ad for a similar gun in the Wanted section?

Outsiders can view this forum and if you post an email address, they can make contact. Only members can make posts and contact each other via PM.

Or am I not reading you correctly?

That's how I read it too.

Last year I sold my car on Craigslist. Took 2 days but the amount of scams I got were staggering

I also have heard from Frederick, that's what happens when you list your email in your WTB ad.

Also, the OP stated that he GENERALLY finds something he likes and contacts the seller. The way I read it that's how he usually does it. Apparently this time what he wanted wasn't offered.

I'm involved in three hobbies that lend themselves to internet and phone scams: Firearms, model trains and guitars. There's a great danger of posting a want-ad as you're advertising that you're a receptive party. Of course, some items, such as pre-Remington Marlin 336s are plentiful but not available retail unless used.

You should instantly go on the alert when someone has exactly what you're looking for at a price too good to be true. The scammer may be content to simply get your deposit, and then abscond.

Selling an uncommon twisted widget for about $500.00? My boss owes me $1500.00 back pay. How about I send you the $1500.00 check, you send me the item plus the $1000.00 in change? If you fall for this, you're out the item AND $1000.00.

Interstate firearms transactions must go through a dealer. A sophisticated scammer may set up a fictitious dealer to lure you and others in. Check out the dealer. You should immediately be suspect if you can't find a website for them. You may also contact BATFE to check on their license.

A while I posted a laptop computer on Craigslist.
Some of the responses I got were just comical. I finally told one guy-
I won't be hard to spot. Big gray haired guy. I will have a computer bag in one band, handgun in the other.
I want to see a big smile on your face, one hand clutching a big stack of money.
No checks, no overpayments, no shipment out of country.

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

Additionally, you could ask for a copy of the destination's FFL. A cell phone picture will do nicely. If the seller has any objections, that is also a red flag.

Ok I will clear up what I wrote, I don't place ads looking for guns in the forum. If I see one available in the for sale section ,I proceed with caution.

However this time and the prior time I just placed a ad that I was looking for a S&W 610 lol I know. But like lotto if you don't play ..... so the BS started when I placed a wanted ad. I will go back and try to fix my punctuation. And thank you low rider fixer, for confirming.-mike

Thanks, Mike. I wasn't trying to give you a hard time, sorry if it came across that way. The problem does exist and I thank you for pointing out the hazards as well as to others for their solutions.

I have a IT friend and he may provide me with some information. I may have the scammers ,eye color,shoe size, what he last bought at the super market. Oh yea and where he lives. Shame shame Fredrick, try to scam me,and my friends out our precious gun money. We will be in touch.

The 1st and 3rd parts I get but why do you need his FFL if he's shipping as a private party? I mean I don't mind talking about a sale/trade over the phone but I'd be a little put off if someone demanded to talk to my FFL for a transaction that didn't involve them.

Because it illegal to ship a firearm across state lines without a FFL. I believe the OP is talking about a non-FTF transaction. By making sure the sellers FFL is legit, he can call them to make sure they received the firearm (and have them check condition) before sending the money. Also, FFL will never send a stolen firearm or risk having the BATF all over them.

But it's not illegal to ship a gun as a private party across state lines that's why there's no need to talk to a seller's FFL. Only the BUYER needs an FFL to receive the shipment, the seller does not.

But the seller needs a copy of the receiving FFL before he ships.
And you only ship to the exact address on the FFL.

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

Of course, but we are talking about the buyer asking the seller for his FFL, that's the part that doesn't make any sense.

I think you're starting to close in on one reason why some folks, definitely including FFLs, won't receive a gun from a non-FFL.

What reason would that be? I've shipped a few and always include a photo copy of my driver's license for identification and have never had a problem with the receiving FFL. I've also bought quite a few from private parties who've shipped to my FFL and have never had an issue either.

But regardless this is about asking for something that's not a part of a normal transaction. I'll add this though, I would have no problem with shipping from my FFL if the buyer insists as long as the buyer is paying the extra amount it would cost me to ship it through them. As the seller, I'm not footing the bill for the extra fees though.

Many FFL here if not all will not accept a firearm unless it is shipped from a FFL. Now in this case the value of the gun was about $1000 if I recall. I would not do a private trade with him unless he used a FFL, brick and mortar. This part is my choice to try and ensure its a real transaction,not a scam. My plan was to have my FFL call his FFL and confirm the gun was in possession and ready to ship, I would then proceed with agreed payment. If that was not acceptable then we would not have a deal. I have seen at least 6 scams recently and I almost will not even try to buy a gun unless its from a store, and thats sad. Maybe some of you guys are braver than me or have more money,buy buyer beware.

That is becoming a common way to do a transaction. I've had that request from someone who wanted a gun I had for sale. It gets a dealer involved on the sellers end that the buyer can talk to. It's expensive but good insurance. My take on it as a seller is that the cost is about the same to ship a pistol either way. Dealer charges a fee and USPS shipping costs which is about the same as shipping Fedex yourself. I just add $100 to the asking price to cover it and I'm up front about the cost. If the buyer says it's too much then there isn't a deal.

I'm not a buyer anymore (voodoo politics here) but I will sell through a dealer.

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That's just somebody talkin.

Yes, the internet can be a dangerous place.

Several people (above) have already alluded to this, but I'll go into a bit more detail...

It's a bad idea to publish your email address and/or phone number in ad text.

Anyone (including non-members) can view the ads. There's a lot of scammers and spammers out there and posting private information exposes you to their chicanery. We watch the ads very closely and try to keep forum dealings on the up and up. There's nothing we can do about non-members who contact you off-site.

The forum has a PM system and an email forwarding function that can only be accessed by other members. Members who contact you through the email forwarding function don't see your email address, unless/until you reply to their email. Both of these contact methods can/should be enabled in your "User CP" (located in the blue band below the header ad, on the left) and you should limit initial contact to those methods. Limiting your dealings to other members allows you to research their history and any classifieds feedback.

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"I also cook."

if I do not get precise answers to questions given to sellers...........like Dionne Warwick ........I walk on by......

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There's nowt so queer as folk

No offense to anyone selling here but--the only way I buy--is person to person at either a gun shop--or gun show. Stops any chance from getting royally shafted.If I met a member from here and at a gun show or even my home? and they were selling somehting i wanted? no prob--id most likely buy.