Does this gun sale sound sketchy?

[EdwardTollman]

In the end, if you don't feel comfortable, there are other buyers.

The biggest mistake made in a sales/trade transaction is to think this is the only one. There are others out there. It doesn't matter if we're talking about cars, guns, buyers or sellers. There is always another.

This potential "buyer" has many warning signs. You could string him along, but that's only for entertainment. He is obviously not going to follow through with anything.

Again, at any time you don't feel comfortable, walk.

Thanks for sharing though.

Thank you, and I agree... and it was a tad bit entertaining all the same.
But realistically speaking, when it comes to a transaction like this that can have serious repercussions, I'm not all that happy about meeting a stranger to sell them a gun. Even with the simple laws of face-to-face sales in AZ, I would much prefer the comfort and safety of a straight forward FFL transfer. Whether that means meeting at a LGS or shipping to an FFL. No parking lot meet-up's and no problems down the road. I've sold a couple of old trucks on Craigslist at local parking lot meet-up's and even that was a pain in the butt... Just not my thing I suppose.

 

[shouldazagged]

This is my first personal sale and not getting a warm and fuzzy feeling with it so far!

Is there a Pulitzer Prize for euphemism?

By the way, I have one of Bonnie Parker's favorite 1911A1's for sale. Like new condition except for a nasty scratch on the serial number.

I really hate to bother my FFL guy while he's down with jock itch, so...

 

[retiredbadge8091]

S.C.A.M. And an old and tired one at that. These con artists are so lazy...

 

[pittpa]

Warm greetings! And he got his stuffs. And his mover is his FFL. A guy from Seattle with a Dane accent called to tell me he had a Russian buyer for my PT Cruiser I had on Autotrader. Asked for a bill of sale and my bank account # to deposit the money. I called my local PD and the bank. They just told me not to take any non-US checks. Turns out the guy was a legit international shipping agent, with a BBB profile.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Grayfox]

Actually, I've done quite well both buying and selling on Armslist over the last few years. However, I only deal locally and only FTF with cash. I also take precautions such as meeting in public places and I go armed.

I have also been the target of scammers with offers much like the OP's. I don't fall for it.
There's also a reverse of this. Guns offered at low prices that seem too good to be true. Often it is. The scammer is trying to either just take your money or get personal info for identity theft or worse.

However, you need to be aware of otherwise legit buyers who want to bend the rules. Several years ago I offered a gun here in the For Sale forum. Interested buyer lived in a neighboring state, wanted me to meet him halfway. When I mentioned the state line between us and that we'd have to transfer through a FFL, he went off on a rant about dealers all being crooks and rip off artists. He just wanted to buy FTF. Needless to say, that sale didn't happen.

 

[gman51]

There are people taking pics off other people's ads and then posting the pics as being theirs. Cars, guns, and even houses. Who in the heck buys a house without actually touring the house? But it is happening. Some people are prone to giant mosquitos on two legs. Drain the blood right out of you.

 

[Rastoff]

People keep saying this is a scam and it might be, but I don't see how the "scammer" wins in this scenario. I mean, he even states to wait until the check clears. How does the scammer win anything? The worst that could happen is if he does an illegal transfer, but that would only hit the seller, not gain the scammer anything.

 

[TTSH]

SCAM! We are all getting the same corny message. Some scammer out there is very busy!

 

[EdwardTollman]

People keep saying this is a scam and it might be, but I don't see how the "scammer" wins in this scenario. I mean, he even states to wait until the check clears. How does the scammer win anything? The worst that could happen is if he does an illegal transfer, but that would only hit the seller, not gain the scammer anything.

I see your point and my guess maybe he's only interested in a "no paper trail" weapon because he cannot purchase a gun legitimately. Only other thing would be the timing of the bank rejecting a fraudulent check.

 

[dusty3030]

People keep saying this is a scam and it might be, but I don't see how the "scammer" wins in this scenario. I mean, he even states to wait until the check clears. How does the scammer win anything? The worst that could happen is if he does an illegal transfer, but that would only hit the seller, not gain the scammer anything.

They send a phony cashiers check. The "extra hundred" is bait to get you to buy in. Once you get the check and deposit it, they will come up with a story on some emergency that they can't complete the transaction and will will try to get you to send the money back, but you can keep the 100 for your trouble. You send real money back before your bank discovers the check is a fake and your account is debited. The scammer never intends to pick up item.

It's all a rouse to get you to send them real money. The fake cashiers check takes some time to clear so you will see a credit on your account your bank will later reverse when the fraud is discovered, but by then you have already sent the money.

 

[Muss Muggins]

People keep saying this is a scam and it might be, but I don't see how the "scammer" wins in this scenario. I mean, he even states to wait until the check clears. How does the scammer win anything? The worst that could happen is if he does an illegal transfer, but that would only hit the seller, not gain the scammer anything.

Depending on your bank's practices, and then depending on your personal history with your bank, it's possible that you could have most, if not all of the money available to you before the check is discovered to be fake. Bad things are then possible . . .