I have a really nice side by side shotgun I was selling on Armslist and a guy emailed me and wanted to buy it and I asked where he was and he said Bowling Green, Kentucky and I said I would have it shipped from my FFL to his FFL. He said he could send a bank draft and I said I would have to wait a few days for it to clear my bank and he said fine so he texts me a Fedex tracking number and I get an overnight Fedex envelope a couple of days later with a check in it for more than the amount we discussed. I call him and ask why the check is more than we discussed and he said he is moving from Oklahoma City(where I live) to Kentucky and he will have a Courier Service pickup the final items from his house and pick up my gun. As I tell him I can't do that, the phone service starts breaking up and I loose the call, and I now know where this transaction is heading. I stop by my bank and ask them if his check is good, and they said everything looks good, but I said can you contact his bank to verify funds? They call his bank and then tell me the check is no good and I said "that's what I thought" and left. I wondered why this guy would go to the trouble and expense to pay Fedex if he knows I'll wait on his check to clear when it won't? I'll try to call the ATF to let them know but I doubt if they'll do anything, .....I'm about done with selling ANY guns.
My first private gun sale that went bad.
- Thread starter Farmer17
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bigwheelzip
Absent Comrade
Might have gone bad is more like it, but yeah, it stinks. Good catch on your part.
I'm not comfortable with private sales. My LGS has taken what I didn't want, in trade on something I did want. Roughly a wash money wise, but fast, easy, and convenient.
I'm not comfortable with private sales. My LGS has taken what I didn't want, in trade on something I did want. Roughly a wash money wise, but fast, easy, and convenient.
joeintexas
US Veteran
Seems there's a low life behind every bush these days. Knock on wood I've never had a problem with a private gun sale but I will say I shy away from anything that sounds even a little bit shady. You did good catching that one.
Comrad
Member
The FBI can't keep up with those on the terrorist watch list, I don't think internet scams are going to get much attention these days considering there are probably thousands of scams being tried every day.
Caveat emptor, sellers too.
Caveat emptor, sellers too.
chaparrito
Member
A variation of this happens on Craigslist all the time.
Arik
Member
There are many variations of this scam. The simplest one is that you ship the goods before it actually clears. The other is when the buyer "accidentally" send more money and asks you to send back the difference. You deposit the check and write one out in the difference. End result is the buyer gets real money while you get a bounced check
I don't do much online sales of anything bit the few times that i did ..... If I see weird English, promises of personal pickup or arranged pickup, funny money (Western Union, weird money orders), odd phone numbers where the area code doesn't match the city I'm sending to, people instantly in love with what I'm selling because it's exactly what they were looking for.... anything like that and I'm done. Or come with cash and pick up face to face. That usually stops their attempts.
I had this when selling my last car. Guy is going to send me money because my car is exactly the one he's been looking for. Really? I didn't know people were looking for 15 year old two door 4cyl Toyota coupes with 300,000 miles, dented door and rust spots! Anyway, he'll send me the money plus extra for my troubles (whatever those are?) and he'll send a truck to pick up my car. Of course the money is in the form of a Western Union check. I told him to give the driver cash and he can give it to me. End of communications!!!
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Arik
Member
Fake
If you have a trusted person send you one from a real WU that's fine. Otherwise fake
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If you have a trusted person send you one from a real WU that's fine. Otherwise fake
Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk
Last edited:
I would think that they are Fake printed Western Union Checks? I am not sure but a great question, Hope someone can answer that!
I had a similar issue when I was selling a Motorcycle.. Guy said he would send a check and a broker would pick it up.. That is also a standard scam line . When I said CASH only I never heard from him again lol wonder why? :O
Kernel Crittenden
US Veteran, Absent Comrade
He probably has a way to scam FedEx, too. Like chagrining it to some else's corporate account that isn't monitored closely.
Lee's Landing Billy
Member
Back in the 1900s..70s actually, a man in San Fran ran ads in every issue for good stuff. He had 03s for sale for $119. A pal of mine and I sent off the money and FFL. Weeks turned into months..nothing. We called the Post Master in San Fran, told him the story and he started to chuckle. He said he knew this man well and there was nothing he could do. When he ran the ad he had 2 or 3 of the item he advertised, he shipped those immediately and back ordered the rest. He put everybody's money into a 6 month CD and when the CD matured he sent everybody their money back. Now remember, in the 70s it was not uncommon to get 15% or more on a CD. Carter Inflation years. This man did this as long as I got the SGN. Can you imagine what this brainiac could have done if he had access to a computer?
the ringo kid
Member
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I never had any issues in the past selling to a kind of stranger-they were all Law Enforcement types. Now days, ill ONLY sell to someone I really know and have dealt with before. Brad, Joseph, Larry and Larry.
alwaysoutdoors
Member
That scam of sending more than the selling price of the item has been around for awhile.
gman51
Member
I only sell a gun one of two ways. Cash face to face with I.D. or on consignment at my LGS. I don't "have gun will travel" or a check cashing business on the side.
Good thing you caught onto his scam.
Good thing you caught onto his scam.
You can never be too careful when selling guns or just about anything in any other way than face to face. I'm glad you had your wits about you and avoided being a victim.
okiegtrider
Member
+1 I hope you will take the time to follow through with reporting it to ic3.
Our local FBI agent swears that someone somewhere is actually reading those submissions and looking hard for the common threads, connecting the dots and trying to catch these thieves. I want to believe him.
I certainly encourage people who ask me about scams on the net to report there. It certainly can't hurt, and the worst thing that can happen is nothing comes of it. It's certain that nothing will come of it if you never tell anyone.
Wasn't long ago I went down the street and walked my elderly neighbor through an ic3 referral. A heartbreaking experience really, this old couple had been scammed out of many thousands of $.
Cpo1944
Member
I have had nothing but good luck doing face to face Arms list transactions . I would not do an out of town deal period.
I used to buy and sell bike frames as a hobby. The scammers at that time would offer to buy a frame for a hugely inflated price and say they would have their shipper pick it up from me. They would send you a certified cashier's check and all you had to do was wire a smaller amount of cash to them via Western Union and keep the extra amount for your trouble. How could that be a bad deal for a seller? 
Of course the checks were fake and they had no intention of picking up the frame, all they wanted was the cash you would send them via WU and you were out the cash.
The frame I was selling was probably around $450, but when I immediately recognized the guy was a scammer (spelling, country he was in, story, etc.) I decided to have a bit of fun with him via email.
This is long, but I thought he would stop! This started with an ad I posted offering the Tommasini SLX Super Prestige for sale. Ended up with me offering my air hardened Silly Putty, then my Pasta and Cheese bike
=======================
HIM
Hello,
I saw ur ad placed on the net and a contemporary of mine recommended it to me.I will like to know if the above item is available,the last price and if possible with pics to know the present condition.I would like to solicit your total sincerity and honesty in this transaction.Payment will be made by a US Certified cheque and shippment would be at my cost because i have a private shipper so shipping should not be a problem,I stay in Southport in the Uk.Happy New Year
Sincerely urs,
Benita Brian
=========================
ME
$5000
====================
HIM
Goodday,
Thanks for your response.I wld be waiting for the pics if any.I am happy to hear back from you.I more than willing to buy the Tommasini SLX Super Prestige frame,so tht my shipper can ship everyother thing with it i bought initially from a garage sale .Its good to know that the Tommasini SLX Super Prestige frame is available.Payment would be made which will include shipping,insurance cover papers and everyother necessary things for shippment at my own cost. My Partner (a multi business man and philantropist) who is an American residing in the Italy and would be leaving for South America very soon,he has agreed to send you a US certified cheque of $9,500 .You are to contact my private shipper for payment same day you receive the cheque.The contact of the shipper i will mail to you when you receive payment.You deduct your payment,and send the excess funds to my shipper via western union. My shipper'll handle the shipping of the Tommasini SLX Super Prestige frame and some other items which i bought from a garage sale auction and are ready for shippment,he deals with Quicktime, fast delivery. I'll be compensating you with $250,for your efforts and the western union charges.The shipper will be coming to your location for the pickup immediately the payment is been confirmed. Pls send your full data,so that you'll recieve the cheque very soon.The following data would be needed for the cheque to be sent to u asap.NAME...,PHYSICAL ADDRESS...,PHONE NUMBERS...Pls reply today and have a wonderful day.Happy New Year
Best Regards
Benita Brian
===============================
ME
Sorry, it sold to a fellow from England who has a friend from Uganda who is working the hurricane disaster relief in Louisiana who is sending a cashier's check for $12,500 and will pick up the bike in a month or so.
I am wiring back via Western Union only $3,500 to England and I get to keep $9,000 for the Tommasini because it is so rare and they want it so bad!
=============================
HIM
Hello Friend,
Wht if i bid higher to pay u $10,000 for the Tommasini and hv the cheque sent to u on or before next weekend cos i need it too badly...Pls respond.
Benita
============================
ME
Benita,
As the honorable person and man of your word I am sure you must be, I am certain you understand I would not want to go back on my word with the previous buyer. However, I do have a rare one-of-a-kind racing bike made of air hardened Silly Putty that I would sell for the $10,000 price.
====================
HIM
I like and fully understand ur stands and wld hold on.I wld really like to go into business with u cos of this gesture u hv displayed,its shows how nice u are as a man.I wld buy ur racing bike and wld like to make a payment of $15,000 which wld include payment of shipping of the racing bike and all other item i hv with the shipper.I wld also go further to offer u an extra $250 for westernunion charges to wire the balance of $5000 back to my shipper who's contact details i wld send to u when payment is sent to u.The shipper will come to ur location for the pick when payment is made.I wld like to hear back from u with the payment details which will include name,address and contact phone number to which payment can be issued and sent to u.Will be waiting to hear back from u soon.
Benita
===================
ME
Benita,
I am so sorry! I left out a zero in the price for the collector's edition Silly Putty bike. It is $100,000, which would make your cost $95,000 if I wired back $5,000 to you. Please let me know ASAP as there are many, many bike item collectors clamoring for this oh-so-rare item!
==========================
HIM
Is $95,000 ur last price?if so let me so we can proceed with the payment asap. Benita
======================
ME
Benita,
You sound like a man who knows his bikes! What would your maximum offer be?
===================
HIM
Wht is ur own last price for the bike,and i wld start from there
Benita
==================
ME
Benita,
You are not going to believe this! The fellow said he sent me a $250,000 cashiers check and all I have to do is send him $10,000 by Western Union. I don't even have to ship the bike! He is going to have a friend pick it up for him on February 30, so I get to keep it another six weeks to look at it and remember it before it will be gone. I can't believe my luck on this sale!
===================
HIM
Does this mean i lost out on the bid/sale for the bike?pls reply
====================
ME
Benita,
The only bike I have left, and it is even more rare then the air hardened Silly Putty one I just sold, is an Italian model made entirely of different colored and shaped pastas and cheeses. I rode it in the Tour de France last year when Lance Armstrong won his record 7th Tour de France. Perhaps you remember the story about me riding it or saw the pictures of me riding the red, green, and white pasta bike on the news? I hope so. I would sell it for $300,000, but would not be willing to send via Western Union a payment to you of more than $15,000 because I really hate to sell it.
======================
HIM
Hello,
Does tht mean ur selling?and if so,pls let me know the last price so i can issue u payment and we can proceed.
Benita
====================
ME
I would take $350,000 for the Pasta and Cheese bike, which would allow me to make $300,000 on it.
===================
HIM
Hello Frank,
I wld really like to go into business with u cos of this gesture u hv displayed,its shows how nice u are as a man.I wld buy ur Pasta and Cheese bike and wld like to make a payment of $400,000 which wld include payment of shipping of the racing bike and all other item i hv with the shipper.I wld also go further to offer u an extra $2000 for westernunion charges to wire the balance of $48,000 back to my shipper who's contact details i wld send to u when payment is sent to u.The shipper will come to ur location for the pick when payment is made.I wld like to hear back from u with the payment details which will include name,address and contact phone number to which payment can be issued and sent to u.Will be waiting to hear back from u soon.
Benita
=====================
ME
Benita,
I have tired of this game.
Goodbye.
======================
Of course the checks were fake and they had no intention of picking up the frame, all they wanted was the cash you would send them via WU and you were out the cash.
The frame I was selling was probably around $450, but when I immediately recognized the guy was a scammer (spelling, country he was in, story, etc.) I decided to have a bit of fun with him via email.
This is long, but I thought he would stop! This started with an ad I posted offering the Tommasini SLX Super Prestige for sale. Ended up with me offering my air hardened Silly Putty, then my Pasta and Cheese bike
=======================
HIM
Hello,
I saw ur ad placed on the net and a contemporary of mine recommended it to me.I will like to know if the above item is available,the last price and if possible with pics to know the present condition.I would like to solicit your total sincerity and honesty in this transaction.Payment will be made by a US Certified cheque and shippment would be at my cost because i have a private shipper so shipping should not be a problem,I stay in Southport in the Uk.Happy New Year
Sincerely urs,
Benita Brian
=========================
ME
$5000
====================
HIM
Goodday,
Thanks for your response.I wld be waiting for the pics if any.I am happy to hear back from you.I more than willing to buy the Tommasini SLX Super Prestige frame,so tht my shipper can ship everyother thing with it i bought initially from a garage sale .Its good to know that the Tommasini SLX Super Prestige frame is available.Payment would be made which will include shipping,insurance cover papers and everyother necessary things for shippment at my own cost. My Partner (a multi business man and philantropist) who is an American residing in the Italy and would be leaving for South America very soon,he has agreed to send you a US certified cheque of $9,500 .You are to contact my private shipper for payment same day you receive the cheque.The contact of the shipper i will mail to you when you receive payment.You deduct your payment,and send the excess funds to my shipper via western union. My shipper'll handle the shipping of the Tommasini SLX Super Prestige frame and some other items which i bought from a garage sale auction and are ready for shippment,he deals with Quicktime, fast delivery. I'll be compensating you with $250,for your efforts and the western union charges.The shipper will be coming to your location for the pickup immediately the payment is been confirmed. Pls send your full data,so that you'll recieve the cheque very soon.The following data would be needed for the cheque to be sent to u asap.NAME...,PHYSICAL ADDRESS...,PHONE NUMBERS...Pls reply today and have a wonderful day.Happy New Year
Best Regards
Benita Brian
===============================
ME
Sorry, it sold to a fellow from England who has a friend from Uganda who is working the hurricane disaster relief in Louisiana who is sending a cashier's check for $12,500 and will pick up the bike in a month or so.
I am wiring back via Western Union only $3,500 to England and I get to keep $9,000 for the Tommasini because it is so rare and they want it so bad!
=============================
HIM
Hello Friend,
Wht if i bid higher to pay u $10,000 for the Tommasini and hv the cheque sent to u on or before next weekend cos i need it too badly...Pls respond.
Benita
============================
ME
Benita,
As the honorable person and man of your word I am sure you must be, I am certain you understand I would not want to go back on my word with the previous buyer. However, I do have a rare one-of-a-kind racing bike made of air hardened Silly Putty that I would sell for the $10,000 price.
====================
HIM
I like and fully understand ur stands and wld hold on.I wld really like to go into business with u cos of this gesture u hv displayed,its shows how nice u are as a man.I wld buy ur racing bike and wld like to make a payment of $15,000 which wld include payment of shipping of the racing bike and all other item i hv with the shipper.I wld also go further to offer u an extra $250 for westernunion charges to wire the balance of $5000 back to my shipper who's contact details i wld send to u when payment is sent to u.The shipper will come to ur location for the pick when payment is made.I wld like to hear back from u with the payment details which will include name,address and contact phone number to which payment can be issued and sent to u.Will be waiting to hear back from u soon.
Benita
===================
ME
Benita,
I am so sorry! I left out a zero in the price for the collector's edition Silly Putty bike. It is $100,000, which would make your cost $95,000 if I wired back $5,000 to you. Please let me know ASAP as there are many, many bike item collectors clamoring for this oh-so-rare item!
==========================
HIM
Is $95,000 ur last price?if so let me so we can proceed with the payment asap. Benita
======================
ME
Benita,
You sound like a man who knows his bikes! What would your maximum offer be?
===================
HIM
Wht is ur own last price for the bike,and i wld start from there
Benita
==================
ME
Benita,
You are not going to believe this! The fellow said he sent me a $250,000 cashiers check and all I have to do is send him $10,000 by Western Union. I don't even have to ship the bike! He is going to have a friend pick it up for him on February 30, so I get to keep it another six weeks to look at it and remember it before it will be gone. I can't believe my luck on this sale!
===================
HIM
Does this mean i lost out on the bid/sale for the bike?pls reply
====================
ME
Benita,
The only bike I have left, and it is even more rare then the air hardened Silly Putty one I just sold, is an Italian model made entirely of different colored and shaped pastas and cheeses. I rode it in the Tour de France last year when Lance Armstrong won his record 7th Tour de France. Perhaps you remember the story about me riding it or saw the pictures of me riding the red, green, and white pasta bike on the news? I hope so. I would sell it for $300,000, but would not be willing to send via Western Union a payment to you of more than $15,000 because I really hate to sell it.
======================
HIM
Hello,
Does tht mean ur selling?and if so,pls let me know the last price so i can issue u payment and we can proceed.
Benita
====================
ME
I would take $350,000 for the Pasta and Cheese bike, which would allow me to make $300,000 on it.
===================
HIM
Hello Frank,
I wld really like to go into business with u cos of this gesture u hv displayed,its shows how nice u are as a man.I wld buy ur Pasta and Cheese bike and wld like to make a payment of $400,000 which wld include payment of shipping of the racing bike and all other item i hv with the shipper.I wld also go further to offer u an extra $2000 for westernunion charges to wire the balance of $48,000 back to my shipper who's contact details i wld send to u when payment is sent to u.The shipper will come to ur location for the pick when payment is made.I wld like to hear back from u with the payment details which will include name,address and contact phone number to which payment can be issued and sent to u.Will be waiting to hear back from u soon.
Benita
=====================
ME
Benita,
I have tired of this game.
Goodbye.
======================
Last edited:
