JJEH
Member
I'm sorry for your troubles but I'm glad you stepped up and didn't just let it go. I don't like thieves and I'm glad he'll (hopefully) pay for his actions.
Scammed - UPDATE in first post
- Thread starter Pizza Bob
- Start date
I had a guy send me a cashiers check for a over a thousand bucks for a SXS shotgun and I asked my bank to make sure it was good and they said it was OK so I deposited it and walked out. I had a strange feeling in my gut and turned around and went back in and asked the same lady to please double check it and make sure and after 10 minutes she came back and said it was no good. Always listen to your gut and be ready to walk away from a deal because someone somewhere is being scammed every minute of every day.
My bank looks very closely at USPS money orders, and does not give immediate credit when I deposit one. They say those MOs are fairly commonly faked.
OP
Pizza Bob
Member
No, and I'm not holding my breath. What really makes me mad is that I can't even get the local PD (Shoshone, ID) to respond to a request for some sort of official documentation, so that I can at least write the loss off on my 2019 Taxes. Guess it is a total loss all the way around.
Again, I didn't write this thread to put people off of Internet buying, just as a cautionary tale. I have continued to acquire many fine pieces via the Internet, albeit, with a bit more caution.
Thanks for your concern.
Adios,
Pizza Bob
We all try to be careful but some of us manage to step into some do-do.
I saw on the news , where even the "Shark Lady" got taken !!
That's life.
Hang in there.
I saw on the news , where even the "Shark Lady" got taken !!
That's life.
Hang in there.
SAFireman
Member
Bob,
Please post his name, address, and any other identifiers that you have. It may help someone else to not get scammed.
Criminals aren't entitled to privacy
BTW - it sounds like you have done all the right things so far. Fingers crossed that you get some relief.
Please post his name, address, and any other identifiers that you have. It may help someone else to not get scammed.
Criminals aren't entitled to privacy
BTW - it sounds like you have done all the right things so far. Fingers crossed that you get some relief.
Gaffer
Member
It is not just the criminals who scam you. I was letting my son use an Anschutz Super match 54 with a 2' Unertl 20x scope on it. His house was broken into and the gun stolen. The local police told me several weeks later that the ATF and Mass. police knew where the gun was. I asked why they didn't go get it and was told that the Feds had more important fish to fry and didn't you have insurance. The point is that those expensive scopes are no longer made money was not the issue. The feds could care less and the locals just forgot about it.
Screwed again by government and there is no way get that package again with both items no longer available.And the police wonder why some don't love them.
Screwed again by government and there is no way get that package again with both items no longer available.And the police wonder why some don't love them.
smithman 10
US Veteran
My experiences online
Although it has been a few years since I last used Gunbroker, I never had a bad experience with any firearm I bought using them.
They are the only auction site I look at and the only one I would use. And yes, I would want any item shipped to be from a seller who has an FFL.
Although it has been a few years since I last used Gunbroker, I never had a bad experience with any firearm I bought using them.
They are the only auction site I look at and the only one I would use. And yes, I would want any item shipped to be from a seller who has an FFL.
doublesharp
Member
Maybe it's something to do with 520s? One of my gunshow vendor buddies brought me a 520 high grade shooter. No box and wearing Hogue/Ahrends? one piece wood grips. The kind with the stirrup and the single screw on bottom. Always a pain to get off and on. I knew the guy pretty well for years so I bought it w/out removing the grips. Took it home and put it away.
6 months later I came across a pair of N frame undercover service grips which is what should be on 520. Took the grips off and there was no serial #. Totally ground down to where the new grips were proud to the frame. I showed it to seller at next gs and he promptly returned my money. I'm confident he'd never removed the grips either. I got lucky.
As far as taxes go I'd take the deduction. You'd have to go through a line by line physical audit before you'd be asked to produce documentation and you are telling the truth.
6 months later I came across a pair of N frame undercover service grips which is what should be on 520. Took the grips off and there was no serial #. Totally ground down to where the new grips were proud to the frame. I showed it to seller at next gs and he promptly returned my money. I'm confident he'd never removed the grips either. I got lucky.
As far as taxes go I'd take the deduction. You'd have to go through a line by line physical audit before you'd be asked to produce documentation and you are telling the truth.
Sorry to hear of your troubles, but thanks for reminding those of us who conduct ourselves in an honorable manner that not everyone does. Good luck with recovering your money.
doublesharp
Member
Heads up:
FYI: gun did not sell in this forum's classifieds.
Guns America was the venue where gun was sold.
LoboGunLeather
US Veteran
I got burned by another scam about 15 years ago. Sold an vintage Colt revolver for a very good price and shipped it to buyer's FFL dealer. A few days later the buyer complained about broken and missing parts, pushed for a refund. I negotiated a refund of sale price but not shipping or FFL fees. Received the revolver back and found that most of the lockwork had been removed and replaced with broken and severely worn parts, making the revolver non-functional, and the original grips had been replaced with repaired cracked grips.
It took me about a year and a half to locate and purchase correct parts to restore the revolver properly. The cost was about $350.
In this case the bogus buyer got a heck of a deal on needed antique Colt parts, paying only for the shipping and FFL fees.
I have since established contact with a couple of other collectors who have been ripped off the same way by "parts thieves". Appears to be a relatively common MO.
It took me about a year and a half to locate and purchase correct parts to restore the revolver properly. The cost was about $350.
In this case the bogus buyer got a heck of a deal on needed antique Colt parts, paying only for the shipping and FFL fees.
I have since established contact with a couple of other collectors who have been ripped off the same way by "parts thieves". Appears to be a relatively common MO.
03hemi
Member
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2014
- Messages
- 3,482
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- 6,788
Oh yeah, I know that. Guess I should have worded that differently.
I just thought it were "unusual" we don't have a minimum post for selling/buying rule like most forums do?
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I have a friend who collects and sells old radios on ebay. He puts in the ad that discreet marks have been placed on various parts, and photos taken, as some buyers were swapping out parts and then demanding a refund. Ebay usually sides with the buyer unless you CYA.
Ages ago, pre-net, I sent a deposit to a dealer in OK as a pre-order for a Dakota 22. He may or may not have started honest, but Dakota dragged out the building of the guns forever.Before I sent the USPS MO, I spoke with Dakota, who confirmed that he was their dealer, and that as long as I had proof that I paid him, I was good with them,and they even provided me with a serial number.The guy disappeared, and Dakota denied what they said about me being covered by them.. Not only that,I asked about my order-they had finished the gun, wouldn't credit me for the deposit, and btw, the price had gone up since the order was placed. I ate the loss rather than continue. The OK dealer was evidently caught in MT, and went to jail.About nine other guys lost their deposit as well.
