Pro Stock John

iTrader: (34)

Let's list the signs of a potential scammer...

1) Wants to trade rims for your rims. This scam was used many times by the Jason Pierce (Orlando, FL) scammer over the last two years. You end up sending your rims and get nothing in return

2) Person wants to sell you something but never wants to talk on the phone or give you a phone number. I stay away from folks like this for big items.

3) Person gives you one name, yet has you ship items to a person with a different name, very shady.

4) Extremely poor punctuation and grammar. A red flag for me, maybe the person is really young and is trying to pull off scams.

Please list your tips on identifying scammers.

<small>[ December 04, 2002, 11:40 AM: Message edited by: Pro Stock John ]</small>

sited12

First and only post is for an expensive product. Normally people that first start posting are new to LS1s but it is true that everyonce in awhile you will get someone that has a surplus of LS1 stuff and just found the board. A good one is that when you first email the person and ask something about there car. Such as what kind of car. A question like oh what cam did you switch to or something like that goes without an answer. Normally if a person is legit they will take the time to BS about cars with you.

Joe "Preachers Sheets" DIESO

iTrader: (4)

don't give away all the tricks... those very people you are talking about may be reading.

<small>[ December 05, 2002, 06:06 PM: Message edited by: Joe D ]</small>

sited12

We all know the scammers dont take the time to troll the message boards. Only classifieds and very few posts.

AshSS

i weLl sell yuo BRAND NEW LS1!!!!!!111111 Cahs up front plz

verbs

I'm weary of people w/o receipts for big ticket items. Most people are smart enough to keep their receipts when they purchase a blower or rear end or whatever, just in case it breaks.

Also, for big purchase items like that, usually a credit card is used. If they say they have no receipt, then ask them if they can pull up a credit card statement and scan/fax you a copy with the credit card # scratched out.

Hopefully the name address and location all match if they send you something like that. You could also call and verify with the shop they bought it from.

Pro Stock John

iTrader: (34)

Joe from Southie, <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />

The thing is that the "I trade my rims for your rims" was a very popular scam about a year ago for that Jason Pierce (Orlando Florida) guy. Got to the point that as the head of my regional car club (at that time www.mfba.org) we specifically asked folks not to buy or sell items into Florida since we could not be sure if the folks were legit. Someone we who we thought was Jason Pierce actually logged onto our regional board and tried to trade rims... "zo6 rims for your stock ws6 wheels"...

Anyway, when in doubt ask for references. Ask for reputable references, like one of our moderators or anyone else who is well known in our community. I have vouched for quite a few Chitowners over the years but I won't vouch for certain people.

Slowhawk

iTrader: (12)

It's alway's a 50/50 when buying something.I like calling the person and looking at there post #'s to give me an idea of them being legit.
When selling parts I will give my phone # and home address.When parts are shipped,I let them know and give a tracking # ASAP.At least I've never been scammed.If I do I WILL take a trip and visit the person for a one on one <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />

02NBMZ

For big items I would always use a iescrow service. Your money is safe and is not released to the seller until you get your product and are happy with it. When i had my old car I tried buying a turbo kit from a guy and I wanted to use iescrow. Never heard from him again until someone showed up on the board saying he got scamed by this guy.

Also, people who will NOT let you come look at it or pick it up. If they are not local I would always say I have a friend that lives there that wants to come see it first. Scammers would usually make up some excuse.