Scammer

I just want to give everyone a heads up on a scam that seems to be starting. I posted in parts wanted Sunday for a power steering set up for my 961 Ford. On Monday morning I got a call from a guy saying he had inherited a lot of 961 Ford parts from his Dad and was going to throw a lot away because he was in a hurry to clean everything up as he sold his Dads Farm in Fallon NV. But a friend had seen my ad and called him. He said he had a NOS in the box complete steering setup for a 961 his Dad bought from a dealer going out of business at first didn't know what it was worth I said well what do you want for it. He said what would you give for it I told him $500 then he said wow a guy in Minnesota offered $350 and he was going to call him back I said I'm not getting in a bidding war with someone. He said that guy wanted him to ship it COD and he would not do it. Then he said he needed to wait till his wife got back ? I said I don't just send strangers money then he didn't want to talk anymore. 20 minutes later I sent a text could he send me a picture of it by text which is pretty simple. Never heard back for 6 hours then a fast phone call where he said real fast and hung up I sold it to a guy in California for $50 because he didn't need a picture. Bottom line guess there trolling the Parts Wanted Ads then call saying they have it and just send money. People that love old tractors are trusting older people so they think were stupid also. I can post his phone number if anyone wants it.

Pretty common now in anything Motorcycle, tractor, parts etc. Guy seems to have what you want at low price and you send check, wire tranphere etc and never hear from him.

Yep going around. They are:

1: Cleaning up dads estate.

2: in a rush.

3: for some reason unable to send any pictures

4: want payment via Western Union (big teller there. involve a bank or the USPS and you are talking felony charges over and above the theft by deception and scaming).

5: Will most often "find" a shipper that has super low rates.

6: phone will be deactivated a couple of days after you send the money.

If it sounds too easy or too good to be true? Be very careful.

Rick

Rick I believe most of these guys use text or email. Most of these scammers don't want to use the phone.

I believe it's a scam, also. However, this is one household that doesn't even know how to send texts, and we have [b:4d19a3c7f9]no desires[/b:4d19a3c7f9] to learn!!

(quoted from post at 08:52:19 12/18/18) Rick I believe most of these guys use text or email. Most of these scammers don't want to use the phone.

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Actually no, if you post an ad and include your number they call. I'm on several different antique machinery pages and just over the last few days this scam has been reported on more than once. Everyone has said the dealing were via phone conversations although they can also be conducted via emails and or text. Problem with Emails is somewhere there is an IP involved. The phone is anonymous with a prepaid phone. Run scams on 1/2 dozen people over a week or ten days and then just throw the phone away and get another. They never use a real name, often false ID to pick up a money transfer from Western Union. They also download and use a spoof program to hide the phone number. Almost impossible to catch right now. So voice is safe.

All of the recent scams I know of actually happening to people in the last 6 months or so have been via voice conversations on the phone.

Rick

Google provides phone connections. That is how the scammers do it and mimic a local number.

"Oh, what a coincidence, I'm driving through Fallon NV regularly, and will pick it up in person and pay cash where ever you want to meet. What day and location is best for you?"

A real seller will provide a day and location. A scammer will have many, many 'dog ate my homework' excuses.

He must troll the ads here fairly regularly. I dealt with him as "Jasper Collins" from Reno/Fallon NV a couple months ago while looking for a specific HO CaseIH Athearn train sets. Someone told him about my add, his father "John" had died, selling his stuff, owned 4 hobby stores. One thing that was odd was he had to of known about the specific set I was looking for, he was very detailed and wasnt pushy. Spoke for a week, seemed alright, but it was a scam.

By working in an area familiar to others such as a hobby it increases the ..trust factor.. or legitimacy of the scammer to the victim. Just as many of you would likely trust a poster on here far more than an average Joe you met on the street. And that trust is increased by the fact that most folks you meet at antique or tractor shows seem honest and genuine to you. This is likely how most folks perceive anyone associated with their like interests whatever it is. Not saying that all people are likely preying on you, just pointing out to be aware. Take a second look if things seem to good to be true. Maybe even run things by a trusted friend to get their opinion. To bad this is how it is but this is the world we are dealt.

Thanks for the reply I'm sure it was the same guy this time his name was Matthew from Fallon but said he lived in New Mexico. Left home when he was 17 and never came back till his Dad died but he had a Fallen Phone number? Did he try to get you to send money first also?

Yeah similar story, lived in NM in his grandfathers house, father died and he was cleaning out his two houses in Fallon/Reno but had a Reno phone #. He didnt want money at all to begin with, just talked, described the situation and the train sets, then became more urgent. We talked for a week at least, then nothing and phone # was disconnected.