** SCAMMERS WORKING THE TRADING POST **

[Sophia]

Same guy going by two different names. If you have recently received PMs from paulmighty or Jackmx you have been the target of the typical scam involving Want-to-Buy ads. Just delete those PMs and if you have already started emailing correspondence based on them.... stop!

Scammer cruises the WTB adverts in the TP and sends a PM to the poster claiming that he knows somebody who just happens to have what you need. It's never he himself but always his buddy. This time his buddy is supposedly in Texas, just like he was a couple of weeks ago. But... and it's a big but.... the guy sending you the PMs is sitting in Nigeria.

Don't fall for it! If you get PMs from a newish member that knows somebody who just happens to have whatever you posted a Want-to-Buy advert for exercise more than the usual due diligence. If in doubt do not hesitate to report the PM to the moderator team by forwarding a copy of the PM or by clicking on the icon that looks like this -- it's up in the upper right corner of the PM.

[Sophia]

Our friend is back at it but has gotten a little smarter. Nowadays he's using a proxy server in Nevada to disguise his actual location in Nigeria. Flags say he is the same guy since, as before, it is his good buddy Steve in Texas that has whatever it was you posted a WTB advert in search of.

If you have recently received a PM from Johnwill telling you he knows someone who has what you posted a WTB for just go ahead and delete that baby without responding to him.

[Rosscoe]

Thanks for the "heads up"

[TEDDY BEAR RAT]

I received a similarly suspicious PM from a markhasenfus313 (no posts) responding to my Want-to-Buy ad and saying his friend has what I need. The zero posts thing raised a red flag, and the grammar and spelling were not quite right. Now, markhasenfus might be completely legit, but I doubt it.

Just a heads up

TBR

[TEDDY BEAR RAT]

Yes, that thought had occurred to me, but, with no posts, and his buddy not even an RFC member, I would have passed anyway.

[elohssa63]

I was the recipient of this last reply to my WTB add in the trading post. Zero post as in the past, and using the word "Kindly" in his correspondence with me. It seems to be a dead giveaway in a Nigerian scam. They do love that word.

[Sophia]

Same guy with a new name... this time he is Normantx. Don't fall for it!

[Sophia]

Latest attempt is going by the user name of Walkerhun. Don't fall for it!

Originally Posted by Sophia

Same guy going by two different names. If you have recently received PMs from paulmighty or Jackmx you have been the target of the typical scam involving Want-to-Buy ads. Just delete those PMs and if you have already started emailing correspondence based on them.... stop!

Scammer cruises the WTB adverts in the TP and sends a PM to the poster claiming that he knows somebody who just happens to have what you need. It's never he himself but always his buddy. This time his buddy is supposedly in Texas, just like he was a couple of weeks ago. But... and it's a big but.... the guy sending you the PMs is sitting in Nigeria.

Don't fall for it! If you get PMs from a newish member that knows somebody who just happens to have whatever you posted a Want-to-Buy advert for exercise more than the usual due diligence.

[Sophia]

At it again! This time going by the name of NORMIX. Don't fall for it!

Originally Posted by Sophia

Same guy going by two different names. If you have recently received PMs from paulmighty or Jackmx you have been the target of the typical scam involving Want-to-Buy ads. Just delete those PMs and if you have already started emailing correspondence based on them.... stop!

Scammer cruises the WTB adverts in the TP and sends a PM to the poster claiming that he knows somebody who just happens to have what you need. It's never he himself but always his buddy. This time his buddy is supposedly in Texas, just like he was a couple of weeks ago. But... and it's a big but.... the guy sending you the PMs is sitting in Nigeria.

Don't fall for it! If you get PMs from a newish member that knows somebody who just happens to have whatever you posted a Want-to-Buy advert for exercise more than the usual due diligence.

[Sophia]

Got another one! This time by the name of RonaldJ .... don't get scammed!

[Sophia]

Latest one is roryling1. Delete any PMs you got from him and don't send him or anyone he knows any money!

[Sophia]

Latest miscreants are going by the names of charlesxix and HunterGary. Keep your guard up!

It's an old scam that, sadly, works too often. Scammer cruises the WTB adverts in the TP and sends a PM to the poster claiming that he knows somebody who just happens to have what you need. It's never he himself but always his buddy.

The warning signs are a new member with no posting or TP history and it is always his buddy that has something, not he himself. He never posts a comment to your WTB but always communicates by PM -- that way no one notices that his buddy just happens to have one of everything listed in the WTB section.

Don't be fooled! Don't let your desire to scarf up that good deal override due diligence and a dose of caution. If in doubt, report the PM so we can look into things.

[OldCZFan]

Why the common thread of "a buddy has" the item rather than saying I have the item? I can't understand why that gives the scammer more credibility.

[Sophia]

Not more credibility but a buffer. Your beef is with the seller who never delivered, not with the buddy who pointed you in that direction.

[OldCZFan]

Thanks for the explanation, that makes sense.