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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

How Do People Get Scammed?

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BrendanLeahy

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I'm actually very curious about this - both from buyers' and sellers' perspectives (stories are appreciated). I've been under the impression that something like Paypal, Ebay, and the like would all work well at protecting the parties involved, so what goes wrong that ends up costing someone money and/or gear?
 
PayPal as a company cannot be trusted to do the right thing. They can freeze your money and withdraw from your bank even after you have transferred the money from PayPal to your bank.
 
Haha no not at all looking to make a quick buck! I've just been curious after seeing all of these recent posts about being careful of eBay sellers doing outrageously low RED camera bodies - it sounds like people completely ignore all the red flags, then get in a bind.

I would assume Ebay or Paypal would usually help resolve these things, but from the sound of those that have been duped, the companies aren't helpful?
 
If they're not a long time RED User in good standing . . . move on. I made the mistake of buying a lens set from a vintage lens dealer that was not a RED User. Chasing my refund legally now since the dealer never delivered the promised lenses.

For lenses I use Duclos as a third party to protect both parties. The buyer gets a professional lens report - the seller doesn't release the lenses to ship until the bank wire clears. Duclos is busy so leave a couple weeks for the inspection time.

Use www.Escrow.com or equal for larger purchases.
 
IMO The key to avaoid being scammed is to research the person you are dealing with.

Paypal will not protect you. Cashiers checks can be faked. Aside from a face to face transaction with cash, unless you know who you are dealing with it's always possible to get scammed.

Obviously the first "red flag" is a really really good deal. I've been fortunate enough to pick up a few really good deals over the years on Ebay and I have never been scammed. But I won't deal unless they have positive feedback. Even then I may ask to chat on the phone or even better, Skype.

Obviously the easiest way to be scammed is when trying to buy something. If it seems a little too good to be true, it usually is. But one fast way to find out is to offer to pick it up in person and pay cash. The scammers will always come up with a reason why that won't work. They want Paypal or some other for of payment. If they are selling an expensive piece of kit determine who they are first. Do they have a website? Do they seem like they are someone who would own that gear?

Most of it is just comon sense.

If you are selling gear, remember that Paypal and certified funds can be faked. Again, always research who you are dealing with first. If they are suspicious then insist on Western Union or a Wire Transfer.

Also one other cute little way that you can get scammed on ebay when selling something is someone buys your item. They pay for it via Paypal and then a week later ask to return it for some BS reason. Then when they ship it back to you the only send you an empty box. Usually Paypal will side with them and you are screwed.

It's the wild west out there so be careful. But a good start is always to know who you are dealing with.

Hope that helps. :)
 
Usually the buyer is into the deal because it is a little too good to be true , but he wants it to be true. There may be some 'excuse' that it is such a good deal : buyer is desperate and in a bind, the item fell off a truck , it's an estate sale and the seller does not know what it is worth, etc etc.
 
It's good to report to mods when you see an offer which is too good to be true.

Personally I don't live too much in the "for sale" parts of reduser. But have a look if something is reported.
 
For large purchases I always ask for something specific in the photo "please take a picture of the lens/camera with a coffee mug next to its serial number". The other thing I always do is ask for a real phone number to call. However the last time someone tried to scam me with a fake REDMag they did give me a working phone number (probably a burner) and did talk to me briefly. So that's not fool proof. But I didn't ask them for the photo. Now I demand 'proof of life' photos.

The reason most people get scammed is because they don't use PayPal or something similar. Someone asks for a "Western Union" or a Wire Transfer and boom money is all gone.

Pretty much everyone who gets scammed through Paypal is scammed as the seller. Someone buys something, then reports that it never was shipped and PayPal refunds their money.
 
Incidently. The scammers are out there big time! I recently sold some gear on reduser and put both my email and cell in the ads and was bombarded from scammers. So be careful.
 
Troy Bakewell said:
Incidently. The scammers are out there big time! I recently sold some gear on reduser and put both my email and cell in the ads and was bombarded from scammers. So be careful.
Click to expand...

Avoid putting your email address online in machine searchable form. Replace @ with *at* or put spaces in. You could do the same with mobile numbers.
Of course this wouldn't work if a human is responding to your ad, but it does reduce automated spamming.
 
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