[Jim R]

Responded to a ad this morning on Armslist.com for a Browning Citori Grade V Trap Gun. Was a very skeptical of the price of $1200 but I played it out with him.


Now he said he was 35 miles south of me in Seattle. I told him I would meet with him and make a Face to face deal. He couldn't do that so here is a copy of his last email.



A certified check will be preferable which will be payable to the name and address below.


NAME:KENNETH WOODCOCK


ADDRESS:13834 OSAGE ROAD


CITY:APPLE VALLEY


ZIP:92307


STATE:CA


Note:I will not do anything that is not legit once the check is confirmed and cleared you gun will be in transit to your FFL dealer location.After sending the package get back to me ASAP with the tracking number so that i can keep track of the package online.Am looking forward to us completing this transaction before the end of this week.


Thanks



I went on gunbroker.com and found out where he got his photos.


http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=376152445


Watch out for this guy.

Jim R

 

[skeet_man]

Yep, happens all the time. Pretty easy to pick up on on real high end guns (kolars, krieghoffs, perazzis) when they try to sell them for 1/4 market value.

My trick is that I copy a sentence or two out of their description, and google it. This will usually yield the original ad the lifted the description and pics out of, and will confirm unequivocally that its a scam (scammers are lazy, and simply copy/paste descriptions). Doing this will only prove that an ad is a scam, it can't prove that one isn't.

Another trick is to ask for more pics of specific areas of the gun (close up of monoblock, closeup of breech face, ect). If they can't provide them, huge red flag.

 

[Meatman]

CROOK ALERT

 

[JIM SIMS]

That address is about 3 blocks away from me,

Perhaps I should pay him a visit and check him out ? Let me know.

Jim

 

[navyeod]

Some clues to arms list scams for me are items listed with no town. Like Alabama, Alabama. This combined with a item listed at below market prices. When these two are combined the scam rate is 100 percent. All you have to do is try to arrange a meeting. It will not happen. Be careful. david

 

[Crunch]

Poor use of English is another clue.

 

[docbombay]

Crunch, that would not stop me from buying a gun from Big Don.

 

[Jim R]

Here is a link to the armslist.com ad

http://www.armslist.com/posts/2325260/washington-shotguns-for-sale--browning-citori-grade-v-trap-gun-12-ga-32-?preview=635198446400000000


And here is a link to the gunbroker.com ad


http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=37615244

 

[JACK]

You can foil the crook/seller by insisting that he have a picture taken with the gun in hand to incl his face. They will nto do it.

 

[eightbore]

Jim Simms, you don't think the name and address are legitimate, do you. The person at that address has probably lost his wallet.

 

[JIM SIMS]

eightbore

I hate crooks and im willing to do what I can to suppress them.

JIM

 

[Johnobody]

The best thing we, as responsible sportsmen, can do is flag the listing and, if you get the chance, call the bluff.

 

[Desert Hiker]

Don't recall the scammers name but I was selling a Kolar and the photo's were lifted on either ts.com or gunbroker and was used to scam unsuspecting shooters on Armslist, was using my selling price as well...I notified Armslist and they shut him down....Seems like the scammers just stay at it, change names, etc...Ron

 

[senorric]

Same problem for Armslist New York under "Shotguns". All high end guns at bargain prices. His English varies from correct to terrible depending on the ad posting. Background in the photos also is never the same for any of the guns.

 

[Meatman]

up

 

[ccw1911]

Another tool to use is Google Image. It works just like regular Google but searches for a picture instead of words.

 

[Steve W]

Can you report it to the listing website? That might save more people.

 

[Jim R]

It has been reported to the Armslist web master and he is now blocked, but he can gain access with a new email address. The ATF has all the information on this guy and I guess he is pretty good at what he does. With a little luck they will catch him.


Jim R