Post by BullDog on May 12, 2013 21:46:05 GMT
Tips to avoid being scammed buying airsoft from private parties.
Well, let’s face it, there are a lot of unscrupulous people out there who want to rip you off. Most people see it in spam emails declaring you’re the winner of some obscene amount of money because your email was chosen in some lottery you never entered and all you have to do is wire £_____ to receive your payout. Or maybe you’ve gotten a reply to an ad you posted promising a cashiers check for 10 times what you want for your item, if you wire the extra to some out of country location, blah, blah, blah… Fact is, you need to be careful when buying and selling online.
This post will deal with Airsoft related purchases, but the basic concepts can be used for just about everything.
So how do you protect yourself?
The best way to avoid being scammed is to deal face to face, but that’s rarely convenient when dealing with people from all over the country/world. Most people are good natured and honest, but there are certain steps a buyer and seller can take to help avoid being scammed.
Buyers Advice:
“Caveat Emptor” is Latin for “Buyer Beware”. This is the mantra for all internet based sales. Any time you spend money on an object you can not hold before buying, you are taking a risk. It doesn’t matter if you are buying from an established online retailer or if you’re dealing with Buford T. Futzmucker Jr. in Timbuktu, New Hampshire.
Common Sense:
Well, common sense is your first ally. If a deal seems too good to be true, odds are that it is. If you come across a WA2000 for £500, don’t even waste your time and efforts. Those things go for £160000+ and are extremely rare. Now I’m not saying killer deals do not exist. I’ve been on the receiving end of some amazing deals. The point is, those types of deals are rare, and if you come across one, you should be very cautious in proceeding.
Details, details, details:
Knowledge is the best tool you can use to avoid being ripped off, scammed, or taken advantage of. Ask the seller detailed questions, especially ones that are “Yes/No” answer type questions like “Is anything broken?” or “Are all the pieces there?”. Answers like “I don’t think so”, “I’m not sure”, and “As far as I know” should be a warning that things may not be as they seem. If a seller doesn’t have, make, or take the time to honestly and thoroughly answer a buyers question, ask yourself how motivated he’ll be to ship your package once he receives your money?
Pictures:
The saying “A picture is worth a thousand words” is a very true statement. If the post, auction, or ad you are interested in doesn’t have a lot of pictures (or any), don’t be afraid to ask for some. The excuse “I don’t have a camera” or “Google it for pictures” quite honestly tells me the seller is not motivated. Even if the seller doesn’t have a digital camera, I’d be willing to bet they know someone who does.
Always get pictures of all sides and various angles. You can request the seller put their username on a piece of paper conspicuously in the picture too, to insure you are getting actual pictures of the item you’re considering.
Pictures are not always a guarantee, though. Do some research first. Do a Google Image search for the item you’re looking at. If the pictures the seller sends show up on Google, there’s a pretty good chance they copied the pictures. Not a guarantee, but a good chance.
Know the Seller:
So who are you buying from? Are they an active member of the forum? Have they been around for a while? Do they have any feedback? Can you get references or usernames of others on the site they’ve had successful transactions with? Granted, not every inactive new member selling something is trying to scam anyone, but I’m always more comfortable dealing with someone who has a vested interest in the forum or site.
Contact:
Sometimes it’s a good idea to actually speak to the seller. Not always, but sometimes. I’ve had many transactions go well without phone calls, but it doesn’t hurt to have another avenue of communication outside email and PMs.
Payment Arrangements:
The first rule of paying for anything online is C.Y.A. (Cover Your Butt)
Always use a trackable payment method. PayPal is one of the safest methods to exchange money for goods. They have a Buyer Protection program that can help you resolve a problem if the seller doesn’t ship your item or ships something significantly different than what they described in their ad.
If you receive a PayPal Invoice for an item in your email, do NOT click any links in that email. Open a separate browser and either use your favorites/bookmarks to navigate to the page or physically type it into the address bar. Check the validity of the invoice in your account summary before you pay for the item. Scammers love to send “Phishing” emails that look like invoices in the hopes you’ll follow their link and inadvertently give them your account information. Always log in from a separate browser, then close that browser when you log out. Just another layer of security to protect yourself.
Personal Checks can sometimes be an option, but don’t be surprised if the seller holds the item until the check clears your account. With a personal check, you will at least have some information on the back of the processed check if any issues arise. Make a photocopy of the check before you mail it, or keep the carbon copy in your checkbook until the transaction is complete. Keep an eye on your account, too. There have been cases of checks being washed and amounts changed. If you see a discrepancy in the check amount, file a report or claim with your bank or financial institution. You may also want to file a police report.
Unless you absolutely trust the seller, NEVER EVER mail cash and NEVER wire the money to the seller. More than 50% of all scams involve sending or wiring cash.
Also, never give a credit card number to a private seller.
Delivered:
Well, your package arrived, and it’s…. Well, that depends. If it’s what you expected or better, let the seller know you appreciate the detailed answers, prompt shipping, good packaging, whatever. If something’s missing, don’t go assuming you’re being scammed. Politely ask if that something was overlooked. Sometimes, people make genuine mistakes.
I shipped an AK once and forgot the battery cover. It happens.
Well, let’s face it, there are a lot of unscrupulous people out there who want to rip you off. Most people see it in spam emails declaring you’re the winner of some obscene amount of money because your email was chosen in some lottery you never entered and all you have to do is wire £_____ to receive your payout. Or maybe you’ve gotten a reply to an ad you posted promising a cashiers check for 10 times what you want for your item, if you wire the extra to some out of country location, blah, blah, blah… Fact is, you need to be careful when buying and selling online.
This post will deal with Airsoft related purchases, but the basic concepts can be used for just about everything.
So how do you protect yourself?
The best way to avoid being scammed is to deal face to face, but that’s rarely convenient when dealing with people from all over the country/world. Most people are good natured and honest, but there are certain steps a buyer and seller can take to help avoid being scammed.
Buyers Advice:
“Caveat Emptor” is Latin for “Buyer Beware”. This is the mantra for all internet based sales. Any time you spend money on an object you can not hold before buying, you are taking a risk. It doesn’t matter if you are buying from an established online retailer or if you’re dealing with Buford T. Futzmucker Jr. in Timbuktu, New Hampshire.
Common Sense:
Well, common sense is your first ally. If a deal seems too good to be true, odds are that it is. If you come across a WA2000 for £500, don’t even waste your time and efforts. Those things go for £160000+ and are extremely rare. Now I’m not saying killer deals do not exist. I’ve been on the receiving end of some amazing deals. The point is, those types of deals are rare, and if you come across one, you should be very cautious in proceeding.
Details, details, details:
Knowledge is the best tool you can use to avoid being ripped off, scammed, or taken advantage of. Ask the seller detailed questions, especially ones that are “Yes/No” answer type questions like “Is anything broken?” or “Are all the pieces there?”. Answers like “I don’t think so”, “I’m not sure”, and “As far as I know” should be a warning that things may not be as they seem. If a seller doesn’t have, make, or take the time to honestly and thoroughly answer a buyers question, ask yourself how motivated he’ll be to ship your package once he receives your money?
Pictures:
The saying “A picture is worth a thousand words” is a very true statement. If the post, auction, or ad you are interested in doesn’t have a lot of pictures (or any), don’t be afraid to ask for some. The excuse “I don’t have a camera” or “Google it for pictures” quite honestly tells me the seller is not motivated. Even if the seller doesn’t have a digital camera, I’d be willing to bet they know someone who does.
Always get pictures of all sides and various angles. You can request the seller put their username on a piece of paper conspicuously in the picture too, to insure you are getting actual pictures of the item you’re considering.
Pictures are not always a guarantee, though. Do some research first. Do a Google Image search for the item you’re looking at. If the pictures the seller sends show up on Google, there’s a pretty good chance they copied the pictures. Not a guarantee, but a good chance.
Know the Seller:
So who are you buying from? Are they an active member of the forum? Have they been around for a while? Do they have any feedback? Can you get references or usernames of others on the site they’ve had successful transactions with? Granted, not every inactive new member selling something is trying to scam anyone, but I’m always more comfortable dealing with someone who has a vested interest in the forum or site.
Contact:
Sometimes it’s a good idea to actually speak to the seller. Not always, but sometimes. I’ve had many transactions go well without phone calls, but it doesn’t hurt to have another avenue of communication outside email and PMs.
Payment Arrangements:
The first rule of paying for anything online is C.Y.A. (Cover Your Butt)
Always use a trackable payment method. PayPal is one of the safest methods to exchange money for goods. They have a Buyer Protection program that can help you resolve a problem if the seller doesn’t ship your item or ships something significantly different than what they described in their ad.
If you receive a PayPal Invoice for an item in your email, do NOT click any links in that email. Open a separate browser and either use your favorites/bookmarks to navigate to the page or physically type it into the address bar. Check the validity of the invoice in your account summary before you pay for the item. Scammers love to send “Phishing” emails that look like invoices in the hopes you’ll follow their link and inadvertently give them your account information. Always log in from a separate browser, then close that browser when you log out. Just another layer of security to protect yourself.
Personal Checks can sometimes be an option, but don’t be surprised if the seller holds the item until the check clears your account. With a personal check, you will at least have some information on the back of the processed check if any issues arise. Make a photocopy of the check before you mail it, or keep the carbon copy in your checkbook until the transaction is complete. Keep an eye on your account, too. There have been cases of checks being washed and amounts changed. If you see a discrepancy in the check amount, file a report or claim with your bank or financial institution. You may also want to file a police report.
Unless you absolutely trust the seller, NEVER EVER mail cash and NEVER wire the money to the seller. More than 50% of all scams involve sending or wiring cash.
Also, never give a credit card number to a private seller.
Delivered:
Well, your package arrived, and it’s…. Well, that depends. If it’s what you expected or better, let the seller know you appreciate the detailed answers, prompt shipping, good packaging, whatever. If something’s missing, don’t go assuming you’re being scammed. Politely ask if that something was overlooked. Sometimes, people make genuine mistakes.
I shipped an AK once and forgot the battery cover. It happens.
