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  #1  
Old 05-27-2016, 07:22 PM
billder99 billder99 is offline
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Default Another scam? This time Pay Pal

Sorry, this is my 3rd OP in a week asking about scams... I advertised 2 guitars for sale, and I am getting e-mails that on the surface seem legit. AGF members have already steered me from one trap, please let me know your thoughts on whether the following is another scam or not... if it is, how does it work? Once you take money on Pay Pal, aren't you safe? Here it is:

Good day, i am stephanie, stationed in Colorado. I would have love to see this item but am presently busy here at the base. I am Okay with your advert price and i will as well be sending your money via PayPal asap. Do you have PayPal account so that i can proceed with the payment. Kindly get back to me with your PayPal info and also have the posting deleted Asap.

1.Are you the original owner
2.how long have you own it & present condition ?
3.What's your direct phone # & pick up location ?

Thanks
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  #2  
Old 05-27-2016, 07:28 PM
GraceMusik GraceMusik is offline
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To me, it is obviously someone to avoid just by the way it's worded, especially the "have the posting deleted Asap" part. My advice is to ignore such emails. It's way too aggressive and weird. I would also assume you would have described the the guitar's condition in your ad, no? So the fact they would ask that makes it seem like a form response they send out to a lot of people without actually reading the ads. Notice the generic terms such as "item" instead of "guitar" like a normal person would say in reply.
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Old 05-27-2016, 07:32 PM
73Fender 73Fender is offline
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SCAM many give aways, one is that the response says "the item" really? Probably a phishing scam for e mail addresses maybe worse.

I'd get phone numbers and talk to prospective buyers, hard to BS being a guitar player.
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Old 05-27-2016, 07:33 PM
dagobert dagobert is offline
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I don't know much about PayPal but here is what would make me walk away:

1) Stephanie - Name not capitalised while Colorado is.
2) "..I am Stephanie.." no one introduces them selves ad "I am.." its usually " My name is.."
3) advert - An overseas term, 99% of people will say "add"
4) "...having the posting deleted Asap.." - Why?
5) Structure and syntax are off

IMO leave it be.
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  #5  
Old 05-27-2016, 07:33 PM
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JeffreyAK JeffreyAK is offline
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Right, I don't know how the rest of the scam unfolds but it sure looks like a scam. Probably, there will be some kind of problem using paypal, and it will turn into wanting to send you a fake cashier's check - after you've already deleted the posting. I personally would just ignore it.
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Old 05-27-2016, 07:39 PM
billder99 billder99 is offline
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I'm responding to my own OP... after more careful reading, I see several very suspicious anomalies. Still, I hate to lose the possibility of a buyer. Here is my response, seems safe:

Hi Stephanie,

First, if you are military, happy Memorial Day... I am ex-USN, VN era. Which service are you in?

Answers to your questions:
1. Yes, I have a Pay Pal account.
2. Yes, I am the original owner
3. I have owned the guitar since new, you can see the date clearly on the photo of the label, 2002
4. As advertised and clearly shown in photos, this is a players instrument, not perfectly preserved case candy.... if you are a player, you will love it, the price reflects this... setup, playability, tone, structure, all perfect... the surface has some small indentations & pick marks (yes, a freind's kid played it with a pick... dammit), but no cracks, nothing thru the finish... the finish is hand rubbed French Varnish, delicate.
5. My phone # is 541-xxx-xxxx
6. I am in Bend, Oregon

Regarding payment, please don't be offended but you and I don't know each other. Due to the many scams in the world of internet commerce (including Pay Pal scams), I would love to sell you the guitar but only in exchange for cash. There are several easy ways we can do this. If you are still interested, let's have a phone conversation and we can work out the details for a secure legitimate transaction.

Bill
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Last edited by billder99; 06-04-2016 at 11:24 AM.
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Old 05-27-2016, 07:41 PM
dagobert dagobert is offline
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IMO - I wouldn't include point 5 or 6.
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  #8  
Old 05-27-2016, 07:46 PM
mattcran mattcran is offline
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Ignore it! They'll piece together personal information over multiple emails. It's an absolute fake!
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  #9  
Old 05-27-2016, 07:54 PM
dhalbert dhalbert is offline
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https://www.google.com/search?q=crai...aypal+military
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  #10  
Old 05-27-2016, 07:58 PM
billder99 billder99 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mattcran View Post
Ignore it! They'll piece together personal information over multiple emails. It's an absolute fake!
Thanks Matt, good advice.

On the other hand... I sold one of the guitars yesterday for cash (Eastman E10D) from Craigslist. The buyer drove over 100 miles to see, play, then buy the instrument. The whole thing seemed fishy to me at first, but I politely pursued it. I'm glad I did. Turned out to be a good player and buyer.

It's a dilema... it's not that easy to sell a guitar in this completely saturated market... I hate to lose a sale without cautiously testing... my response to the person in question seems reasonable, cash only.
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Now back living in Baja Sur where I started my carbon fiber journey... Bend OR was too cold!
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Old 05-27-2016, 08:01 PM
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I'd let her know that will gladly let her pay for it directly at the pickup location -
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Old 05-27-2016, 08:04 PM
TwoMartinMan TwoMartinMan is offline
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I've seen this kind of thing many times. Total scam. Just ignore it.
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Old 05-27-2016, 08:15 PM
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I get similarly worded messages from craigslist postings. Ignore it.
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  #14  
Old 05-27-2016, 08:18 PM
Brucebubs Brucebubs is offline
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No-one needs to know your PayPal details, that's strictly between you and PayPal.
Just like scam/false PayPal notifications are addressed 'Dear PayPal customer' whereas genuine PayPal notices will have your name on them.
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  #15  
Old 05-27-2016, 08:37 PM
JimmyJeff1 JimmyJeff1 is offline
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I got the same message last week on 2 different postings. It is a scam.
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