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Anatomy of a Fraud Attempt - Please Read
AGF Team -
There is a bona fide fraudster currently on the prowl not only here, but also other music-related fora. My story is below, but see also the same exact person (phone number, email) in a drums forum: https://www.drumforum.org/threads/so.../#post-2235933 I posted a want ad on the AGF. Well, boy oh boy! I got a PM that a certain person that not only claimed to have one (they are somewhat rare), but the EXACT one I used to own. You can imagine by (feigned) excitement. He sent pics from this link that belong (to my knowledge) to the actual owner: https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/...d.php?t=478309 I knew he was a fraud immediately, but have been stringing along as long as possible so I can get as much information, evidence, and contacts to report properly. For the sake of brevity, the warning signs, in order of my odyssey, I list below. Review and let it be caveat emptor for you: 1. Sends message on day one of registration 2. Name was a "co-name" (Name + Sig other) 3. Referred to self in third person 4. Via email, indicated he had a GC to sell, I asked for price 5. Price significantly lower than market.... 6. Sends pics, reverse image shows link to AGF, above 7. Avoids question about case (Calton), sends pic of "another case that I have" 8. Reverse image search shows case on sale on Reverb 9. Ask for a shot of the guitar in the case - comes back with the WORST photoshopped and filtered attempt ever...comical... 10. Dodges payment via Paypal 11. Sends link to Venmo payment - WITH A DIFFERENT NAME! 12. Ignores question about the multiple names 13. After silence from me, sends apologetic email saying not to send via Venmo, but through Cashapp, zelle, etc... 14. Emails twice demanding I hurry so he can "get it on air freight" 15. ...and be sure to send a pic showing you have paid... 16. When asked what "air freight meant," 'oh you, know, air delivery to get this guitar to you faster 17. I never asked for expedited shipping 18. Phone number search yields fraud alert as the top result - to the drum forum linked above. So beware, but also stay calm in general. So many here are frightened by their own shadows that they might get stiffed by a legitimate AGF member here. As you can see, it is hard to miss the actual warning signs.
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Taylor LKSM-12 - Larrivee B-19, L-11 - Brook Tavy Baritone, Torridge - McIlroy AS20 - Lowden BAR-50 FF - Yamaha LJ-56 Last edited by Kerbie; 01-18-2022 at 05:03 PM. Reason: Not in this section. |
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Yep...they're always out there "trolling". it's too bad...if only they spent that time doing something legitimately good?
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Jim Dogs Welcome......People Tolerated! |
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I am always amazed at the effort put into scamming people. Like, if they'd just put that work into something honest the scammer would be so much further ahead. But maybe that's not how they think.
Anyway, kudos to you for your attempt to identify this person. Good luck finding the guitar you're seeking. Also, the use of the word "fora" is noted and appreciated
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Waterloo WL-14X Scissortail Collings OM2H Gibson 50's J45 Fender EJ Strat |
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My day has been made!
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Taylor LKSM-12 - Larrivee B-19, L-11 - Brook Tavy Baritone, Torridge - McIlroy AS20 - Lowden BAR-50 FF - Yamaha LJ-56 |
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Suppose you gave them one of the ersatz cashiers checks that are out there, scammed the scammer - what a thought.
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The Bard Rocks Fay OM Sinker Redwood/Tiger Myrtle Sexauer L00 Adk/Magnolia For Sale Hatcher Jumbo Bearclaw/"Bacon" Padauk Goodall Jumbo POC/flamed Mahogany Appollonio 12 POC/Myrtle MJ Franks Resonator, all Australian Blackwood Goodman J45 Lutz/fiddleback Mahogany Blackbird "Lucky 13" - carbon fiber '31 National Duolian + many other stringed instruments. |
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For what it's worth, this person is not currently a member of the AGF.
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Thanks, Kerbie. The name just shows as "Guest" in my PMs now.
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Taylor LKSM-12 - Larrivee B-19, L-11 - Brook Tavy Baritone, Torridge - McIlroy AS20 - Lowden BAR-50 FF - Yamaha LJ-56 |
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deleted account
Last edited by Guest 02022022; 02-02-2022 at 12:49 PM. |
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Quote:
To accompany 'flora' and 'fauna', who seemed lonely without 'fora' to communicate? Now they can become as famous as 'veni', 'vidi', and 'vici', the Julian sisters. Don .
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*The Heard: 85 Gibson J-200 sitka/rosewood Jumbo 99 Taylor 355 sitka/sapele 12 string Jmbo 06 Alvarez AJ60S englmn/mpl lam med Jmbo 14 Taylor 818e sitka/rosewood Grand Orchestra 05 Taylor 512ce L10 all mahogany Grand Concert 09 Taylor all walnut Jmbo 16 Taylor 412e-R sitka/rw GC 16 Taylor 458e-R s/rw 12 string GO 21 Epiphone IBG J-200 sitka/maple Jmbo 22 Guild F-1512 s/rw 12 string Jmbo |
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If you want to get pummeled by emails from fraudsters, post a 'want to buy' online in forums.
I did a ways back and it was an endless circus of individuals who had exactly what I was looking for, could never send current specific pics that I was asking for, often times used poor english and/or had trouble spelling simple words. Should you post a "Want" ad - very careful who you are dealing with - - - when fraudsters see a hungry fish, they'll send all sorts of lures by your nose. Last edited by TennesseeWalker; 01-19-2022 at 08:28 AM. |
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I am glad to know that if this person were a member of the AGF the moderators would be all over it. Thanks as always to Kerbie and all the other great Moderators.
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"I go for a lotta things that's a little too strong" J.L. Hooker |
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I wonder if a special designation could be created for known scammers, so their name would show as "Scammer Scum", "Criminal Cretin" or something more creative. "Guest" seems far too polite and tender a designation for the lowlife jerks that try to swindle honest, hardworking forum members.
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Scotch N Speed - this person or someone very similar contacted me about a week ago about my WTB ad here for a Pre War….he contacted me through AGF and said someone he knows had one - sent phone number snd email….so I sent an email and pics came back in a very cryptic email with a price of $2,800…..now, we all know this would be a steal for a used Pre War…..I went back to AGF and noticed he just joined AGF that day…..hmmmm…..so I called him for the heck of it - you never know…..the dude literally couldn’t string two coherent sentences together so I hung up on him and immediately notified Kerbie on AGF…..who jumped on the issue immediately! Thanks Kerbie!! He texted me then and said he had just woken up and sounded groggy and would like to talk - I texted him back and said send me the guitar and I’ll pay you $3000 when it arrives - he said he needed a deposit….LoL - I said I don’t trust you at all - he actually texted back and said I wouldn’t trust me either….crazy…
So be really careful as others have said above…. And always remember what your Mother told you - or at least what my Mother told me ( God rest her soul - today is her birthday )…. “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is”….
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Acoustics Irvin * SCGC * Bresnan * Dyson Electrics Fender / Fender Amps * TMG Favorite Gin - Citadelle Favorite Bourbon - Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Favorite Grape - Nebbiolo Last edited by blews; 01-24-2022 at 05:32 AM. |
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Quote:
Quote:
We always appreciate receiving information about these scammers, so thanks to those who shared with us. |
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I've had my fair share of run ins with these tools. Probably the worst was when selling my parent's home FSBO - someone co-opted the photos and was trying to rent the home for $2000/month. Thankfully a good samaritan in another state notified me after seeing the same photos in my legitimate For Sale ad and another For Rent ad by the scammers. A fraud report to CL got the listing removed quickly. However, my phone number (even though not listed in the CL ad) was overrun with fake scam texts for months.
The scammers are nearly always easy to spot. You just have to keep your guard up and question anything that feels "off." I really feel sorry for the older folks who get scammed into sending gift cards and the like, or get their computers hacked. There is a special place in Hades for these lowlifes.
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EMTSteve a couple guitars too many |