BE WARY OF SCAMMERS - PROTECT YOURSELF.

[nigelwright7557]

I previously bought an item from facebook marketplace and the buy and experience was good.

So more recently I bought another item from facebook marketplace.
The seller gave me his paypal username and I quickly paid for it using goods and services.
A few days later seller sent a message asking if I still wanted the item.
I said yes it was paid for days ago.
He said he couldnt find a record of the paypal transaction.
So I sent him copy of transaction but he said it wasnt him.
So the payment went to another account not his.

I got onto paypal and complained and the paypal seller came up with a hand written receipt for the sale and said he had posted it !
Clearly a scam so I made a claim via paypal giving all the details.
A few days later I got a refund.
I dread to think what would have happened if I had used "family and friends" on paypal.

Its better to buy from online retailers or from ebay as there are far fewer problems.
If the item really has to come from facebook I would go along with cash and check it over before buying it.

[garytoosweet]

The user 'markusvet' attempted to scam me via PM.

PM message attached.

After receiving an email reply, I searched the email address, which is a known scam email.

If his email was normal, it could have been pretty convincing.

[madires]

Payment via gift cards is also an obvious sign of a scam.

[pizzigri]

Just received the following from a 0 post account, user Steinken, which screams SCAAAAM!! all the way.
————-
hello are you still interested in getting this?.
you can contact Christopher he has a 66311 B/D mobile Mobile Communication DC Source  for sale........... PM him @ Christopheraugur16@gmail.com
————-
Mr Steinken cannot receive personal messages- how did he send me one?

[dlebed]

Same guy, he sent similar message to me and suggested contacting the same email Christopheraugur16@gmail.com
Would ordinary American guy introduce himself with full "Christopher" name?

I even chat with the guy over email...

He has no clue about the item, not engaging into discussion about item and refuses to use PayPal ("I don't have PayPal").
Also, pay attention to their time zone (in email replies). He claimed he's in the US, while time zone tells otherwise.

Hopefully that will help others spot scammers.

[Helix70]

Well I have been scammed. Lucky it was only 50 bucks, but it is a little embarrassing to say the least.

I posted a wanted to buy on the forum for some rubber bumpers for my power supply. Here is the PM I got from user "jpolt" (1 post - i know, idiot me):

Referral:

Hey, Are you still looking? In case you haven't found anything yet, give Jeff a jingle. He can help out. Send him a note at  jeffnowak2@outlook.com

So I sent an email. This is what I got:

Hello Josh,

  This is Jeff from Geraldton WA. Yes i have a set of rubber bumper kit for the Agilent E3634A in NEW condition. I am asking $70AUD shipped. Payment via Amazon gift card via PayPal https://www.paypal.com/au/gifts/brands/amazon . What's your shipping address?

Thanks,
Jeff

I was fooled. I Even haggled him down to 50.

Obvious in hindsight, but just thought i'd share here.

Josh

[madires]

Can happen to anyone. The key takeaway is to stop when the seller asks for a gift card (or any other payment method without buyer protection).