WARNING: There are scammers exploiting the WTB thread

[neph93]

In the past months there have been a spate of attempted scams on the WTB board.

The attempted scam begins with a PM, or occasionally a thread post, to someone who was posted a legitimate WTB notice. The scammer will claim to have the item or know someone who does. They will then try to move communication to a channel outside of the forum, for example, email or WhatsApp.

Fortunately, they are fairly easy to spot if you know what you are looking for. Check users post history and join date. Typically the scammer's accounts will be new and they will have no posts. As stated, they will ask you to get in touch by email, or WhatsApp, not via pm.

If in doubt, ask for photographs of the item and actual measurements. When buyers have done this they are often presented with incongruous measurements or obvious stock photo's. To be sure, we recommend that forum members who are offered an item for sale ask for a picture of the item with a readable, handwritten, dated note in shot to confirm that the seller actually has the item available. If you are a seller responding to a WTB post, we recommend that you include such a picture in your offer to the buyer. Keep comms on the forum, either on the relevant WTB thread or on pm.

If you are in doubt, please do contact myself or one of the crew in Gosport and we can as advise you as best we can.

The forum provides the Marketplace boards as a place for people to do deals. We cannot take responsibility for items or monies lost, nor can we solve disputes. We will do what we can to keep the boards as free from attempted scams and frauds as possible, but we are reliant on users being vigilant and reporting situations or flagging potential scammers.

Thanks for reading.

[Giles]

Thank you @neph93

[Kasi]

Thanks [emoji4]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[jordanscollected]

just happened to me yesterday.

I was sent photos of a size small waffle work shirt and flannel that wasn't even what i was looking for. The person also had terrible grammar and their wife was ghastly.

In all seriousness watch out and don't do business with anyone who you don't trust.

@Giles these guys seemed to be accepted as forum members. Should we be forwarding the usernames so they can be blocked?

[neph93]

@jordanscollected:

Should we be forwarding the usernames so they can be blocked?

That is exactly what you should do. I have been tipped off three times a week for the last two months. I check them out and ban them. Please send a copy of their comms too if you can. It helps me verify they are scammers and means I can keep track of their MO.

[Giles]

Unless they have prevous form, they will not be flagged as a scammer by our software, so we have to wait until they show their hand before we ban them….

[going_to_battle]

It's happened to me twice within 24 hours.

Thank you to Reuben for his work banning them so quickly.

[neph93]

UPDATED INITIAL POST WITH AN ADVISORY

(see sections in bold type)

[Smiladon]

I had this exact thing happen on the WTB page.
@BennyHolmes sent me this message-

I recommend Michael at comichael464@gmail.com for you purchase..

I though it was crazy, mostly that someone responded so quickly to my request.

Just thought i should pass along, i don't see any other posts from this forum member.

[neph93]

That is almost certainly a scammer. Thank you @Smiladon. I’ll check it out and ban the tw@t shortly.

[Smiladon]

My pleasure @neph93
I didn't respond to them, thought it was too good to be true.

[neph93]

@Smiladon:

My pleasure @neph93
I didn't respond to them, thought it was too good to be true.

He gone…

[732fraziea]

Thanks!

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

[Giles]

Just deleted this guy for the same MO.

georgeliam770

His sidekick was romanfolly@gmail.com

[SEAK Kid]

I just got en email from forum member smithparker071, also from romanfolly@gmail.com.

Sent from my moto g(6) using Tapatalk

[Giles]

smithwanker071 has been banned.

Thanks for the heads up….

[neph93]

@SEAK:

I just got en email from forum member smithparker071, also from romanfolly@gmail.com.

Sent from my moto g(6) using Tapatalk

Thank you. Care to pm me the contents of the email?

[neph93]

@Giles:

smithwanker071 has been banned.

Thanks for the heads up….

Beat me to it.

[SEAK Kid]

@neph93:

@SEAK:

I just got en email from forum member smithparker071, also from romanfolly@gmail.com.

Sent from my moto g(6) using Tapatalk

Thank you. Care to pm me the contents of the email?

Just did…

Sent from my moto g(6) using Tapatalk

[popvulture]

Just got a message from Timada126 (raw unwashed):

Hi there. I’ve got some nice pairs of IHSH-193 XL going for a reasonable price. Kindly reply back or text me at 760 349 1158 if you’re still looking
Thank you
Tim

SCAMMIN! ::)

Edited to tag @neph93 @Giles