Message from the President of the Scam of the Month Club

[LesGawlik]

Messsage deleted

 

[Lachlan]

Perhaps you’re not ready to handle the responsibility of having a credit card yet. Moving forward, don’t open any more emails from Nigerian princes in exile who desperately want to send you millions of dollars in cash.

 

[Morgan3820]

Unfortunately it happens to the best of us.

 

[Daleandee]

Perhaps you’re not ready to handle the responsibility of having a credit card yet. Moving forward, don’t open any more emails from Nigerian princes in exile who desperately want to send you millions of dollars in cash.

 

[schmookeeg]

Perhaps you’re not ready to handle the responsibility of having a credit card yet. Moving forward, don’t open any more emails from Nigerian princes in exile who desperately want to send you millions of dollars in cash.

Pretty solid victim-blaming there.

I've seen some VERY good aviation scammers provide me photos, logs, and other stuff on request -- and it was only because I found the item (an engine in my case) on a plane currently listed for sale -- that I uncovered the mess -- by contacting that selling broker. I also insist on in-person meetups now, even if I have no intention of it -- just to suss out who is BS and who is not.

>< that close for me, for an engine-sized lump of lost cash.

 

[LesGawlik]

Perhaps you’re not ready to handle the responsibility of having a credit card yet. Moving forward, don’t open any more emails from Nigerian princes in exile who desperately want to send you millions of dollars in cash.

 

[Daleandee]

To be straight, I'm not blaming the OP at all as there are some really slick (and sick) folks out there using some very clever new approaches to play a very old game. Sometimes the lesson learned is worth the cost and the OP bringing this up might very well make a few of us pay a little more attention to the details of the deals ...

 

[Morgan3820]

I didn’t feel I was blaming the OP either. I thought I was sympathizing. Thanks for setting me straight.

 

[Zeldman]

My wife got a text this morning from ''Municipal Services Bureau'', a ''collection agency'' working on behalf of the Gallup, NM Magistrate stating that if she didn't pay her fine then a warrant would be issued for her arrest. The text conveniently states that she can use her checking, savings or money market account, or charge it to a MasterCard, Discover, American Express, Visa credit or debit card.

Apparently she did not pay her ticket she received for ''Aggravated Driving While Under the influence of Liquor or Drugs''. No date given or location of where the ticket was issued. Amount to be paid - $491.00

I am gonna have to ask my wife who can barely tolerate taking a sip out of my one glass of wine after dinner about her nighttime activities while I am asleep at home...

 

[topgun260]

I guess that would be me. I should say "victim" of the Scam of the Month. About a month ago I got scammed with the purchase of a GNS 530W. Got the money back from the credit card company.

I then tried to get a Flight Stream 210. I saw an add in Barnstormers and answered it. Spoke to the guy and he seemed to check out. I set up a Venmo account just to transfer money. Mistake one. Go to Venmo and find out how to stop payment or reverse a transaction. You can't. Once it's gone, it's gone. Their advice? Call your "friend" and have him send a payment to you in the amount of the dispute. I'm sure that happens often.

Dude, who goes by a dozen names, said he would send me a tracking number. If course I never got a tracking number and never got the item. I disputed the charge with the CC company. I tried to dispute it with Venmo and got sent on a circular email chase.

I emailed Barnstormers and got a courteous, immediate reply. The Baroness knew about this guy, and has since labelled all of his listings with "I AM A SCAMMER." Just go to Barnstormers and look for Flight Stream. There are about a dozen items with different names associated, and all fraudulent.

I don't understand how this is Venmo's fault? Venmo states on their website that it is for friends and family only and that they do not recommend it to be used to purchase items or services.

On the other hand meeting in person doesn't always work either as people have been robbed and/or murdered when they show up to an in person meet.

 

[LesGawlik]

Message deleted.

 

[tawood]

All I did was respond to an add on Barnstormers. There was something for sale, and from preliminary investigation the guy seemed legit. It wasn't a NIgerian prince thing, it was just an ad.

So what have you learned from these experiences?

Or to quote President Bush, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, you can't get fooled again."

 

[topgun260]

So what have you learned from these experiences?

Or to quote President Bush, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, you can't get fooled again."

 

[LesGawlik]

So what have you learned from these experiences?

Or to quote President Bush, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, you can't get fooled again."

I've bought all kinds of things, including expensive avionics, on line with great experiences. These two are the first problems I've had.

What I've learned is to not post things here. You guys can step on your own landmines. I'll just snipe at your misfortune.

What a bunch of condescending pryx.

 

[MooneyDriver78]

I always recommend asking for more pictures, especially the rear where the serial number is. I’ve been told you can report stolen equipment to Garmin so it can’t be upgraded or installed by authorized Garmin dealers.
FYI , I will have a FS210 to sell after my upgrade which pending backlog equipment orders.

 

[kyleb]

All I did was respond to an add on Barnstormers. There was something for sale, and from preliminary investigation the guy seemed legit. It wasn't a NIgerian prince thing, it was just an ad.

I just figure all online transactions have a certain risk. If I'm dealing with Amazon or Home Depot, I'm not gonna get scammed. Some random internet dude? I'll risk $25 or $50 bucks, but probably no more than that unless either I know you personally or I recognize you from a long term online presence. For instance, there are several posters in this thread who I'd trust based on a long term posting history here. Random guy with 50 posts who's selling a Garmin 430W at a really great price? No so much.

 

[tawood]

I've bought all kinds of things, including expensive avionics, on line with great experiences. These two are the first problems I've had.

What I've learned is to not post things here. You guys can step on your own landmines. I'll just snipe at your misfortune.

What a bunch of condescending pryx.

I worked fraud investigations for many years...my question was to see if you had tips, or maybe "clues" to those considering making the same type purchases, that may help others avoid such things. Most of my victims in the cases I have investigated said things like, "I had a feeling..." then they'd describe what caused "the feeling". You were scammed twice, so I thought you may have had such feelings...
But now I don't care. In fact, I can go to bed knowing that once again, there rarely is an innocent victim. With your attitude, I'd call your victimhood karma.

 

[benyflyguy]

Sucks to hear. I got scammed once on a tv on eBay. Learned my lesson. Looking back there were signs I should have picked up on. I was naive. Keep a sharper eye now

 

[Lachlan]

Pretty solid victim-blaming there.

I've seen some VERY good aviation scammers provide me photos, logs, and other stuff on request -- and it was only because I found the item (an engine in my case) on a plane currently listed for sale -- that I uncovered the mess -- by contacting that selling broker. I also insist on in-person meetups now, even if I have no intention of it -- just to suss out who is BS and who is not.

>< that close for me, for an engine-sized lump of lost cash.

Victim blaming? Naw, I figured a guy who called himself the president of the scam of the month club had a pretty solid sense of humor. I was wrong. I’m wrong about that all the time. At least twice in this thread.

 

[weilke]

There is a chance it was the same scammer both times.