Posted on 01/02/2023 4:24:21 AM PST by marktwain
When checking firearm availability and firearm prices on the Internet, this correspondent frequently comes across websites that claim to have highly sought-after models at extremely attractive prices. They are almost always scams.
The purpose of these scams is twofold: First, collect your personal information and credit card information, so it can be sold and or used to defraud you. Second, collect money via an untraceable payment system. Surprisingly, Paypal seems one way; another is one of the digital currencies; another is through the use of gift cards, and another is a direct bank transfer.
As humans, we are always looking to score valuable things with minimum effort. It is part of the genetic makeup of people who hunted and gathered to keep the breath flowing in and out. There is always the chance of finding that bonus of a super thick berry patch or the silly bison calf, which wanders into spear range just when you are huddled behind a bush. When we deal with other humans, there is a greater potential for deceit and fraud. It was difficult to pull off when we lived in close-knit clans and villages. Those who cheated received a reputation very quickly. The results were often unpleasant. As society and commerce grew with more unrelated people, the potential to cheat and not be held accountable became greater and more lucrative.
One of the “lures” which causes people to “bite” and get caught up in these scams is, occasionally, you come across an excellent deal. It usually doesn’t last for long. In the nature of things, great deals are temporary, of short duration. The temptation is to bite while the bait is in front of you. Often, in the process,
(Excerpt) Read more at ammoland.com ...
I used one of my random email addresses to try to buy years ago.
GunBroker wanted my DL. No way. This was years ago. I’m not sending my DL information to a bunch of people over the internet.
It all has to go FFL to FFL with a 4473 anyways.
So when I buy I go elsewhere. Not much I’m going to buy anyways from now on. I have pretty much what I want.
Maybe one or two more.
BTW, I use that SAME email address for the other two sites I usually shop at. For my handguns AND my ammo.
They never complained. Not once.
Authorities: “Guns are bad. If you get scammed trying to buy them, you deserve it because you are obviously a right-wing extremist and domestic terrorist.” /s
I knew a guy that said the same thing to me. “I only need one more gun.”
“Oh - what kind of gun is that?”
“Oh, I’ll know it when I see it. Of course there will also be another gun after that...”
I asked him how many guns he owed. It was in the 300’s iirc! For whatever reason I believed him.
LOL
I need to start labeling my magazines so I can keep them straight.
I had to sell a couple of weapons that weren’t great but they were at least new. Now with the inflated prices I don’t want to re-buy them.
Might go for another Springfield XDS in .45
I wanted to get another AK-47 but frankly there’s no room.
I need to pop over to Harbor Freight and see what an additional safe costs these days.
But first.......car problems. Sigh
300 is a good start.
Good to know. Thx!
They also do ammo sales. Almost got me recently
IMO, not sarcastic at all
Just remember, should you still decide to pursue the issue, you will be required to contact the ultimate scam artists... lawyers.
If bitcoin or other crypto is in the checkout, but not a credit card, “run, Forrest, run!”. Sure sign of a scam.
I heard Viktor Bout is back in business, but I’m not sure if his web site is up and running yet.
I used to visit GunBroker. I never once tried to buy anything. I read at Ammoland that the Brandon Regime has cracked down hard on sellers/buyers of items like Aluminum tubes or end caps, (can be made into a silencer, dontcha know), at the GunBroker sites.
No thanks. I don’t want any Federales bothering me because I bought a solvent trap to clean my rifle. I didn’t buy a solvent trap but others did and got visited. I dumped all links to GB and if I wanted something I couldn’t get at my local gun store, I would use a reputable site and have it sent to my local gun store for transfer.
I’m of the opinion that the BATF & FBI are corrupt beyond redemption and needs to be disbanded and the worthy portions be merged into other agencies. The insane and stupid antiquated NFA from 1934 needs to be repealed too.
The same holds true if they’re offering ammunition or reloading components (like primers) at prices too good to be true, or simply have them in stock when everybody else is out.
Your best bet for firearm purchases is your locally owned small gun shop. A small “mom and pop” operation will provide a decent selection at reasonable prices and if you frequent them repeatedly they will remember the types of guns and ammo you are interested in and even call you if they get in a shipment they think you may want to stop by and take a look at. At times when ammo shortages were at their worst, we could count on our local shop to stick back a box or two of those which they knew we would want to buy.
I talked with a fraud specialist at Amex. She said they have relatively few problems with internet sites. Most of the issues they have is from wait persons in restaurants and sales people in stores copying information from credit cards and trying to mail order stuff. She said anytime your card is out of your possession is when card holders start having problems.
Which is why the fraud sites don't want to take credit cards.
I am more worried about the government putting up fake gun sites so they can create databases of gun owners, people making “ghost” guns, etc.
I ran into one of these a while back when I was looking for a gun that no legitimate dealer had in stock. Since I have an IQ slightly above 90 I figured it out pretty quickly. When they had every popular and hard to find gun listed as in stock at market prices it was obviously a fake website.
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