Member malfeasance

[mykeal]

Does the perp have a post trail on this board other than WTS/B ads? Has he posted on conversations? Some perps will join boards so they can have a "history", but will not post on threads, until someone posts a WTB ad. Then they make their play and don't care if they ever return.

If someone contacts you via email, without posting on your ad, it is a tell.

If someone only will accept Zelle or similar, it may be a tell.

If you mailed a payment, you have a name and address. That may give you something to work with. Contact the police who have jurisdiction and sometimes you will get action.

Yes, thanks, Rod. He has 11 posts, all in May 2024, none regarding a purchase or sale. He did not reply to my ad on the Forum, but contacted me by email and provided his Forum name, and later his name and address. I proposed and he accepted a USPS money order, which was probably my first mistake, although I have proof of where and when it was delivered so that's better than Zelle or PayPal.

 

[Mobuck]

I'm not sure of the current regs but in the past, a purchase paid by USPS money order but unfulfilled can be construed as mail fraud. You can request confirmation of the MO being cashed which is positive proof of fraud in court. There's a fee for this but I don't know how much it currently costs.

 

[hittman]

How did he get your email address?

Sticky - Rules for posting classifieds

Per the request of many members...let us know if there are any concerns. It is common sense stuff, but the whole internet thing is new to many folks - May help if you are a first-timer. To have the ability to PM or start a thread here: Be a member for at least 3 days. Have at least 10 posts...

www.rugerforum.com

 

[OMCHamlin]

First off,, maybe the Mods can offer assistance.

But if you can't get satisfaction via their assistance,, then I would contact the USPS postmaster General about mail fraud. And file a report with the BATFE.

And if that doesn't get a response,, then by all means,, share the member's name & info for all to see.

Yeah, you should do that, OP, and please do tell us what USPS and BATFE tell you?

How is it we all lament that murders, rapes and robberies go unsolved every day in America (probably not even investigated at all anymore), yet we somehow think they're rolling a SWAT team, NSA satellite reconnaissance and drone surveillance to solve an infinitesimally small crime of fraud or theft? Be careful up front y'all, in most cases, you're not only your first line of defense, you're your ONLY line of defense. Sadly, OP is about to learn this, and I'd wager prove me correct about my comment about folks not wanting to out a thief, even to save other forum members. Watch and see…

 

[Kevin]

I truly hate when a member's clearly getting ripped off by another forum member, but when asked, won't give them up. Always a litany of reasons why not, but they refuse to actually WARN other forum members of danger. I've seen that many times, always infuriating. Want all kinds of advice and sympathy, won't give a useful warning that could help. OP, not at all saying that's you, I'm SURE you'll do the right thing with courage and conviction.

it seems here in this situation the OP is trying to figure out if he's given the seller enough time. And yeah, with long time members things do happen, but they are still trustworthy.

And here on this forum there are more cases of people stepping up and going above what they say/promise than the opposite.

 

[mykeal]

I'm not sure of the current regs but in the past, a purchase paid by USPS money order but unfulfilled can be construed as mail fraud. You can request confirmation of the MO being cashed which is positive proof of fraud in court. There's a fee for this but I don't know how much it currently costs.

Precisely. With the money order serial number you can get confirmation that the order was cashed on the USPS web site, which I have done. No fee.

 

[RC44Mag]

I think cashing a usps money order fraudulently makes it a fed crime but not sure. Sorry to hear that happened to you and hopefully it'll work out

 

[Dan in MI]

Yes, thanks, Rod. He has 11 posts, all in May 2024, none regarding a purchase or sale. He did not reply to my ad on the Forum, but contacted me by email and provided his Forum name, and later his name and address. I proposed and he accepted a USPS money order, which was probably my first mistake, although I have proof of where and when it was delivered so that's better than Zelle or PayPal.

Sad to say, but this info is pure red flags to me. The minimum number of posts in a short time frame. No other content for almost a year. Contact outside the normal channels based on the ad location.

I would have dug much deeper, or totally bailed (depending on my mood) on this buyer.

 

[mykeal]

How did he get your email address?

https://www.rugerforum.com/threads/rules-for-posting-classifieds.306208/[/U

He requested it via Forum conversa...QUOTE] Yep. I am too much of a trusting soul.

 

[OMCHamlin]

it seems here in this situation the OP is trying to figure out if he's given the seller enough time. And yeah, with long time members things do happen, but they are still trustworthy.

And here on this forum there are more cases of people stepping up and going above what they say/promise than the opposite.

Let's see...

 

[OMCHamlin]

He requested it via Forum conversa... gun. Yep. I am too much of a trusting soul.

Do you still think there is a chance that his not sending you anything or contacting you could be just a simple mistake on his part of some sort?

 

[gnappi]

My amateur methods of fraud prevention.

1. To prove they actually HAVE the item, ask for a pic of the item with a common item included in the pic that's not usually photographed with the item, say a roll of toilet paper.

2. Ask if you can complete the transaction face to face and pay cash because you're coming up that way to see your sister and you can complete the sale in an FFL location and have it shipped to you even though you have no sister near there!

A scammer may comply with #1 but #2 nah, they'll bail right there. I've done this a few times in Florida (it's a pretty big state) and scammers weasel out of it.

 

[Mobuck]

For decades, Postal inspectors have leaned heavily toward investigating 'internal fraud' rather than what's typically considered 'mail fraud'. Possibly your local Postmaster can help you get some results with the Inspection Service or contact the Postmaster at the delivery address.
July 4, 1985 a couple of local 'punks' dropped some fireworks in a mail collection box in front of the Post Office where I was in charge. July 5, I contacted the Postal inspectors expecting a total blitz of investigators. The disappointing response: handle it yourself. GEEZ. OK, I did just that, involving the city PD and county Sheriff. I also did some investigating on my own and discovered an elderly man living in a boarding house a block away saw the vehicle. Sheriff, PD, and I put 2 & 2 together and identified the culprits but since they were under 18, no formal charges. Postal Inspectors still did NOTHING.

 

[blume357]

I'm hoping the person in question just got distracted or such and it will be resolved but with that said, do as others have suggested and report it.... and also like you said, let us know who it is at the end of the week. If it was me on the other end that had something happen that I did not fulfill the sale because of 'an event' I would not have a problem with you naming me... I would just explain what happened here and apologize, but it sounds like the person in question though technically a member is not really a member..... a couple of post a year or so ago is not really a member. Back when I was heavy into buying items here and on another forum if there was something offered that I was wanting the first thing I would do is go back and look at the member's post for a year or so.... takes little time but you can find out a lot about a person this way.

 

[OMCHamlin]

For decades, Postal inspectors have leaned heavily toward investigating 'internal fraud' rather than what's typically considered 'mail fraud'. Possibly your local Postmaster can help you get some results with the Inspection Service or contact the Postmaster at the delivery address.

NOW, you get the idea, zero, zip, nada…

 

[hittman]

See post 15

 

[DBnoise]

First thing I would have done is contact the local police. You do not have the means they do to determine what happened. There was a local gunsmith that ripped me off. Took a couple of reports when I finally got my rifle back. I personally am tired of con artists. In the end I wasted 500 bucks. I should have called the ATF and pursued damages.

 

[OMCHamlin]

First thing I would have done is contact the local police. You do not have the means they do to determine what happened. There was a local gunsmith that ripped me off. Took a couple of reports when I finally got my rifle back. I personally am tired of con artists. In the end I wasted 500 bucks. I should have called the ATF and pursued damages.

So… the police helped you get your rifle back, but you were out $500?
Question; Is there an ATF form to submit when filing to "pursue damages" could you post a link to it? Or do you just call them?

 

[DBnoise]

So… the police helped you get your rifle back, but you were out $500?
Question; Is there an ATF form to submit when filing to "pursue damages" could you post a link to it? Or do you just call them?

He supposedly earlier last year went through an audit. I would suspect from his business being closed down during the audit they would know him. It is just at the same time I was having some health problems.
Pursuing damages would have been through small claims court. I had both my FFL dealer and Ammunition manufacturing and I followed the aw to the T. My paper was I'm doted and T's crossed. Nver in all my years have I had a run in with any firearms business. It used to be we prided this industry on honesty.
I am not aware of a specific form to report someone. To me part of ATF's job should be keeping them industry honest.

 

[vito]

41 posts and still the crook has not been named. FWIW, I would never send money to a stranger in expectations that he would then send me an item. Buying a gun at a LGS will likely cost me more than an internet or phone purchase, but it is a sure thing when I can hold the gun in my hand before putting my money on the counter.