This smells like a con

[GunnyGene]

Call me skeptical, but I received a PM on another forum recently by somebody claiming to represent a company named Craft Holsters, offering to send me a free holster for my evaluation. This person did not use a full name as you would expect from a company rep, and had not posted otherwise on the forum but appeared to have joined expressly to target other members via PM.

The company sounds legit, but knowing how the internet can be, and often is, untrustworthy I have some concerns.

I don't know if "Beard" is really an employee of the company for starters. Seems like a fishing expedition to me to reveal personal info that could be used in other ways - such as targeting my house for a theft.

No, I did not respond to this.

Here's the PM:

I work in a company that makes custom holsters and I’m writing to you because I’d like to send you a leather holster for your gun for free. You can check us out at Craft Holsters® - Concealed Carry Holsters & Duty Gear


I registered here to find information about firearms and I’d like to know your opinion about our holsters and if you like it of course you can make a review here or anywhere else. I hope I'm not bothering you as that is not my intention. Plus I also didn’t want to spam the forum with links.


Please send me the following info and your holster will be on the way:


Holster model (link, name or code)

Firearm (caliber + capacity)

Right hand / Left hand

Name + Address (please no PO Box)

Phone (for delivery)


And that’s it.


Either way, keep up the good work.

 

[mohavesam]

Until you see an address recognized by google, and a street view of same, consider it nonlegit.


BTW, craft holsters is easily found & their website has contact info.

 

[Kevin]

I don’t know, it could be real. He might not have used his full name just to sound more personal....less formal.

If it is just a PM you could always reply and ask for more info first. He might have sent you a PM based upon your posts in that particular forum.

 

[coach]

Unsolicited free stuff? Some kind of con or casing people to rob.

 

[GunnyGene]

Until you see an address recognized by google, and a street view of same, consider it nonlegit.


BTW, craft holsters is easily found & their website has contact info.

I know. I looked it up. They're a reseller. That doesn't mean that the person who PM'd me works for them. Anybody can link to anything to give themselves the appearance of legitimacy.

 

[GunnyGene]

I don’t know, it could be real. He might not have used his full name just to sound more personal....less formal.

If it is just a PM you could always reply and ask for more info first. He might have sent you a PM based upon your posts in that particular forum.

Possibly, but I don't feel like testing it. I put stuff like this in the same category as robocalls.

 

[Dave P.]

Well some people might just call the company and ask them.
Dave

 

[GunnyGene]

Well some people might just call the company and ask them.
Dave

I'm not that desperate for "free stuff", and don't care what other people might do in response to this. Just mentioned it here in case anyone else gets the same kind of PM's from total strangers. There is a history of con men using this approach for other things besides firearm stuff.

 

[Gator89]

A Beard popped up on another forum I play in, touting the benefits of a Fobus Roto-holster. First and only post to date.

No free holster offers made that I know of.

 

[Fox Mike]

Their web site gives two addresses.
11407 SW Amu St
Suite #10005
Tualatin, OR 97062
United States

and

Kammerhofska 8
96901 Banska Stiavnica
Slovak Republic
European Union

 

[SAJohn]

TANSTAAFL

 

[pete44ru]

.

Here's a google street view of their given OR addy - it appears to be an empty lot.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/11407+SW+Amu+St,+Tualatin,+OR+97062/@45.373861,-122.7961251,3a,75y,306.29h,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s5ONDV7S2FomWzb8OxMWJNw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!4m5!3m4!1s0x54956d6df8cf1143:0xfe5aa146b5aeb55!8m2!3d45.3738371!4d-122.7960958


.

 

[GunnyGene]

.

Here's a google street view of their given OR addy - it appears to be an empty lot.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/11407+SW+Amu+St,+Tualatin,+OR+97062/@45.373861,-122.7961251,3a,75y,306.29h,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s5ONDV7S2FomWzb8OxMWJNw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!4m5!3m4!1s0x54956d6df8cf1143:0xfe5aa146b5aeb55!8m2!3d45.3738371!4d-122.7960958


.

Well now, ain't that interestin' :shock:

 

[nvbirdman]

Maybe he should start by learning proper English.
I work in a company. No! I work for a company.

 

[redhawker]

What's your address?

What kind of guns do you own? (so we can send the right holster)

When do you leave for work...you know what I mean?

 

[Montelores]

Never respond to an unsolicited request for any information from anyone, including a “known” institution / business with which you conduct business.

If in doubt, initiate contact with the institution / business yourself through the known and published contact information.

Pick up the telephone, to start.

This is a basic survival rule in the 21st century, and older people are particularly targeted as prey.

Monty

 

[Fox Mike]

The BBB shows them but does not give them a rating.

 

[pete44ru]

.

I don't think BBB's check the property of any "business" that registers with them...…..

.

 

[David LaPell]

As a Corrections Officer, I can tell you what a con smells like. It stinks like some of the cons I am familiar with.

 

[tinman]

If you have a LEO contact.........tell "Beard" that he can send it to you via your local LEO offices...............see if he responds. :idea: