FYI - PM Scam Alert, Don't be as stupid as I was! |
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FYI - PM Scam Alert, Don't be as stupid as I was! |
aggiezig |
Jan 13 2020, 09:57 PM
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#1
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Porsche Wannabe Group: Members Posts: 319 Joined: 13-January 16 From: Los Angeles, CA Member No.: 19,557 Region Association: Southern California |
SCAM ALERT
Posting this for the world's general knowledge and so no one else is as stupid as I was. I had posted a WTB for some rear late calipers on the classifieds and received a PM from a member saying: QUOTE Check out Chris in PA via Hollychris1972 @ gmail.com,he has a set of cores, late rear calipers he wants to part with. Like the idiot that I am, I did not even notice the username of the sender was "Im_a_scammer_2". Let's attribute that to the fact that I was viewing on my phone and distracted at the time. Long story short, I email "Chris", exchange a few texts with 707-861-0828 about the condition of the item, send a venmo for $120 and never hear back. After a bit, I got a funny feeling and decided to search his email address which is all over other forums as a known scammer. So, now not only am I out my money, but I also feel like a huge idiot. Posting this as a big FYI for the forum so that no one else falls victim to the same trap that I did. It's very sad to me that this is what today's world has come down to... |
914_7T3 |
Jan 13 2020, 10:07 PM
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#2
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Please forgive me, I'm new to all of this! Group: Members Posts: 1,846 Joined: 3-April 17 From: Los Angeles, CA Member No.: 20,991 Region Association: Southern California |
This scam first surfaced in late November on the World. Sorry they got you. Everybody be careful out there.
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=341951 |
914werke |
Jan 13 2020, 10:26 PM
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#3
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"I got blisters on me fingers" Group: Members Posts: 9,995 Joined: 22-March 03 From: USofA Member No.: 453 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
If he PM'ed you then he is a registered user? UID?
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mountainroads |
Jan 13 2020, 10:48 PM
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#4
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Member Group: Members Posts: 210 Joined: 19-February 12 From: Seattle Member No.: 14,145 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
SCAM ALERT Posting this for the world's general knowledge and so no one else is as stupid as I was. I had posted a WTB for some rear late calipers on the classifieds and received a PM from a member saying: QUOTE Check out Chris in PA via Hollychris1972 @ gmail.com,he has a set of cores, late rear calipers he wants to part with. Like the idiot that I am, I did not even notice the username of the sender was "Im_a_scammer_2". Let's attribute that to the fact that I was viewing on my phone and distracted at the time. Long story short, I email "Chris", exchange a few texts with 707-861-0828 about the condition of the item, send a venmo for $120 and never hear back. After a bit, I got a funny feeling and decided to search his email address which is all over other forums as a known scammer. So, now not only am I out my money, but I also feel like a huge idiot. Posting this as a big FYI for the forum so that no one else falls victim to the same trap that I did. It's very sad to me that this is what today's world has come down to... Sorry this happened to you. It's easy to get lulled into trust based on perceived camaraderie. Been bit a couple of times myself (dead tachometer, incomplete workshop manuals). Thankfully nothing major. Thanks for being willing to admit you were duped so the rest of us could be warned. - MR |
aggiezig |
Jan 13 2020, 10:55 PM
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#5
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Porsche Wannabe Group: Members Posts: 319 Joined: 13-January 16 From: Los Angeles, CA Member No.: 19,557 Region Association: Southern California |
If he PM'ed you then he is a registered user? UID? Not sure what his UID was before - it looks like the mods may have changed it because it now reads "Im_a_scammer_2". Hopefully, the account has been blocked / shutdown. But, the damage is done and I've learned my lesson! |
Unobtanium-inc |
Jan 13 2020, 11:20 PM
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#6
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 2,199 Joined: 29-November 06 From: New York Member No.: 7,276 Region Association: None |
SCAM ALERT Posting this for the world's general knowledge and so no one else is as stupid as I was. I had posted a WTB for some rear late calipers on the classifieds and received a PM from a member saying: QUOTE Check out Chris in PA via Hollychris1972 @ gmail.com,he has a set of cores, late rear calipers he wants to part with. Like the idiot that I am, I did not even notice the username of the sender was "Im_a_scammer_2". Let's attribute that to the fact that I was viewing on my phone and distracted at the time. Long story short, I email "Chris", exchange a few texts with 707-861-0828 about the condition of the item, send a venmo for $120 and never hear back. After a bit, I got a funny feeling and decided to search his email address which is all over other forums as a known scammer. So, now not only am I out my money, but I also feel like a huge idiot. Posting this as a big FYI for the forum so that no one else falls victim to the same trap that I did. It's very sad to me that this is what today's world has come down to... I'm not familiar with Venmo, is there no recourse if you don't get what was promised? |
aggiezig |
Jan 13 2020, 11:26 PM
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#7
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Porsche Wannabe Group: Members Posts: 319 Joined: 13-January 16 From: Los Angeles, CA Member No.: 19,557 Region Association: Southern California |
Unfortunately, not. It's not like paypal which offers seller protection. Essentially it's a peer to peer payment network. There's not even a way I've found to report the user. From what I've read online from other's experiences - my money is long gone.
Oh well, it could have been a lot worse. I have a CPA friend that fell for an email scam a few years back when spoofing was "new" and she wired thousands of dollars to someone as a supposed employee advance. She ended up fighting with her insurance company for years and they only eventually covered a little over half. |
Mikey914 |
Jan 13 2020, 11:53 PM
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#8
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The rubber man Group: Members Posts: 12,638 Joined: 27-December 04 From: Hillsboro, OR Member No.: 3,348 Region Association: None |
Sorry to hear it. But at least you didn't buy a set of Fuchs.
Not great, but could have been much worse. |
914forme |
Jan 14 2020, 09:47 AM
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#9
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Times a wastin', get wrenchin'! Group: Members Posts: 3,896 Joined: 24-July 04 From: Dayton, Ohio Member No.: 2,388 Region Association: None |
I am bummed because I sent my last set of -4 rears to PMB as cores for Eric, other wise I would have offered them up to ease the pain a bit.
Not sure what Eric charges for -4 cores, but PMB might be your option to get you back to where you need to be. Bummer, but thank you for letting us all know it does help the community as a whole. |
dr914@autoatlanta.com |
Jan 14 2020, 10:19 AM
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#10
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914 Guru Group: Members Posts: 7,811 Joined: 3-January 07 From: atlanta georgia Member No.: 7,418 Region Association: None |
I am sorry, it is amazing how the internet has brought out all of the GD thieves!
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Mikey914 |
Jan 15 2020, 11:26 AM
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#11
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The rubber man Group: Members Posts: 12,638 Joined: 27-December 04 From: Hillsboro, OR Member No.: 3,348 Region Association: None |
The thieves were there before, just easier when not face to face.
Unfortunately, the bad actors get much of the focus. For the most part they are the minority. We may have to play wack a mole as they keep popping back up, but as a community we can educate each other and make it more difficult for them to scam us. You definitely did a community service by letting us know. The internet also is a huge deal there too. |
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