Scam alert
 

I have had three items for sale on the Swap Meet, Early V8, since 09-24-2024. I have had four responses. Of the four responses, there was a phone call from one - I never gave my phone number. The three others were email messages that all sounded the same - using similar words and sentences. Three were willing to pay the full asking price by certified check. One of those was willing to pay $50 extra, if I took the item off the site immediately before payment was received. All three wanted our name and address, all would wait until the check cleared, and two of them then would get back to me to arrange pickup after they returned from a business trip.
We emailed back to the three that we would only accept cash at pickup. No further email responses have resulted from the three as they were probably scared away.
I am sure that the email messengers’ names were all false. They were Susan Mackinnon, Sebastian Plum, and Brian Howard.

Re: Scam alert
 

I have never sold anything through a form add, but what is wrong with getting a cert check waiting for it to clear, they will need your address to send it, the person sending the check may also worry about a scam.

Re: Scam alert
 

You would think that a certified check would be a valid means of payment. However many times, certified checks are used by the scammers. It is amazing what some people will do to steal from you.

Re: Scam alert
 

A cashiers or certified check can be fake. In addition real cashiers checks can be cancelled even after they are issued under certain circumstances. If cash in person isn't an option then PayPal with signature required upon delivery is your best option. I have bought and sold numerous parts here on the Barn and the HAMB as well. Parts shipped to all 48, Canada, Europe, and Down Under with never a problem. Once a set of flathead water pumps were damaged in shipment in a USPS flat rated box (a pulley was bent) I immediately refunded the buyers payment in full and eventually received my money back from the post office. The buyer was happy because he received one water pump for free. JMO

Re: Scam alert
 

Scammers are definitely a PITA. As a regular buyer from "Downunder" (New Zealand) I find many sellers can be very suspicious of offshore buyers, and in some cases will just ignore inquiry's from outside the US. Living so far away, and with limited sources for obtaining parts to restore or repair our Fords, scammers add another level of complexity for us down here, and I'm sure in other destinations as well. It would be great if there was a way to get a certified buyer status so that a seller might then have more confidence selling to these buyers. PayPal goes some way to helping, but some sellers don't have account due to the fees charged. I always pay the fees from my end when buying, and just accept that the part will be even more costly, but that is just the price for living in paradise I guess. :)

Re: Scam alert
 

I have been looking for an air cleaner that fits the teapot carb I will use. Two different types will work. One is a nice looking Chrome one for a 55/56 T-bird. Ebay sellers want $400-$500. I was looking on marketplace and saw an ad for T-bird parts with a photo of a bunch of parts laid out on a mat. An air cleaner was in the mix of parts. The guy was local to me. I asked if he could take a photo of something more specific. He said he was not near the parts right now. He was in Colorado and the parts were his father who lives local to me. I asked if I could get in touch with his father and go look a the parts. No response. I later saw his ad pop up in a different town but close to my local area. My son said that is not necessarily a scam because real people with actual items to sell sometimes place ad in different cities to get the word out. I have some extra Power Wagon Parts in storage 7 miles from me. If someone wants something I will let them know I will take photos when I go to storage. You can just tell when someone is real. I have sent many parts to people before I get their check. The guy with the t-Bird parts just didn't feel right and he obviously was a scammer and I proved it to myself and did not send money. I actually got the T-Bird Air Cleaner from a seller in England. Who corresponded with me and directed me to a carb he had for sale that fit the air cleaner. It was just like my carb. I negotiated and it arrived and the shipping time was not that long.

Re: Scam alert
 

I will take a check and when the check clears the bank, It is yours now. No problem. Just tell the buyer that when you get there check.

Re: Scam alert
 

Hi I am new to the site but have been a Model A Ford guy for 27 years and a Hot rod guy since I was 16 and I'm now going to be 60. I just found someone looking for a Columbia two speed which I have and will sell him if I can reach him? It said I don't have enough post yet? Any advice?

Re: Scam alert
 

You only need two more posts. Respond to a couple of posts and then you can run the ad or respond to the buyers ad..

Re: Scam alert
 

A clerk at the USPS recently had to check the validity of the USPS Postal Money Order I was wanting to cash. The clerk made a telephone call to the clearing house and got positive verification. I was surprised but, was told that USPS Postal Money Orders are being forged.

Re: Scam alert
 

Postal money order is all i will take; worked well so far

Re: Scam alert
 

================================================

Yup, I have received and cashed quite a few USPS money orders,
usually at my bank. Last week i received a postal money order,
and had to go to the post office anyway so I thought I would
just cash it there.
The post office gal spent some time looking it over, so I asked
her if they ever get any postal M/O's that are fake and she said
that some years they have got 3 or 4, usually around major
holiday times. The one I had and cashed was fine...




.

Re: Scam alert
 

I've had no problem using pay pal, either receiving parts or selling. It's possible to cancel a payment if a problem arises and the recipient has not received the payment however if you think you are being scammed, it's possible to follow steps outlined by pay pal to hopefully receive a refund.
Bottom line: Let's wave a magic wand and rid the world of these low lives.

Re: Scam alert
 

Guys I’m in Australia. I responded to a fb marketplace ad for a 35 waterfall for my convertible sedan (also fits a cabriolet). I asked the seller to check out the postage cost to my address and if he’s got PayPal I can pay instantly. Well a week went by and the waterfall arrived by mail with a note saying he did not have a PayPal account and please send a bank check to his address in Oregon. I posted his check the same day. For every scammer there’s still way more nice respectful folks and they’re the people who make this hobby a truely enjoyable experience.