Zebulon said
I don’t say I’ve seen the elephant and heard the owl, but this is what I’ve seen:

While offering-to-sell scammers are a serious concern, the sting is almost always intended to occur remotely and the potential victim is not at physical risk, UNLESS the scammer suggests a face-to-face closing.  If your local police department provides a safe place for that purpose, offer to meet there but not otherwise because, if it’s a scam, the plan includes armed robbery or worse. 

Offering-to-buy scammers have to work harder, to persuade you to ship the merchandise on the strength of a forged cashier’s check or money order. IMPORTANT SAFETY TIP: Don’t rely on the putative drawee bank’s computer to detect the forgery in a couple of business days. It can take much longer — even though your depository bank has credited your account with good funds. These scams that involve forged instruments typically seek expensive merchandise. One of my old banking client customers lost a pair of matched Purdey bird guns.  The sting was based on a forged bank money order for $25,000, which tells you how long ago it happened. 

Anybody who wants to meet you in person to buy a firearm for cash, that you don’t know well or who hasn’t been vouched for by reliable sources,  should be met only at your friendly cop shop, where “Riot Call” Dugan, the large, well-armed desk sergeant and his uniformed pals, can glower over the transaction.  If it was a scam, they (more than one) intended to murder you and take your stuff. If they’ll do it for a cell phone (and they have), they’ll do it for a Model 12 they can cut down. 

Once the horse is out of the barn, it is almost always a long time gone. Might as well sue the wind. 

  

This is an excellent and important point.  There are some guys who (are at least tempted) to believe that if the person on the other end is willing to meet face to face, that means they are not an internet scammer.  Well…. as you point out, there is worse than that.  

I hate scammers, I also hate looters but giving one his just rewards would likely prevent my much-needed road trip to Cody. Some folks simply aren’t worth the powder and lead I buy at wholesale prices. Only problem is my social equipment is loaded with premium loads. I hope the scumbags appreciate quality!
Good job, Bert! You’ve hit them where it hurts! 

Mike

Bert:

I sent you a PM this evening of a possible SCAM attempt involving rare Peters .348 WCF ammunition.

As a MO, or method of operation-the scam involved two parties, where A referred to B as possibly having the item.

Then B sends a picture requesting a possible payment amount.

Almost always payment is requested by Bitcoin, Venmo or similar wire non-refundable exchanges.  The individuals user name is BrianRomini and he is not a member.  In my case with Law Enf background, I immediately detected a large rodent scam attempt. They are back again.

Ridge Marriott

One thing about it, they know I don’t have any money left, I just peeled off 17000$ for three teeth implants for the wife. It’ll be a couple of years before I am a target again.  

watch out for braineromni, it’s a scam. He pm’d me about a mag tube with a weird email. autofixservicehub@gmail