Online purchase - please help

[Dacos]

I recently came across a pistol on Gunsamerica that I'm interested in. However, I want to make sure the buyer, who's in CA based on his area code, is legit; I reside in WV. It appears to be a private individual who desires postal money order or a certified check. I won't send anything until I know this guy and the firearm is for real. My plan of action is:
1. Call the seller and ask for another photo of the gun to be taken and e-mailed to me.
2. Ask for the serial # so I can cross reference it with the manufacturer.
Is there anything I'm missing? If I go through with the deal, I will send a U.S. postal money order as I understand it becomes a federal offense if I'm being taken. Not looking for a legal synopsis, just some sound advice. Thx!

[Wildalaska]

He should have a phone number that matches an adress

WildnotjustacellAlaska

[Dacos]

wildalasks - The reverse phone number lookup didn't work. However I searched the web and did find him in CA, albeit at a different phone number. Could be that the wb info is outdated or he provided a work/cell #.

[Wildalaska]

He should give ya a phone number then...that matches...

WildsimplesecurityAlaska

[moredes]

I wouldn't use a USPS Postal Money Order. 1) it's not 'traceable'; 2) you can't stop payment, 3) anyone with a forged ID can cash it at the PO, 4) you'll have no record of the seller's account information.

1) Ask for another phone number; try and Google your seller by name and state--i. e., "James White, CA" and see if Google will find a phone or address listing. Sometimes Google will come up with listings not found in People Search. Also, Google for the name and city (once that brought up a source for the seller for me when I couldn't find him anywhere else--through his high school reunion)

2) I'd insist on mailing *my* FFL certificate (copy) to the seller's FFL holder (in the PRK the seller is "supposed" to transact the sale through an FFL at his end), and force him to take his gun to the FFL. Call the FFL up first and ask if your seller has made contact, and if the FFL holder has the seller's phone and address; make up a reason for asking--"I lost his address, etc." This will give you an independent proof that things could be on the up and up. DO NOT send the money until you have a "confirmed FFL" from the seller. The fact the seller is using an FFL would indirectly involve the BATF if you have a problem.

3) Go to YOUR bank, and get a bank draft, or bank certified money order or bank certified cashier's check. Depending on your bank, it can be called any of the three mentioned. It costs more than a money order if you don't have one of those minimum-balance checking accounts (usually about $5) but you can stop payment if you must. More importantly, it's almost a requirement that the seller take an out-of-state check to his bank for deposit or conversion, because no one else will honor it "on the spot". This ploy will by default, record the sellers' account information, which you can get from your bank if you need.

4) Ship the check by USPS Registered Mail. Cost is $7.95. I know; "expensive"--but a REAL cheap method that absolutely requires that everyone who handles the letter, including the addressee, must sign for it. And the addressee is supposed to show proper ID if he/she is 'unknown' to the deliveryperson (be that window clerk or carrier). This will provide you with an accountable, traceable (even on the 'net) shipment that would directly involve the Postal Inspectors if you have a problem. "Insured" and "Certified w/ Return Receipt" don't carry the same weight with the PI's office as Registered Mail does. Registered Mail is never lost; "lost" Registered Mail means 'stolen', and someone loses their job over it.

I have never had problems with sellers using this regimen. No matter what kind of paper payment I send, I always write on the back above the endorsement space-- "For deposit only". In my own dealings, sometimes I'll omit a couple of my practices, but that's only if I'm dealing with someone w/ a good reputation, or if there's EBay feedback of substantial numbers, etc.

[SLCDave]

I wouldn't use a USPS Postal Money Order. 1) it's not 'traceable'; 2) you can't stop payment, 3) anyone with a forged ID can cash it at the PO, 4) you'll have no record of the seller's account information.

Crap! I sent WildAlaska a Postal Money Order for my Surefire in the group buy! I'm never gonna see my light or money again! ;)

Seriously, though, only send a money order to someone you have thoroughly checked out. When it's gone, it's gone.



SLCOnePostCloserTo300AndStillNoFlashlightDave

[Highland Ranger]

I wouldn't send cash in any form to someone I don't know - credit card and the internet are the way to go.

[PinnedAndRecessed]

Not to be discouraging or anything, but "Gun List" had a problem with someone living out of motels in Nevada advertising guns he didn't have. The problem became obvious.

The phone numbers you received don't match? That, by itself, would be enough to sour me on the deal.

Maybe you want to tell us where in Kal the guy lives. Maybe a highroader in Kal would investigate for you.

[Dacos]

I found this add last night and knew something was fishy, thus my original quiry:

http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976508837.htm

A used korth combat for $1000 is a steal and I made some checks:

The number listed is out-of-service. Cross referenced the guy's name and street address in CA with an online search service. Got a number in Cottonwood, which I called. Scared the hell out of the dad who answered b/c his son (whose name appears on the ad) just started college and definitely doesn't own a revolver.

The remainder of the firearms on the site listed to this con artist are high-priced items.

Wanted everyone to know so as to not waste their time...

[PinnedAndRecessed]

Glad you figured it out. I don't deal with GunsAmerica, but maybe you could contact them. It might save somebody from getting burned by this moron.

It's Kalifornia. You might also contact the DOJ with all pertinent info. They just love to bust people in gun crimes.
Their number:
Department of Justice
P.O. Box 820200
Sacramento, CA 94203-0200
916-263-4887

Also: BATF
650 Mass. Ave. NW
Room 6450
Washington, DC 20226
916-498-5095
202-927-7910

Do what you can to seriously discourage this bum.

[Super Trucker]

I agree with PinnedAndRecessed all the work you did might keep somebody else from getting burned.

[SOT_II]

I don't know where you got your information from but most of this is false.



I wouldn't use a USPS Postal Money Order. 1) it's not 'traceable'; 2) you can't stop payment, 3) anyone with a forged ID can cash it at the PO, 4) you'll have no record of the seller's account information.

[moredes]

SOT_II,

I "got my information" while working as a window clerk at a Post Office in San Francisco for 6 years; part of my duties was selling money orders and helping irate customers submit tracers on deadbeat recipients. Of course, the only thing a tracer would do is tell the inspector where it was cashed, and if the signature was legible, who cashed it; but it will not normally list an address, middle name, SocSec or DL unless the clerk was EXTREMELY diligent . (And I'm sure we can all guess how stringently that was enforced.) Doubt me?? Keep your mouth shut and pay attention to the next time someone cashes a money order in the PO and watch the transaction. So much of the security practices (concerning the cashing of money orders and delivery of mail) are left to the individual clerk that a cursory check is all that one can expect.

[moredes]

`

[moredes]

`

[Paul "Fitz" Jones]

WHAT IS IT AND HIS PHONE NUMBER SO A LIST MEMBER COULD CHECK HIM OUT FOR YOU. HE HAS TO USE A FFL TO SHIP IT SO HOW ABOUT YOUR FFL CHECKING WITH HIS?

PAUL

[Paul "Fitz" Jones]

WHAT IS IT AND HIS PHONE NUMBER SO A LIST MEMBER COULD CHECK HIM OUT FOR YOU. HE HAS TO USE A FFL TO SHIP IT SO HOW ABOUT YOUR FFL CHECKING WITH HIS?

PAUL

[Wildalaska]

Crap! I sent WildAlaska a Postal Money Order for my Surefire in the group buy! I'm never gonna see my light or money again!

What money order? Whats a Surefire?

:)

WildyaknewthatwascominAlaska

[Wildalaska]

Crap! I sent WildAlaska a Postal Money Order for my Surefire in the group buy! I'm never gonna see my light or money again!

What money order? Whats a Surefire?

:)

WildyaknewthatwascominAlaska

[DNA]

With an Area code of 562, looks to be in the Cerritos area or around there?