Seeking advice for a gun sale

Status
Not open for further replies.
1

12Pump

Member
Joined
Sep 10, 2013
Messages
314
On Armslist, I'm advertising a shotgun with ammo that I wanted to sell locally. I just got an email from someone halfway across the country who really wants it and is offering to send a certified bank check and arrange to have me bring it to an FFL to have them send it. They want my name, address, phone number to send the check.

I've never sent a firearm through the mail before (or Fedex, as they're saying it would be done), but know the shipping cost can be pretty high. Should I go along with this arrangement, or is it a sign of a scam; something I heard exists plenty on Armslist?
 
Last edited:
The Evangelist Cowboy said:
I've done numerous sales over Texas Gun Trader and a couple over armslist. Run away... not walk. Run from that deal.
Click to expand...

Coincidentally, the person who wants to make the deal is in Texas. I'm in Wisconsin.
What happened in the instances you took part in that makes you say I should run away? What was your experience?

Just FYI, here's the exact contents of their last email to me:
"That's ok with me. I will mail a certified bank cashier check for payment and once the bank posts the funds which usually doesn't take more than a day. It will clear for sure. So send me your name, full address, final asking price and mobile number to mail the bank cashier check, it should take 2-3 working days for the delivery via FedEx. Please bear with me as i m highly interested in this purchase!"
 
12Pump said:
They want my name, address, phone number to send the check.
Click to expand...
I don't see how he could send you any physical payment without your name and address; the phone number should be optional. As for the certified check - be aware that form of check isn't a lot different from a personal check in that the funds remain in the buyer's bank account until you cash the check. The bank has only certified that the funds are in his account at the time they certify the check, and they may or may not put a hold on that amount until it is cashed. A cashier's check is better because the buyer has to have transferred the amount of the check to the bank, i.e., the funds are no longer under his control. If you go ahead with the certified check, I would treat it like a personal check and not ship the gun until it has definitely cleared at the bank.

Is the shipping fee included in the amount he is sending? Is the FFL a known and reputable licensee? Is the bank he is using a real bank? (Fake certified checks from fake banks are easy to print.)

[Added]
I see in your new post he said the check is "a certified bank cashier check". Frankly, that sounds suspicious. Is it a certified check or is it a cashier's check?
 
Sentence structure is lacking, he reads the ad and still wants your "final asking price". It shouldn't be that hard to sell a shotgun in Wisconsin. I'd also ask for his FFL shipping location and address and number, then call them. See if they've ever heard of the guy. I believe you can look up FFL's by number.
 
12Pump said:
Coincidentally, the person who wants to make the deal is in Texas. I'm in Wisconsin.
What happened in the instances you took part in that makes you say I should run away? What was your experience?

Just FYI, here's the exact contents of their last email to me:
"That's ok with me. I will mail a certified bank cashier check for payment and once the bank posts the funds which usually doesn't take more than a day. It will clear for sure. So send me your name, full address, final asking price and mobile number to mail the bank cashier check, it should take 2-3 working days for the delivery via FedEx. Please bear with me as i m highly interested in this purchase!"
Click to expand...
I've had those exact emails before. Final asking price??? Its what I qouted in the ad, "as I'm highly interested?" Who the hell talks like that? I've done many deals online, more than I would care to say online, I get these emails from time to time as well. Dont send your gun, there is no money, and the guy is probably in Africa under the guise of Texas or a real **** scammer.
 
I just had one yesterday for a rifle i have for sale on uncle henrys. Started off with the text message (from a canada area code). I am sending this email, it was a text, not a email. and said he had a FFL for "me" to do the background check and he had to see if he could legally buy it in his state. Which would be understandable. But the area code and broken sentences had too many red flags.

Short answer, DO NOT SHIP IT.
 
One other thing you can do is check his location from the email. Open the email, and look for a menu item that says something like "View Source". That will give you all the header details of the email. Then scan for "Received from" and copy that IP address. Then plug it into https://whatismyipaddress.com/ip-lookup . If the address is in TX or is a legitimate mobile IP address like AT&T, Spectrum, etc., etc., then the email may be genuine. If the IP resolves to Lagos, Nigeria ... well, you know what to do. ;)
 
Whenever I sell anything, even something very cheap, I specifically include the line "face to face only, cash only, no exceptions". I still get lots of scam e-mails . so I rarely list anything online for sale.

A few weeks ago put some items from my garage out on the curb and even though I said "do not contact me, if items are still available they'll be on the curb" I had lots of messages asking if I can ship this junk and if such and such is still there and to hold this item or that. Nope, internet sales are a nightmare, don't get scammed.
 
I can't say that I understand the issue. I have made numerous purchases on GB as well as at least three sales across state borders on GB. These are always USPS Money Order sales. They send the money order. You wait to recieve it, then you send the firearm to a verified FFL from whom you have received a copy of their license. No big deal.
 
It's a scam.

They send a bogus check, it gets deposited in your account and shows the funds, as some banks show the transfer even before it is fully verified.

Then a day or so later, once you verify that you got the "money" because they will hound you about "let me know once you deposit it"

Then, before you even send the gun, they will back out with a sob story, and ask for their money back. So you write them a check for their money back.

You send the check. Then, 3 days after it's in the mail, the bank discovers the original "certified" check is a fake and pulls the funds.

You don't even have to send the gun to get scammed, because they don't want the gun, they want your valid "refund".

At least that's how I understand the massive amounts of classified check scams.
 
I've sold lots of guns on Gunbroker. It's very simple. They send payment. You can request it be by personal check, Gunbrokers electronic system (dont use paypal..they are anti gun, and if they find out it was for a gun sale/purchase they freeze your account and you go through hell to get your money), or the most common method...US postal money order.

The winner of the auction sends the payment..I deposit it..wait till it all clears, (except for a postal Money order..your bank can tell right away if they are legit or not), then take the gun to a local FFL to send to a FFL that the buyer tells you he wants it sent to.

All legit..no muss, no fuss.

That said, your sale does have a lot a not so kosher things about it. I would pass on it..wait for another buyer
 
Also, if you go to ship it, no matter who you use, they want to see a copy of the FFL it's going to....you can ship directly to an FFL. Rifles only through the US Post office. Fed ex or UPS only for a handgun.

Thing with FedEx and UPS. They are such a big PITA to get to ship a gun and insure it...its almost not worth it. I use the good old US post office. They know the regs, and are always very helpful and make sure you are not getting yourself in trouble. But only for rifles.

But really, Its easiest just to have an FFL do the shipping. Just add shipping and handling to the price to cover the FFL fee..which is not much.
It really covers your butt. You do it that way...nobody can come after you if it ends up in the wrong hands.
 
Frulk said:
If he really wants it ask him to send a US Postal Service money order. That way you know it’s legit.
Click to expand...

Counterfeiting USPS money orders is a big business in some prisons. They get people on the outside to send them low denomination MO's then add a couple of zeros.

This is why if you get a USPS money order you should always cash it or at least have it verified at a USPS office.
 
12Pump:
Chances are very high that they are attempting Fraud.

Scammers Never Want to buy a gun from you in person.

They twice wanted me to ship.
My first odd feeling was the fact that the “buyer” had zero questions about the WW2 Mauser handgun...nor...request for any extra photo.
 
Also..:) :):).”I’m highly interested in this purchase!”.

Scammers usually appear very Impatient And Enthusiastic. Doesn’t it seem phony?
Normal buyers never appear so....Desperate.

@@@Both of my requests by scammers seemed “breathless”, in order to keep me from taking time to Think About It.

See what I mean?
Like a hustler trying to sell you an excellent used car, by exploiting your desire for money-
 
Last edited:
I love messing with the scam replies on Armslist and whatnot. When offered a check from halfway across the country I ask for a notarized scan of their driver's license, social security number, and to have their check in hand for 5 days before shipping. I never hear back...
 
I'd be very wary of a postal money order. I spent my life in the printing industry. My wife applied for something on Craigslist. Anyway they sent two Postal Money Orders. The quality was excellent. I had to get online at the postal inspector to learn where the flaw was. Someone spent a significant amount of time and money to make those look perfect. So I would say that goes double for any other check. On Gunbroker people have feedback. On Armslist and others there's a ton of scams happening. Stay away! Face to face works though.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

Tabequache
  • Locked
Armslist Missing the boat
2
Replies
28
Views
2K
earlthegoat2
earlthegoat2
S
  • Locked
Interesting inquiry for a rifle I have for sale
Replies
17
Views
1K
58limited
58limited
NorthBorder
  • Locked
Typical armslist scam to buy
2
Replies
29
Views
8K
entropy
entropy
R
  • Locked
What to do about an Armslist scam?
Replies
7
Views
1K
leadcounsel
L
L
  • Locked
FRAUD ALERT!
Replies
24
Views
3K
slicksleeve
slicksleeve
Back
Top