armslist scam FFL's

[dave_the_swede]

So I got a person wanting to buy one of my guns off armslist and it just smells kinda fishy. The email I got has a lot of superfluous wording and the guy can't meet me because he was deployed, his name is last name, first name in my email box and it's a strange name anyway, etc... sounds like a lot of the other scam offers I've seen. One of the things I've noticed is that I seem to get these scam emails with the same FFL licenses over and over again, I thought it might be helpful if we had a list of FFL licenses that the scammers seem to use that way other people are at least aware that these licenses have their information compromised. Not like it's that hard to smell a scam, but maybe we can save a person or two from shipping it to some FFL who wouldn't know why they got the gun in the first place.

just as a point of clarification this isn't a complete list and just because somebody sent you a request to ship to these FFLs doesn't mean it's a scam it's just more reason to take some precautions.

 

[ontarget]

So what is your scam FFL?

 

[dave_the_swede]

Most of these FFL's you can find their license right on their website. So far I've received scams with licenses from the licenses listed below. The licenses are real but the buyers are fake. It's not the FFL's fault that their license has been jacked, although they probably shouldn't upload their license to their website for just anybody to be able to copy and use.

I've received:
License Name: HORTON SAFETY CONSULTING LLC
Trade Name: HORTONS GUN AND PAWN
Premise Address:
508 A EAST HAPPY VALLEY ST
CAVE CITY, KY - 42127

I've also received:
License Name: DALLAS GUNS AND SUPPRESSOR
Premise Address:
4101 EAST SIDE AVE STE. C
DALLAS, TX - 75226

And the last one I've Received is:
License Name: US DEFENSE SOLUTIONS
Premise Address:
5329 MT PLEASANT N ST
GREENWOOD, IN - 45142

 

[dogtown tom]

So I got a person wanting to buy one of my guns off armslist and it just smells kinda fishy....

Seriously?
A sketchy Armslist deal?
IT'S THE HOME OF SKETCHY BUYERS & SELLERS!


Instead of dragging an innocent FFLs name through the mud, why not just use ATF EZcheck to verify the validity of the license and the correct address?
https://fflezcheck.atf.gov/fflezcheck/

Most of these FFL's you can find their license right on their website. So far I've received scams with licenses from the licenses listed below. The licenses are real but the buyers are fake. It's not the FFL's fault that their license has been jacked, although they probably shouldn't upload their license to their website for just anybody to be able to copy and use.

All the information on a licensees FFL is public record and easily found on the atf.gov website.

I consider your actions as not very High Road and borderline libelous and defamatory.

 

[Art Eatman]

The meaning that I take is that the three FFLs are being misused by scammers. To me, the solution would be to check the website shown by dogtown tom and if the FFLs are indeed real, make direct contact by phone as a warning to them.

If one thinks an offer is a scam, the shipping address would be different from the honest FFL's. That's called a clue.

 

[Englishmn]

Found this just looking around been going on a while.

http://www.survivalistboards.com/showthread.php?p=15080897#/topics/740137?page=5

I don't think the FFL is involved usually the scammer sends you check for extra money and request you cash check and send extra to them, then check bounces. And someone with a fake id already picked up the gun.

 

[dogtown tom]

Found this just looking around been going on a while.

http://www.survivalistboards.com/showthread.php?p=15080897#/topics/740137?page=5

I don't think the FFL is involved usually the scammer sends you check for extra money and request you cash check and send extra to them, then check bounces.

And that post in your link is flat out proof why you use EzCheck……….IT'S WRONG.

The ATF FFL checker https://www.atfonline.gov/fflezcheck/ shows that is a valid FFL and the addresses listed are correct. WELL NO, IT DOESN'T
License Number:5-75-XXX-XX-XX-07344
Expiration Date:08/01/2018
License Name:MATT MURROW LLC
Trade Name: DALLAS GUN AND SUPPRESSOR
Premise Address:
4101 EAST SIDE AVE STE C
DALLAS TX - 75226
Mailing Address:
5111 MANETT APT 206
DALLAS TX - 75206

Yet when you run that number through EzCheck you come up with the REAL NAME AND REAL ADDRESS...……
License Number: 5-75-XXX-XX-XX-07344
Expiration Date: 08/01/2018
License Name: MATT MURROW LLC
Trade Name: WORLDWIDE ORDNANCE SUPPLY COMPANY
Premise Address:
609 CANDLEWOOD RD
FORT WORTH
TX - 76103
Mailing Address:
609 CANDLEWOOD RD
FORT WORTH
TX - 76103

The scam is to get a nitwit to ship to someone who does not hold an FFL.

And someone with a fake id already picked up the gun.

While ID's might be faked, In Texas that would be pretty easy to spot. Further, The FBI NICS check would require that fake ID to match the buyer.....not likely.

It's a shipping scam.

 

[Wisco]

These scammers email on thousands of ads a day. When they get a response, they try to set up a deal and use a hijacked FFL in the hopes you’ll ship a gun and they won’t actually pay. It’s easy to check, as noted above. They also will not pay in cash or money order...only fake checks.

Easiest course of action? Dont even answer those emails. Next easiest? Don’t ship. Only accept cash in person. Ask for a number in your Armslist ad. Talk to the buyer.

I stopped answering emails that don’t give a number that’s within my state. I also don’t answer emails asking where I’m located or if the gun is still for sale. I actually don’t answer any emails from armslist that don’t have a number for me to text or call - too much fishing for email addresses and scammery afoot.

 

[dogtown tom]

....Easiest course of action? Dont even answer those emails......

Even easier is just avoiding Armslist altogether.

 

[dave_the_swede]

I consider your actions as not very High Road and borderline libelous and defamatory.

It's not meant to drag an FFLs name through the mud. It's not their fault their license was jacked. Just like pointing out that someone's credit card was stolen, it's not the victim that is blamed. If you all think that maybe we shouldn't have a thread with this kinda information then the admins are free to delete it. I wasn't trying to hurt anyone just trying to keep people informed with information that I thought would be genuinely helpful.

 

[tarosean]

Even easier is just avoiding Armslist altogether.

bingo..I wont even look at that cesspool.

 

[Waveski]

"Even easier is just avoiding Armslist altogether.
bingo..I wont even look at that cesspool."


Armslist is useful. A person has to be eyes open and cautious anywhere and everywhere on the internet. The world is full of scammers; they are not exclusive to Armslist.

 

[TomJ]

I've sold quite a few guns through Armslist. I specify face to face sales only in my ad. In Illinois we're required to run the buyer's FOID through the state police database, so I won't agree to meet someone until they've sent me their FOID. I've had a number of people try to scam me, but I disregard those e-mails. I've had good experiences limiting it to face to face sales.

 

[bassjam]

I love Armslist. I also only sell FTF, but I guess I'm lucky in that I live near a fairly large city.

I also don't see the value in listing FFL dealer's whose only crime is having their names Googled and used by scammers.

 

[Wisco]

As a buyer, Armslist isn’t any more of a cesspool that the classified newspaper ads used to be.

As a seller, stay vigilant; scams abound.

Having bought and sold from many different places, I can’t say that some of the people I’ve corresponded with on Armslist were THAT much worse than anywhere else, here included.

There are lots of people everywhere who seem to be wearing their 4th point of contact as headgear.

 

[Elkins45]

Armslist is a place to arrange face to face sales. Period.

Any solicitation to ship a gun by either a buyer or seller on Armslist should be considered a scam. Period. If you want to buy shipped guns then go through GunBroker.

I’ve bought or sold probably 20 guns through transactions arranged via Armslist over the last 5-6 years. Other than one no-show it has been problem free. All have been FTF transactions in public places.

 

[dogtown tom]

Armslist is useful. A person has to be eyes open and cautious anywhere and everywhere on the internet. The world is full of scammers; they are not exclusive to Armslist.

Google "Armslist scam" and you get over 300,000 hits, "GunBroker scam" gets 25,000.
Stop and think why that might be.

 

[George Dickel]

I've sold on Armslist, Gun Broker, E-Bay back when they allowed gun sales and through local publications geared towards selling items. I don't ship a gun until the payment clears my bank and the buyers bank. Even with a USPS money order I make sure it isn't bogus before I ship. FTF sales are done in a very public area in broad daylight and cash is the only payment I'll take, no personal checks.

 

[Captcurt]

Even easier is just avoiding Armslist altogether.

I don't know how many of my GunBroker listing land up on Armslist. They use my pictures and descriptions and drop the price.

 

[Charliefrank]

Armslist is a place to arrange face to face sales. Period.

Any solicitation to ship a gun by either a buyer or seller on Armslist should be considered a scam. Period. If you want to buy shipped guns then go through GunBroker.

I’ve bought or sold probably 20 guns through transactions arranged via Armslist over the last 5-6 years. Other than one no-show it has been problem free. All have been FTF transactions in public places.

I too have had zero problems on armslist.com, but the deals are always FTF with proper ID and bills of sale

 

[Waveski]

Google "Armslist scam" and you get over 300,000 hits, "GunBroker scam" gets 25,000.
Stop and think why that might be.

Ok , I stopped , and I thought. Here's my response - and I repeat---

Armslist is useful. A person has to be eyes open and cautious anywhere and everywhere on the internet. The world is full of scammers; they are not exclusive to Armslist.

 

[medalguy]

Always be careful dealing with anyone not known to you. It's not just Armslist ads. 86.2 million US phone calls are scams every month. The scammers are busy and they are everywhere.

 

[Ignition Override]

When I posted a fairly recent Armslist TN for my WW2 Mauser Hsc handgun, the strict term is always that any deal is within a reasonable drive of Memphis, always FTF (in person).

Nobody had ever (supposedly) emailed me from another state, in this case Florida-maybe. It was so simple: "I will buy your gun, can I send you my FFL in Florida?". Too easy to be true. A buddy confirmed that it was very screwy, and that the "buyer" probably would have set up a phony, complex payment scam as often can happen with criminal scumbags.

And this person never asked for any photos, or about any other info. That was the strangest thing.
Please Note: **They seemed Impatient**, in their first and Only email ( because I then asked why they had no questions about the gun).

Otherwise, nothing else on Armslist ever seemed fishy, selling at least a dozen guns and at least 4,000 rds. of surplus ammo to people FTF in west TN, meeting in well-trafficked parking lots. One guy in a planned Hsc deal backed out the day before when he finally asked whether all three numbers matched. In addition, I've bought or traded for about six guns.