Scammers on FOG

[threesixright]

Already discussed I think.

Any change admin's can set  a minimal level (like x posts and minimal 3 months member...) for people to private message?

Another newly registered user that offers some tool 4 sale....

 

[dltflt]

I always look at the number of post. Anything less than 100 I ignore.

 

[six-point socket II]

Doesn't matter. I got "scammed" a long time ago here, by someone with multiple posts and long time standing user account.

Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[Cochese]

Lot of things the classified section does here that I don't see elsewhere. No minimum posts/length of time, allowing eBay links, etc.

 

[sancho57]

they are out there. One thing I do is limit my buying to some one I can go and meet face to face. If its not close then have a friend who lives near by go get it.

I for the most part dont buy used tools. I did buy a 850 planer it was in good shape met the guy in a parking lot at a mall, the price was decent , not where it would send flags up.

I believe there are no "good deals" where you get something for wayyyyyy less than market value. Cheaper then new yes. But wayyyyyyyy cheaper no.

When its to good to be true, it usually is.

 

[ChuckM]

The only party I trust to protect me is the payment method I use. On the very rare occasions that the sellers did not deliver, I had got all my money back from Paypal or credit cards. Some people have previously warned that don't use the Paypal Family and Friends way of payment, trying to save a few dollars. Those stranger sellers here or elsewhere are not your friends!

It is well documented that those whom you know (even well) can scam you the most. And that's why many Ponzi schemes work. My wife works in the banking industry, and can recall cases after cases where a business in a long and good standing decides to cheat on a last, big loan or check before it bows out. 

 

[threesixright]

Its not for me, I'm doing business online for > 20 years and do some white hat hacking. My worst experience: a 3M $10 USD memory card, that was basically fake. That was in the early days of eBay [big grin]

I'm more concerned about new members or the less "savvy" users. Most forum software can simply be configured limit functions until you reach a certain status. @admin if possible, why not?

placing ad's and private message only when you have at least x post and x months member

It's a simple precaution for those less "skilled". Obviously not fool proof, but better than nothing.

 

[knuckles]

Not sure if this site has the capabilities, but maybe adding a phone number and verifying it via text would be a good requirement.  I'm not someone who has posted much, but I've been a member since 2009 and value the integrity of the group.

 

[AlexThePalex]

I for the most part dont buy used tools. I did buy a 850 planer it was in good shape met the guy in a parking lot at a mall, the price was decent , not where it would send flags up.

Meeting in a neutral place would send my flag up immediately. Only work with/go to verifiable adresses.

I think it would be a good idea to not let virgin users post ads in the classifieds section. But always use your common sense.

 

[ChuckM]

Snip.
Meeting in a neutral place would send my flag up immediately. Only work with/go to verifiable adresses.

I think it would be a good idea to not let virgin users post ads in the classifieds section. But always use your common sense.

The local police here welcome Kijiji users to do their exchanges at their parking lots which are lit and have surveillance cameras. I used to sell my stuff by meeting buyers on my driveway, but I no longer do that for privacy, safety and security reasons (I don't want unknown strangers to know I have Festool and premium hand tools in my garage). There were exceptions such as when I sold my lathe recently as it was too heavy, or the pool table which was too big for me to handle.

The parking lot outside a Staples store 5 minutes away is my favorite for goods that do not require electrical power for testing. I know a gas station across from Staples that has outlets, and that's where I met to sell my T75 as testing was essential.

 

[jeh]

Not sure if this site has the capabilities, but maybe adding a phone number and verifying it via text would be a good requirement.  I'm not someone who has posted much, but I've been a member since 2009 and value the integrity of the group.

I would say that the operator of the board does not want to assist in anyway that could be perceived as being involved in the transaction.

 

[knuckles]

Good point.  It would be different if this was a paid site where it's worth the trouble and legal burden. 

Not sure if this site has the capabilities, but maybe adding a phone number and verifying it via text would be a good requirement.  I'm not someone who has posted much, but I've been a member since 2009 and value the integrity of the group.

I would say that the operator of the board does not want to assist in anyway that could be perceived as being involved in the transaction.

 

[semenza]

Some good thoughts here. Some of which are being considered.

Seth

 

[AlexThePalex]

The local police here welcome Kijiji users to do their exchanges at their parking lots which are lit and have surveillance cameras. I used to sell my stuff by meeting buyers on my driveway, but I no longer do that for privacy, safety and security reasons (I don't want unknown strangers to know I have Festool and premium hand tools in my garage). There were exceptions such as when I sold my lathe recently as it was too heavy, or the pool table which was too big for me to handle.

The parking lot outside a Staples store 5 minutes away is my favorite for goods that do not require electrical power for testing. I know a gas station across from Staples that has outlets, and that's where I met to sell my T75 as testing was essential.

Wow, you feel that unsafe in Canada?

I'm for 12 years on this Dutch website we use, and in that time I've had hundreds of people at my house, and I've been to hundreds. It always goes well. Just a single bad experience in all those years.

Here it is a sign of good faith to meet at each other's private residence, and it's always the scammers who try to meet at a parking lot, mall, or train station.

 

[DeformedTree]

The local police here welcome Kijiji users to do their exchanges at their parking lots which are lit and have surveillance cameras. I used to sell my stuff by meeting buyers on my driveway, but I no longer do that for privacy, safety and security reasons (I don't want unknown strangers to know I have Festool and premium hand tools in my garage). There were exceptions such as when I sold my lathe recently as it was too heavy, or the pool table which was too big for me to handle.

The parking lot outside a Staples store 5 minutes away is my favorite for goods that do not require electrical power for testing. I know a gas station across from Staples that has outlets, and that's where I met to sell my T75 as testing was essential.

Wow, you feel that unsafe in Canada?

I'm for 12 years on this Dutch website we use, and in that time I've had hundreds of people at my house, and I've been to hundreds. It always goes well. Just a single bad experience in all those years.

Here it is a sign of good faith to meet at each other's private residence, and it's always the scammers who try to meet at a parking lot, mall, or train station.

Neutral Site has largely become the norm in the US.  Folks don't want the person coming back for deeper discounts. Or the person is disappointed with their purchase and comes back harassing/etc.  You just don't know what people will do.  Not having a complete stranger who you will never see again know where you live is preferred.  Since you are buying in person and usually exchanging cash, most downsides of other methods have been skipped, you know you got the money, and you know they know item is what it is, and the person saw it before committing to the sale.

What you can't really change is if it was stolen. 

 

[ChuckM]

[
Snip.
Wow, you feel that unsafe in Canada?

Crime Index: My city 33.78; Stockhom, Sweden 44.41; Baghdad, Iraq 65.49.

As Deformed Tree pointed out, I don't want people to come back (who knows when), saying they have second thoughts about their purchase or price, etc. When I buy a new car, I either surrender my old one to the car dealership (yes, at a huge discount), or sell it to someone referred to me with good reputation. I put a high price on peace of mind (partly why I own a SawStop).

 

[ear3]

I agree.  When I've sold stuff, i've always had folks come to my shop, and find it weird when people from whom I'm buying arrange to do it at a parking lot, as if it's a drug handoff.

The local police here welcome Kijiji users to do their exchanges at their parking lots which are lit and have surveillance cameras. I used to sell my stuff by meeting buyers on my driveway, but I no longer do that for privacy, safety and security reasons (I don't want unknown strangers to know I have Festool and premium hand tools in my garage). There were exceptions such as when I sold my lathe recently as it was too heavy, or the pool table which was too big for me to handle.

The parking lot outside a Staples store 5 minutes away is my favorite for goods that do not require electrical power for testing. I know a gas station across from Staples that has outlets, and that's where I met to sell my T75 as testing was essential.

Wow, you feel that unsafe in Canada?

I'm for 12 years on this Dutch website we use, and in that time I've had hundreds of people at my house, and I've been to hundreds. It always goes well. Just a single bad experience in all those years.

Here it is a sign of good faith to meet at each other's private residence, and it's always the scammers who try to meet at a parking lot, mall, or train station.

 

[ScotF]

I usually meet people - partly because I live a little out of the way and it is more a convenience to meet someone half-way. Of course, I have also met people at my house or have gone to theirs. It has all worked out and never have had any issues. I think some buyers appreciate meeting in a public spot.

 

[ChuckM]

Snip.
I think some buyers appreciate meeting in a public spot.

Haha. In my early Kijiji years (when I still opened my shop to strangers), I actually had come across at least three or four potential buyers who specifically asked for a public meeting. As it turned out, one was a female and one was a mom with young kids.

These days, I only do exchanges in public between 9am and 7pm (it gets dark here after 6pm in winter days). Of course, cash only (and no one hundred dollar bills). The world really has changed...in my teen years (same city), we left our keys under the door mat or under a pot by the door. I also left my car running to warm it up on the driveway in those winter days.

 

[semenza]

I think the whole meeting any where part is only applicable to those who are near each other and actually have the goods. Or are just looking to set you up to be robbed in person, hence the public place to meet.

Most of the FOG Classified scammers are just looking to get people send them money. They have no item to sell at all and are not going to agree to meet. Much easier to just collect an online payment then disappear.

Seth