Obvious Scam
 

I post this in our collective, ongoing effort to root out scammers and help each other avoid getting scammed.

I started a post on the the auto part of the BST stating I wanted to buy signed, slabbed Yogi Berra cards. I did not leave an email address bc I know there are scammers and they do not need my email address. Below is a screenshot of a private message I got. Clearly a scam. First, who the hell calls someone buddy (especially if they never met). Second, the grammar is terrible. Third, it’s odd that someone I dont know would contact me for another “member”. Fourth, they say their friend has “it” when I posted wanting multiple/plural - signed cardS. Fifth, the whole thing just smelled like fish.

So I looked up the username - joined today, no posts.

Clearly a scam. Way too many red flags. If it walks and quacks like a duck, it’s likely a scammer.

Be vigilant and don’t be a sucker

Maybe post other examples of attempted scams so people can spot them quickly and easily

Obvious Scam
 

Ryan, I received a similar PM recently.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...bff7c054aa.jpg

The same phone…

I PM’d Leon about it and he banned him. Thanks again, Leon!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

I received TWO in the same day for VERY SPECIFIC cards Im looking for lol:

Attachment 609494

My favorite
 

Best one I ever got was from a Crocodile Dundee wannabe….. “G’Day mate! I believe I have one of these in my garage…. “ LOL got a nice laugh outa that one

From have to has in the messages. Well, at least one thing in the con has improved in a positive way.

The positive is the scams are low effort, at least.

Poor grammar and syntax? Check

Immediate request to email a different address? Check

Cheap crappy Android designed for second and third world markets in the Tapatalk sent from? Check

May they never get better and high effort.

I was going to say the same, lol

Tecno phones are made in China mainly for the African and India markets. Wow, is that a knockout giveaway.

scammers
 

As long as we have Tapatalk scammers are going to happen....Just be careful

and a card from the BST that wasn't a scam.

It really is. I trade with lots of people who cannot write very well; but nobody using Indian market cell phones.

They make a pretty impressive product considering it costs like ~$70 USD. It's really a wonderful thing that access to completely functional and useful smartphones are spreading down quickly to poorer and poorer residents of low standard of living countries, so much potential here to create better quality of life and open new opportunities for previously disconnected people. Unfortunately in the context of western collecting hobbies, encountering these phones = 100% a scammer lol

Member verfification checklist
 

Similar to Ryan's (hi Ryan) first post, here are some more/redundant, thoughts. They can't be stressed enough. Rarely a day goes by that I don't get PM's concerning verifying members and that is a good thing.

When you think you have received one of those scam PM's or emails -

1. Check to see if they are already banned.
2. Do they have broken/really poor grammar?
2. Check to see when they registered.
3. Check to see how many, and what kind of, posts they have made.
4. Trying to take money via a no refund method and in a hurry.

If they have been here for years with lots of posts, they aren't a troll/scammer. Anyone can still do a bad deal but those are telltale signs of the trolls.

KNOW YOUR TRADING PARTNER
Please always check with me, or another moderator, if there is any question whatsoever on someone's credibility.
.
.

Scammer appears again
 

Similar response to my post for a T206 Mathewson or WaJo Piedmont 42. Here’s his response to me from anthony134hatcher:

Hi there, my old man has this for sale in good condition, Reach him out for more information. stephenchalker6@gmail.com
Thanks.


This ‘member’ joined today.

The scammer has made one post to show that he’s a true American, comrade. He also removed his Tapatalk signature.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...d83ed11f38.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

I just received this private message in response to my BST post:

Hi there, my old man has this for sale in good condition, Reach him out for more information. stephenchalker6@gmail.com
Thanks.

Sent from my TECNO BD4h using Tapatalk

I would not be surprised if this is the same person or outfit who goes by James Griffin (who has already been banned on here), Frederic Larssen, David Clevenger....

Last few times he reached out to me, it was his "old cousin" who had the cards I was looking for in good condition.

What a touching testimonial; your work will live on even if you are dead as a doornail. How comforting.

Got a possible scam PM today:

AND- also their 1 post was about TOBY KEITH

If you follow up on the inter webs (Compughana) you come to this

Address: JR59+RH7, Accra, Ghana is the only place you can buy them(?)

Just received this pm regarding my BST post:

From marshallwave84
Hi there, my old cousin has this for sale in good condition, Reach him out for more information robertnattan@gmail.com
Thanks.

Sent from my TECNO BD4h using Tapatalk

I get PMs almost once a day, sometimes more, concerning bad actors just like this.
And this maroon has now been banned.

Thanks!

Why is it always a cousin? And why doesn’t the cousin just contact us directly?

Clearly the cousin is in jail in another country (or New Hampshire, which is popular) and is too busy trying to get his grandparents to come up with bail money.

If you actually follow through and ask to see a scan of the card and for the seller's PayPal information, you get the story about how the cousin or dad has trouble with the banks and doesn't have any accounts.

I suspect that the scammers like card collectors, as demographically there is a perception (accurate or not) that we are older, American, wealthier, and not very tech savvy.

I learned many things today. Among them:

1) Most scammers have an old cousin or an old man with great cards!
2) Scammers love now-deceased American country music stars!
:)

Agreed that it's a scam, but I will add this.

On my bicycle list I posted about needing a small length of a special chain. I got a reply along the lines of "I know a guy on the list, what exactly do you need. " Sent details and a scan of the one I have that I needed a few extra links for.
The guy who actually had it is a member of the USCyclingHOF, older and raced in the 50's and 60s as a pro. He was basically having another member screen some stuff to avoid nuisances. Once I passed the "audition" he contacted me directly, and was very helpful. I would have been happy with any brand, but he sent the exact number of needed links of the exact chain, right brand, right log, perfect. ANd gave me a lot of good advice about other aspects of the bike I was fixing. (special one, and he did that sort of racing and learned from people who were around when my 1920s-30's bike was new. )

Thanks Ryan, et al. This thread helped me quickly sniff out a scam message a few weeks ago.

Just today...

jayalexander956
Hi mate , you can check with Nathan he has it available for sale , his late dad was a member of this forum you can reach him out robertnattan@gmail.com, I purchased item from him and they arrived in top condition

Sent from my TECNO BD4h using Tapatalk

As I had said, almost every day. I am usually being conservative on these things. I could probably take out the "almost". This one is gone.

Anyone can always PM me or another moderator to get these banned...thanks!

The attempts are so weak and obvious that at this point, if you get scammed by one of these guys, you deserve it!