Any tips for preventing being scamed on a forum?

[Oillover]

Recently I purchased a new (to me) motorcycle.
I was looking for an accessory, so I approached an online forum asking if anyone had that accessory.
Someone replied they have one and they are willing to part with it for a resonable price.

I did a little digging, and it turns out the seller is also new to the forum (red flag #1).
He then sent some legit pics of the part and mentioned he's asking about 40% less than it was when new (red flag #2).

To keep from being scammed, I was going to ask him to take a pic of the accessory with a tag/something that indicates today's date and local time (to prove it's authenticity, and that he didn't just grab some random internet pics of the part). I was also going to ask if he's ok with using paypal?

Anything else i can do to prevent being scammed?

 

[gman2304]

Can’t be too careful in this day and time however how did you expect to follow up with the deal? Sometime you have to go with your gut feeling. Having said that, I just sold a $200 pair of Harley leather electric gloves like new never used with original box and instructions for $80 on FBM and the deal went seamlessly. Met him at a local Home Depot and talked for about 15 minutes about motorcycles and riding. We met in a busy public place and I had my 380 in my pocket. As usual, YMMV

 

[JohnnyG]

Lay that part on a newspaper with today's date, then take the picture.
Buy from Ebay?

 

[CDX825]

Way too much of that going on with the facebook groups lately. I always go to these peoples profiles and see if they are legit. If they only have a couple pictures and their profile picture only has one or two likes they are a scammer. Also always seems to be someone with two first names.

 

[AZjeff]

Don't send more money than you can walk away from. A legit seller might not want to jump through too many hoops to prove to you he's legit.

 

[Pew]

On a other forum, members had to put their name and date on a piece of paper in all the photos.

 

[Rand]

Yeah you being baited and scammed.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Hard to say. How busy is this forum? How new is his profile on said forum? How much money? If its more than you can afford to loose, then ya, I wouldn't buy from a forum. Flip side is I have gotten some great deals on forums.

Ask if he will list it through ebay as buy it now, with the buy it now price including all the ebay fees on top of what the current offer is.

 

[Oillover]

Thanks everyone for the replies.
Hopefully this thread will be able to serve as a reminder to anyone reading it.

The amount isn't much, but I just don't like losing money if I don't have to.
The seller has asked for the funds to be sent to a different name and email address as "friends and family" with paypal (ya, riiiight!).

 

[atikovi]

Ask yourself why would someone just list on a forum where maybe a few dozen people may see it vs. Ebay where thousands may look at it from all over the world?

 

[Pew]

Ask yourself why would someone just list on a forum where maybe a few dozen people may see it vs. Ebay where thousands may look at it from all over the world?

Depends on the part but peace of mind. I'd prefer to buy and sell Evo parts on an Evo forum because of the audience. If it was a part for a more common car like the focus, then I'd put it on FB marketplace.

 

[Pablo]

Some people on some forums are genuinely cool. How long has he been on the forum? How much dough are we talking about?

 

[dishdude]

Lay that part on a newspaper with today's date, then take the picture.
Buy from Ebay?

Please, no one gets the newspaper anymore.

 

[dishdude]

Thanks everyone for the replies.
Hopefully this thread will be able to serve as a reminder to anyone reading it.

The amount isn't much, but I just don't like losing money if I don't have to.
The seller has asked for the funds to be sent to a different name and email address as "friends and family" with paypal (ya, riiiight!).

Yep, 100% a scam. Can also try an image search with Google to see where he picked the picture up from.

 

[Oillover]

Some people on some forums are genuinely cool. How long has he been on the forum? How much dough are we talking about?

Just started with 0 posts before I came.
Only about 500ish

 

[Pablo]

Just started with 0 posts before I came.
Only about 500ish

$500? yeah, no. I would avoid!!

 

[AZjeff]

Some people on some forums are genuinely cool.

Not like around here apparently.

$500? No way. Buy one face to face or maybe Ebay.

 

[Pablo]

Not like around here apparently.

$500? No way. Buy one face to face or maybe Ebay.

Even in 2023 there are some gen-you-wine good people on various forums.

My one time bad act was in 1999. Some Canadian guy got me on the 'net. I learned real fast.

 

[atikovi]

Please, no one gets the newspaper anymore.

Well, I see the morning paper in the driveways of more than 60 homes on my street every morning so I beg to differ. How else do you get the black friday inserts with all the sales?

 

[AZjeff]

Please, no one gets the newspaper anymore.

We get free ones on the driveway.