Buyer Beware

[packgoatguy]

I just came across a situation where I did not feel comfortable going through with a transaction. A guy texted me from phone number (763) 290-1115 about my ad (im looking for a Kel Tec p17). He said he was from Austin MN. He sent me a picture of an FFL licensee form with the name Ryan Forrest Heath on it, and the address 107 21st St. NW Austin MN, 55912. He said he would only accept payment through Zelle. I told him that to my knowledge, zelle wasnt allowing payment transfers for the purchase of firearms... so he said he would take a credit card. I asked him if he had some sort of a website or web portal to pay it through, and he indicated he did not, and just needed a picture of my Credit Card front and back, and my billing address. So, I said I would feel more comfortable just sending a money order to his address, and I asked him if the address on the FFL form he sent me was where he wanted it to go. He said no, and said to send it to "Franklin A Norman JR, 12724 SW 263RD TER HOMESTEAD FL, 33032-6913. Said that was a friend's address who would get the money to his son.

In a quick google search, I found a comment on another site where someone mentioned they had a similar encounter with someone claiming to be Ryan Forrest Heath back in December, and that they had been able to get a hold of the real Ryan Heath, and apparently he is a victim of identity theft. The phone number they referenced was different that the one I was contacted from.

 

[switchback]

Sh--, thanks for posting this, I was ripped off on the same kind of thing months ago but it was through gunbroker on a verified seller.
Gunbroker did nothing to help. Filed their insurance claim 8 months ago and they keep saying its under review. They are just stalling
until I go away. Thanks again for post, we need to weed out these maggots.

 

[the444shooter]

Every WTB ad is a magnet for these scams. Thanks for the heads up and the reminder.

 

[FEENIX]

This is why I only deal with LRH members with outstanding status/feedback and have done entirely with personal checks/USPS MO for payments.

 

[Matno]

I just got a text from the same guy trying to pull the same thing from that number. So annoying that people like that lurk in otherwise good websites. Grrrrr. I am pretty good at spotting scams, and this one is a little too obvious. He sent me pictures of the item I was looking for, except it wasn't the right model. When I pointed that out, he said, "yeah, I didn't keep the box from those but the scope rings are the ones you're looking for." I might be more convinced if he actually tried to send me a pic of the real deal with the current date written on a piece of paper, but sending a pic of an FFL license instead? Is anyone that dumb? Also, why would someone from Minnesota be looking through local classifieds 8 states away?

 

[jarheadhunter]

Thanks for the heads up. These bastards will do anything to make a buck or two now a days. Besides get a real job.

 

[martyj]

Thanks for keeping us aware

 

[Whitetails45]

He wrote me also did the same thing with some encore barrels

 

[Whitetails45]

He wrote me also did the same thing with some encore barrels

I had a bad feeling so I told him I would pass.

 

[btap1991]

One of the things that has attracted me to this page is that fact that I don't seem to see to many scams

 

[cornshank]

One of the things that has attracted me to this page is that fact that I don't seem to see to many scams

So I will ask once more, why doesn't this site keep any sort of list /file or something that a member can go to to see the names ,companies ,scams etc...that are recent , so we don't have to search all the posts every time we want to try to buy reloading supplies or what ever ,from an online company ?

 

[Kae006]

So I will ask once more, why doesn't this site keep any sort of list /file or something that a member can go to to see the names ,companies ,scams etc...that are recent , so we don't have to search all the posts every time we want to try to buy reloading supplies or what ever ,from an online company ?

Click the username, then click on trader history. That's not always 100% because scammers recently have been hacking into user accounts of people with good history then listing items at "too good to be true" prices, but it's a solid first step.

 

[Savedbygrace2001]

Definitely a scam. You really have to be careful with WTB adds. Lots of times they say a buddy or uncle has the item your looking for, and they give you a email. The best thing to do is don't reply and just contact the administrator and let them ban the guy, but its always good to put post up like this and mention the users name number ect, so guys are aware of the scammer.
Glad you didn't get taken

 

[Kae006]

I just came across a situation where I did not feel comfortable going through with a transaction. A guy texted me from phone number (763) 290-1115 about my ad (im looking for a Kel Tec p17). He said he was from Austin MN. He sent me a picture of an FFL licensee form with the name Ryan Forrest Heath on it, and the address 107 21st St. NW Austin MN, 55912. He said he would only accept payment through Zelle. I told him that to my knowledge, zelle wasnt allowing payment transfers for the purchase of firearms... so he said he would take a credit card. I asked him if he had some sort of a website or web portal to pay it through, and he indicated he did not, and just needed a picture of my Credit Card front and back, and my billing address. So, I said I would feel more comfortable just sending a money order to his address, and I asked him if the address on the FFL form he sent me was where he wanted it to go. He said no, and said to send it to "Franklin A Norman JR, 12724 SW 263RD TER HOMESTEAD FL, 33032-6913. Said that was a friend's address who would get the money to his son.

In a quick google search, I found a comment on another site where someone mentioned they had a similar encounter with someone claiming to be Ryan Forrest Heath back in December, and that they had been able to get a hold of the real Ryan Heath, and apparently he is a victim of identity theft. The phone number they referenced was different that the one I was contacted from.

Franklin Austin Norman Jr is a registered sex offender in Florida as well