I have posted this before but due to the recent threads on the board I thought it might be timely to post again.
How to avoid getting ripped off by scammer members
Mods feel free to move this wherever you want.
Just read the thread on a scammer that has been hitting people here.
Thought I would share some info we use on the Gibson/ Fender forums. We use it as a sticky in the classified sections.
I have noticed that a lot of people don't protect themselves as much as they could on this forum. Here's a little checklist to go through that can help you guys avoid a lot of grief when doing a deal with someone you don't know.
In the future, I hope everyone here checks out people before they do business with them. A lot of you guys here buy and sell a lot of parts, and if you know the person...great. But if not make sure you get a home phone# a work phone # a cell phone# home address etc. check out the info too. Call the person. If you think they gave you a cell# as a home or work # - check it out here:
www.fonefinder.net/
It will tell you if it's a land line or a cell and what city it goes to.
Reverse the phone#s and addresses they gave you to see where they go. Argali is really good for this. You can also reverse the address.
Just go to www.argali.com and download their program.
If you think the address is a mail drop you can check that out as well at http://www.finaid.com/scholarships/maildropsearch.phtml
If you want to find out who owns the address they give you to send payment to you can also go to
http://www.netronline.com/public_records.htm
Select the state and county of the address. A lot of them have online databases, but you can call the tax assessor as well and find out who owns that property.
These are just a few of the free online resouces you can use to protect yourself and verify the information the seller gives you is accurate.
Ask for references from other people they have done business with. If I'm shelling out $100 for a part or $3000 for a project, I want to know if the person is honest or not.
Make sure the info they give you checks out before you give up any of your hard earned cash. An honest seller won't be offended in the least when you ask them for this info.
How to avoid getting ripped off by scammer members
Mods feel free to move this wherever you want.
Just read the thread on a scammer that has been hitting people here.
Thought I would share some info we use on the Gibson/ Fender forums. We use it as a sticky in the classified sections.
I have noticed that a lot of people don't protect themselves as much as they could on this forum. Here's a little checklist to go through that can help you guys avoid a lot of grief when doing a deal with someone you don't know.
In the future, I hope everyone here checks out people before they do business with them. A lot of you guys here buy and sell a lot of parts, and if you know the person...great. But if not make sure you get a home phone# a work phone # a cell phone# home address etc. check out the info too. Call the person. If you think they gave you a cell# as a home or work # - check it out here:
www.fonefinder.net/
It will tell you if it's a land line or a cell and what city it goes to.
Reverse the phone#s and addresses they gave you to see where they go. Argali is really good for this. You can also reverse the address.
Just go to www.argali.com and download their program.
If you think the address is a mail drop you can check that out as well at http://www.finaid.com/scholarships/maildropsearch.phtml
If you want to find out who owns the address they give you to send payment to you can also go to
http://www.netronline.com/public_records.htm
Select the state and county of the address. A lot of them have online databases, but you can call the tax assessor as well and find out who owns that property.
These are just a few of the free online resouces you can use to protect yourself and verify the information the seller gives you is accurate.
Ask for references from other people they have done business with. If I'm shelling out $100 for a part or $3000 for a project, I want to know if the person is honest or not.
Make sure the info they give you checks out before you give up any of your hard earned cash. An honest seller won't be offended in the least when you ask them for this info.
