peponbass

I wish I had read this post few weeks ago. As Tandro said, I don't mind speaking up and look like an idiot, but if this could help to save some pain to someone else, than it'll be worth it. I did post in the wanted category of the bass market, as I am looking for a Hipshot D-tuner BT-10. This was about a month ago. Nothing happened for weeks until I got a message from a user, nickname zooh (which I understand has been banned). He stated he had a friend, someone called kasem (which I thought was a member as well) who had what I was looking for and wanted to sell, and he gave me the email address of this kasem (first red flag I should have noticed!) I contacted this guy and he said, yes I do have it, in very good condition, with bolt and washer etc, he also mentioned the model of bass he used the D-tuner on. So everything looked legit, he seemed to know what he was talking about. He sent me some pictures, I did a reverse search to make sure were not taken from the internet, and they weren't (apparently). He also asked me if I would collect! I said no, after knowing he's from Grimsby, too far from me and asked if he could ship. He said yes, I asked for some details, an address, and if he could text me from his phone, which he did. So I had a phone number too! I offer payment via Paypal or Revolut or bank transfer and then he gave me "his wife" paypal which also was on a foreign currency, US dollars in this case (second red flag, which I only learnt afterwards. I just though, ok his wife must be American). But then I also thought "it's only 45 quid, who's gonna make a scam for such a small amount? Also the guy seems to know what he's talking about", and I kind of trusted being recommended by a member of the forum. Ok this "zooh" guy account is a newbie, but hey, I am a newbie myself in this forum. Anyway, I sent the money, and the day after I emailed again saying I made the payment and to let me know when he would ship (because he had told me that he would have shipped the day after when not working). He also reply to the email saying "yes I am on my way to the post office, I'll send you details as soon as I'm done". After that, radio-silence. After another couple of days I tried to ring the number that he texted me from and....the number doesn't exist. Ok, I should have rang the number and check before making the payment. If you have read until here you are probably thinking I am an idiot, and you are right. But again, if this could save some pain to someone else, then fine. The red flags have already been listed in this thread, but let's reiterate some of them in particular -deal via email outside the forum - red flag -asked to pay as FF to a different paypal email account, (a wife, a relative, etc) on a foreign currency - SUPER red flag All I am trying to say, be extra careful. That zooh account is now banned, but they can sign in with a new one and try it again. If I had known the above two red flags before that wouldn't have happened, but again, it looked very legit. And I can add, I have always been careful and updated on scam procedures, but here I am, I have got caught for the first time. Bear in mind, do not trust even if: - knowledge of the item and what's related -asking if could collect (ok must have taken my location from my IP address, so he knew I would have said no) -texting from a proper phone number - make sure you ring the number to make sure you're dealing with an actual person. That's it for now, any question, feel free to ask here or DM me. Cheers

I bought an Hipshot D-Tuner from Martyn, everything run smoothly with a lot of communication. 100% trustable.