Scammer Alert

[u/BigRedGunNut]

Just wanted to share some info to hopefully protect others.

Last week I was contacted by a number (902-751-40XX) with an offer to trade a lever rifle for an antique pistol I had on TownPost. After some discussion the deal morfed into two lever rifles for two antique status pistols. I requested proof of age (for the antiques) and he sent a pic of a health card. I sent my info for a PAL verification to which the fellow said he wouldn't bother. I figured I did my part, if he wants to risk prison that's on him.

The fellow seemed very enthusiastic that I ship right away. He was using a PO Box in Springhill NS and he wanted me to ship at the same time as him or before him which is something I don't typically do as a seller. Being a trade though, I told him to give me a pic of the box with my name/address and tracking and I would ship immediately. I was even outside the post office waiting for him to ship on his end. The whole tone of the deal at this point seemed OK but I was starting to get a voice in the back of my head telling me to look close at things.

He had excuses why it was taking time to ship and said his wife was doing it. After an hour I messaged him and said I was leaving to do errands and that I would ship after he sent tracking on his end. A picture of the tracking number finally came later in the afternoon with no picture of the box or label and when I checked it the number was months old. That sent my spidey senses off.

When confronted, he said his wife must have sent the wrong picture. He was adamant that he'd just spent $140 for shipping, which sounded about right, and was really wanted me to ship as he had already done so.

At this point I figured something was wrong but still wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt and said if he could provide the three things I asked for, I'd ship.

He assured me he would sort things out and get the correct information. I quickly realized that he was playing me. Providing me a picture of the shipping label hours after I asked. Saying he never actually shipped but wants to just not until I do. Even going so far as to eventually make a box of approximately the right size with a shipping label (that didn't match the first one he sent me) and saying again that he had shipped giving me a picture of tracking numbers that were obviously from a flat rate box (rifles don't fit in those).

By the time most of this was happening I'd already figured out te was trying to scam my pistols from me and I was just toying with him because he'd annoyed me. I wanted to share all this including his partially redacted information ((902-751-40XX) PO Box in Springhill NS B0M 1X0) in the hopes it saves someone else the annoyance of dealing with this idiot.

I think the thing that annoys me the most is that he got a lot of personal info from me for the PAL check and shipping.

[u/pyates1]

The whole idea of trusting someone when it could involve a federal offence really sketches me out.

Sold a rifle last week and they wanted to pay half up front and half on delivery?

I went with the easy payment system, most people are honest but it's dangerous when someone is reluctant to fully cooperate.