Scammer Tale from yesterday

[NiceDocter]

I had posted an interest in buying raw 1948 Topps Magic Photo baseball or sports or non sports in that series. Got a photo sent to me of a PSA 5 Babe Ruth.... the question... WHAT IS YOUR BUDGET? They guy had zero posts and just a member for 24 hours! What could go wrong? Just for fun, I asked him his price.....$1000. The scan of the front only was from the PSA website. I told him no maybe more like $350.... and he said yes but you have to hurry! haha so I asked for a back scan plus another scan from a different angle of the front "to check for surface imperfections". I got a new scan right away! Check out the original and the new scan...... any red flags there???? I then told him oh my someone else just offered me the same card for $275..... and he dropped it to $250 in 30 seconds!! Wanted my payment quickly hahaha..... now the clincher.... I told him I already sent the payment to the other guy in cash as requested and I was soooo excited to get that new Babe Ruth card! I could hear his tears dropping like rain when he knew another scammer had gotten to me first!! Thought that would be the end..... but no, here comes a Connie Mack same series PSA 7...... told him I was all tapped out for the rest of the year and that was that. A days entertainment for me.......and yes I did send him to Leon who banned him at once ( but the PMs kept coming anyhow) ..... next day a new zero poster says GDAY MATE I THINK I HAVE ONE OF THESE IN MY GARAGE..... hahahha sounds like Outback steak House..... another Leon ban !! PS check out the PSA numbers on the 2 scans of the "same" card he sent from 2 different angles....LOL

[NiceDocter]

This is a one time experiment with this clown, generally I know its not a good idea to encourage these guys and wont be doing this again.... but just wanted to see where this would go. He did seem to know a bit about cards ... but never again for me with this type of thing. We've got to figure a way to screen these dudes out.... seems like they get their cues to start when you post WTB posts... as I have never had problems before trying WTB.

[Casey2296]

Originally Posted by NiceDocter

This is a one time experiment with this clown, generally I know its not a good idea to encourage these guys and wont be doing this again.... but just wanted to see where this would go. He did seem to know a bit about cards ... but never again for me with this type of thing. We've got to figure a way to screen these dudes out.... seems like they get their cues to start when you post WTB posts... as I have never had problems before trying WTB.

Do all of these WTB threads include an email address in the body of the post? Seems to be the only way to access members without being a member, maybe I'm missing something.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Casey2296

Do all of these WTB threads include an email address in the body of the post? Seems to be the only way to access members without being a member, maybe I'm missing something.

Registrations need to be approved. These scammers are getting in without doing that. Therefore they have access to the BST.
.

[Rhotchkiss]

Someone should post a WTB for a T206 Wagner or a Baltimore News Ruth and see what haps....

[bobbyw8469]

LOLOLOLOL...Did this guy even realize the cert #'s didn't even match???

[Mark17]

Originally Posted by bobbyw8469

LOLOLOLOL...Did this guy even realize the cert #'s didn't even match???

Do you think these scammers ever read these threads, slap their foreheads, and say "Doh!"

[Casey2296]

Originally Posted by Leon

Registrations need to be approved. These scammers are getting in without doing that. Therefore they have access to the BST.
.

Ah, got it.

[Vintage Vern]

Originally Posted by Leon

Registrations need to be approved. These scammers are getting in without doing that. Therefore they have access to the BST.
.

So basically they can see them from a simple Google or other search engine search. Is there a way to make them only visible to registered users? I know on some of the sports boards I belong to some areas can be viewed by all, but some only to registered users.

[mrreality68]

Very sad but not surprising. As mentioned earlier this scammer made it real easy and obvious
Some are more versed and polished.
Luckily we have learned from each other hopefully that helps prevent others in this forum from being scammed.

Thanks for sharing

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Vintage Vern

So basically they can see them from a simple Google or other search engine search. Is there a way to make them only visible to registered users? I know on some of the sports boards I belong to some areas can be viewed by all, but some only to registered users.

That is exactly opposite of what I said, thanks. ONLY registered users, logged in, should be able to see the BST areas.
You should not be able to do a google search and see the BST unless you are logged in (and therefore registered). The scammers get in by registering and being approved without going through the normal process. As far as I know they aren't getting in from a search.

[NiceDocter]

to answer.... no I did not post my email in the BST on either WTB post. I was contacted by both scammers through PMs on Net54 only not through any email which I never provided. On a side note.... just bought a card from a member since 2009 with over 5000 posts tonite and I was a little nervous before I hit that PayPal button after the last few days LOL but I did it anyway! Rocky

[Fballguy]

Originally Posted by Leon

Registrations need to be approved. These scammers are getting in without doing that. Therefore they have access to the BST.
.

How?

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Fballguy

How?

If I knew that I would stop them.

we need a card for this thread...
.

[StraightRaceCards]

Love seeing the scammers go down!

Grateful Net54 folks do their best to help keep scammers to a minimum.

[ramram]

Keep in mind that you can change the viewing angle of an image in about 30 seconds on an iPhone. Some scammers may try this with an image they find online.

Rob M

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[NiceDocter]

Thats good to know...... will have to figure another way to see if they really have it in hand!! Rocky maybe like in the old movies where the hostage is filmed holding todays Newspaper!

[sycks22]

I tend to answer most spam calls just to mess with them. Sometimes I start with "Do you need my bank account or social? I'm willing to give you whatever you need" They get confused and usually hang up

[Jewish-collector]

I got a PM from someone with one post asking if I'm interested in an autograph of an athlete. I just mentioned in a thread that I wish I bought one I saw many years ago. I didn't even ask in the B/S/T. Very strange.

[Carter08]

Originally Posted by sycks22

I tend to answer most spam calls just to mess with them. Sometimes I start with "Do you need my bank account or social? I'm willing to give you whatever you need" They get confused and usually hang up

Ha

[Snapolit1]

Consistent with this whole eBay PSA verification situation, I really hope Leon doesn't take steps to try to stop this fraud. I will opt out. Any step he puts in place to stop fraud will not benefit me personally and might even slow down my BST transactions. So I’m categorically opposed to it. I couldn’t care less about any of youze guys getting ripped off.

[G1911]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Consistent with this whole eBay PSA verification situation, I really hope Leon doesn't take steps to try to stop this fraud. I will opt out. Any step he puts in place to stop fraud will not benefit me personally and might even slow down my BST transactions. So I’m categorically opposed to it. I couldn’t care less about any of youze guys getting ripped off.

You’re on a roll.

[1952boyntoncollector]

Originally Posted by sycks22

I tend to answer most spam calls just to mess with them. Sometimes I start with "Do you need my bank account or social? I'm willing to give you whatever you need" They get confused and usually hang up

i like to say i just sent money for another card or for some other thing so the person thinks he just missed out on a big score from me

'Hey i just sent 3k to someone waiting for the card, after i get it, ill gladly purchase your card but at least i should wait now to see if i get the card i just paid 3k for..actually paid 7k for...';

[Exhibitman]

When it comes to phone spam, my favorite thing was to give the phone to my 5-year-old. I'd say, "hold on" and then let my kid take over. She used to screech fake 'hold music' at the top of her lungs until they hung up. I also like to ask if they have accepted Jesus and offer my testimony. That kills off stock boiler room calls immediately.

There's a hilarious Youtube video of a comedian (Tom Mabe) just tearing a spam caller a new one by faking a murder investigation and threatening to embroil the caller in it for calling a freshly murdered guy. NSFW but funny as hell.

https://youtu.be/aOvXxnSEQKY

There was also some guy who used to get these scammers to send him photos of themselves with all sorts of ridiculous stuff written on placards they held up, to prove they were legitimate.

[GasHouseGang]

[QUOTE=Exhibitman;2242726]There's a hilarious Youtube video of a comedian (Tom Mabe) just tearing a spam caller a new one by faking a murder investigation and threatening to embroil the caller in it for calling a freshly murdered guy. NSFW but funny as hell.

https://youtu.be/aOvXxnSEQKY

/QUOTE]

That phone call was really funny! He came across so official that I would have believed him.

[tschock]

Originally Posted by 1952boyntoncollector

i like to say i just sent money for another card or for some other thing so the person thinks he just missed out on a big score from me

'Hey i just sent 3k to someone waiting for the card, after i get it, ill gladly purchase your card but at least i should wait now to see if i get the card i just paid 3k for..actually paid 7k for...';

To the person on the phone: "Give me your contact info and I'll get back with you as soon as my bank deposit goes through from the Nigerian Prince."

[5-Tool Player]

Originally Posted by Mark17

Do you think these scammers ever read these threads, slap their foreheads, and say "Doh!"

Amen....... these A**holes don't do their homework

[steve B]

I sort of miss the fake microsoft support guys.

"Your computer is infested with viruses!!"
"Oh no! which one? "
"Your windows computer"
"Right, which one?"
"Your windows computer"
"I understand, which one"
"The one with windows 98, ME, ...seven.. "
"Any chance you could narrow it down any"
"Sir! we're trying to protect you from the loads of computer viruses!"
"I get it, but you need to tell me which computer"
"sigh.... all of them"
"Really?! I don't think you have any idea what you're doing"

Enter the "manager" slight reprise, then he calls me a MFer.
So I tell him to say hi to his and that she says the ceiling needs paint.
Cue very loud cursing -I assume- in a langage I don't understand mixed with what are you laughing about this isn't funny.

[Cards2121]

I was also recently contacted by a scammer named "Theo Philus", they responded to a wanted add for Ty Cobb postcards in the B/S/T section. Fortunately they attempted to sell me cards I already own LOL. I asked for their PayPal-lucychelagat4@gmail.com so watch out! They even had the nerve to call me an A-hole after I called them out!

[npa589]

Are you kidding me with that post card - that's an amazing piece Leon.

Originally Posted by Leon

If I knew that I would stop them.

we need a card for this thread...
.

[G1911]

Originally Posted by Cards2121

They even had the nerve to call me an A-hole after I called them out!

They went to hard work trying to scam you and you ruined it all. How dare you!