How to avoid being scammed-feel free to move

[theman53]

I just got hosed by a member called greengt1 on the vortex. I am trying to get my 80.00 back, but paypal won't help and it has been too long. I couldn't find anything on this guy even after getting hosed...vortex search sucks. Here are some steps you can do to help in this area. Most on here are great, but if you buy elsewhere you might want to check out what I have found.
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 gear, 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
www.skipease.com/property.html

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 car, 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.


Yep, 80.00 and I am that pissed. If he had taken me for more I think he would have had an accident somewhere and never return.

[theman53]

BTW this guys name is Ayodele Akinsanya
14206 Pennsylvania Avenue
Dolton, ILL 60419

His "business" name is Jetronic imports and he is a member of many online forums for parts selling.

[GEE-BEE]

let's take him Duck hunting.... 

[duffer]

It's also a good idea to check how many posts the individual has (check some of them)  and how long he/she/it has been a member.

If they have only one or two posts and just joined the day before, I'd be cautious.

[R.O.R-2.0]

let's take him Duck hunting.... 

up here, in oregon, we take people crab fishin out in the ocean!

(think about how heavy a crab pot already is, then leave the recovery line off)

 

[rallydiesel]

You can never have enough anti-scamming threads/resources.

[Dakotakid]

let's take him Duck hunting.... 

.....giving him the "Dick Cheney treatment"............

[Turbinepowered]

let's take him Duck hunting.... 

.....giving him the "Dick Cheney treatment"............

I was going to add this, but you beat me to it. 

[theman53]

Getting ready to buy some stuff off the vortex again, bump.

I just wanted to make sure I had all my bases covered. Good stuff if you are a buyer.