fyi - scam technique being used in classified ads, be on the lookout..

Sean · Feb 4, 2022

Hi All,

I have seen an increase in this technique. We have managed to catch a couple of them recently thanks to our membership reporting suspect behaviour. The technique is as follows:

-an account registers and dabbles in the community for a bit to get enough posts to private message other members
-they scan the site looking for members that happen to be looking for particular gear
-they private message in bulk to all those members claiming they have said gear, offer pics and pricing

My best advice if you think it's 'too good to be true' is to let us know via the report post button.

They almost always want you to pay for the fake item in an obscure way with some obscure payment provider or wire transfer. Usually when demanding that they use paypal or other high profile systems, it results in them breaking off communication. If this happens please let us know. Also, if you never get an item you expected please let us know.

If the member is new, I would highly recommend you find out as much as you can about them and use a payment method that offers protections.

The classifieds are use at your own risk, but we generally have very few issues. Just be cautious.

Thanks!
Sean

Sirius Glass · Feb 4, 2022

Sean, thank you.

APUGgers: If you see something, say something, please.

gordrob · Feb 5, 2022

Thanks Sean for keeping us in the loop. Much appreciated
Gord

logan2z · Feb 5, 2022

There have definitely been some suspect accounts recently created at Photrio that I've reported to the mods. One telltale sign is when the account is new and starts bumping lots of old threads by posting short, virtually meaningless responses. So if someone responds to your WTB post check the member's join date. If the account is brand new then that's a red flag. Then check some of their recent posts. If the member's contributions to the forum are primarily one-sentence replies to old threads then that's another red flag.

Stay safe...

Tel · Feb 5, 2022

logan2z said:
There have definitely been some suspect accounts recently created at Photrio that I've reported to the mods. One telltale sign is when the account is new and starts bumping lots of old threads by posting short, virtually meaningless responses. So if someone responds to your WTB post check the member's join date. If the account is brand new then that's a red flag. Then check some of their recent posts. If the member's contributions to the forum are primarily one-sentence replies to old threads then that's another red flag.

Stay safe...

Thanks. I noticed this going on over the past month or two and wondered why these people were pulling up long-dormant threads. Makes sense....

MattKing · Feb 5, 2022

I'll agree with all the above.
However, if you are not involved with a sales transaction with someone, and have merely noticed a posting tendency, we have had people who have no ulterior motives, but merely want to try out this new (to them) place called Photrio.
And at least one example where someone increased their post count because they had a totally legitimate desire to contact a member privately.
We appreciate it when you post your suspicions.
And thankfully, sometimes things turn out to be okay.

greg zinselmeier · May 3, 2022

MattKing said:
I'll agree with all the above.
However, if you are not involved with a sales transaction with someone, and have merely noticed a posting tendency, we have had people who have no ulterior motives, but merely want to try out this new (to them) place called Photrio.
And at least one example where someone increased their post count because they had a totally legitimate desire to contact a member privately.
We appreciate it when you post your suspicions.
And thankfully, sometimes things turn out to be okay.

I will say it is getting tougher to get accepted into any group and earn trust and respect. It is a steep hill folks!!

Don_ih · May 3, 2022

I don't suppose there's any way to make the classified section invisible to people unless (1) they've been members for 30 days and (2) they have at least 30 posts? I think most potential scammers will look elsewhere if they have to wait that long.

greg zinselmeier · May 3, 2022

All I can say is buyer beware. However looking suspiciously at everyone is not the social group I’m looking for. I will take mean grumpy a%%holes, over becoming a want to be Stasi informant. I loath the idea of looking at everyone with suspect and mistrust.

mohmad khatab · May 3, 2022

This is happy news and at the same time it is sad.
What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul?

gone · May 3, 2022

I would guess that limiting the transactions to only Paypal, bank transfer, money orders or a ck might eliminate this possibility? My bank instituted many safety protocols on bank transfers due to what they say was COVID related scams.

Apparently, that was also a big scam thing. Unfortunately, it's bothersome to the people involved, as the bank wants to make 2 small deposits into the buyer's bank, then the seller has to contact their bank and verify the amounts.

greg zinselmeier · May 3, 2022

Don Heisz said:
I don't suppose there's any way to make the classified section invisible to people unless (1) they've been members for 30 days and (2) they have at least 30 posts? I think most potential scammers will look elsewhere if they have to wait that long.

good point! I think LFF does something like this, maybe???

MattKing · May 3, 2022

Don Heisz said:
I don't suppose there's any way to make the classified section invisible to people unless (1) they've been members for 30 days and (2) they have at least 30 posts? I think most potential scammers will look elsewhere if they have to wait that long.

I'd be reluctant to go this way. I'm fairly sure that many people first encounter Photrio because they are internet searching for something they want to buy, and their search lands on a Classified listing here.

Sirius Glass · May 3, 2022

Don Heisz said:
I don't suppose there's any way to make the classified section invisible to people unless (1) they've been members for 30 days and (2) they have at least 30 posts? I think most potential scammers will look elsewhere if they have to wait that long.

I agree with @MattKing, that is too stringent. Those restrictions will drive away potential buyers and sellers to happen to tumble past us.

Marcelo Paniagua · May 3, 2022

Agree. Probably by the time they got to 30 comments they no longer which to sell. On me, I wouldnt mind a few restrictions if that mean a safest selling/buying experience.

Don_ih · May 3, 2022

The thirty comment, thirty day restriction would virtually eliminate scams. I doubt that there is a single person who has some interest in film photography that has not found out about this site in some way other than a for-sale post prior to ever thinking of signing up. Yes, maybe some signed up to get access to the classified ads ... like all the people attempting to run scams.

You could have just a 30 day membership requirement (for seeing the classified section) and eliminate virtually all the scams. Guys running scams got a lot of fish to fry and don't have the time to sit around waiting for a month to pass.

brbo · May 3, 2022

Don Heisz said:
You could have just a 30 day membership requirement (for seeing the classified section) and eliminate virtually all the scams. Guys running scams got a lot of fish to fry and don't have the time to sit around waiting for a month to pass.

You probably missed the fact that scammers actually don't use the classified section.

Don_ih · May 3, 2022

brbo said:
You probably missed the fact that scammers actually don't use the classified section.

They respond to the want-to-buy ads. You may have missed the fact that I suggested the classified section be invisible to new members. If they can't see it, they can't respond.

Bill Burk · May 3, 2022

Ah there could be a limit on the number of “I have the thing you’ve been looking for” conversation starts per day

greg zinselmeier · May 3, 2022

there must be anthropologist who study social dynamics, of how people are able to join social groups and stay in them without abusing the thing that brings them together. Maybe we should hire an anthropologist to sort out these affairs!

on the other hand, as soon as you make a rule to quash the behavior that is not tolerrible, those people who perpetuated these indignified acts, find a new method to skirt the law. Leaving the rest of us with a tape worm of laws, that are irrelevant and antiquated. in other words making us look like Jack ass's chasing our talls! People who make rules are like ambulance chasers, Never far from moral turpitude. that ALSO includes me as well, don't think i don't see the irony!!

Sirius Glass · May 3, 2022

greg zinselmeier said:
there must be anthropologist who study social dynamics, of how people are able to join social groups and stay in them without abusing the thing that brings them together. Maybe we should hire an anthropologist to sort out these affairs!

on the other hand, as soon as you make a rule to quash the behavior that is not tolerrible, those people who perpetuated these indignified acts, find a new method to skirt the law. Leaving the rest of us with a tape worm of laws, that are irrelevant and antiquated. in other words making us look like Jack ass's chasing our talls! People who make rules are like ambulance chasers, Never far from moral turpitude. that ALSO includes me as well, don't think i don't see the irony!!

Buy from people on the site you know and use PayPal.

Don_ih · May 4, 2022

greg zinselmeier said:
as soon as you make a rule to quash the behavior that is not tolerrible, those people who perpetuated these indignified acts, find a new method to skirt the law

Making the classified section invisible to non-members isn't a rule, really. It's removing a big glowing arrow advertising "easy marks here".

Sean · May 4, 2022

I have made it similar to private messages, so now a new member must have 20 posts under their belt before they can post any replies in the classifieds.

I'll also work on some badges for the areas to advise members how to protect themselves from fraud.

Let's see how that goes. Thanks!

greg zinselmeier · May 4, 2022

Sirius Glass said:
Buy from people on the site you know and use PayPal.

I don’t don’t know how to spell real well, I’m even worse with French, but I believe the retort would be “touché” well played ! that made me laugh

Sirius Glass · May 4, 2022

greg zinselmeier said:
I don’t don’t know how to spell real well, I’m even worse with French, but I believe the retort would be “touché” well played ! that made me laugh

Spelling is over rated. It is for people with OCD. If correct spelling was really important then G-d would not have put <cntrl-L> on the keyboard for spell-correct.

fyi - scam technique being used in classified ads, be on the lookout..

Sean

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fyi - scam technique being used in classified ads, be on the lookout..

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