Reminder: Please be on the lookout for classified ad and parts scammers

[Sean]

Hi All,

I have discovered at least one recent account using the private message system to scam a couple of APUG members. We are usually able to discover and ban these scammers within hours thanks to reported private messages, but they are becoming more sophisticated.

basically:
1. they create an account
2. they bomb dozens of APUG members via private messaging, looking for items (in classifieds and forums)
3. as quickly as possible get those members outside of APUG and conversing through email (they know we are likely to quickly ban them on APUG)
4. they come off as friendly, well spoken, professional and arrange a deal (usually via money order)

Ways to approach this:
-report any suspicious PM activity to us: "hey, out of nowhere this new member is trying to sell me something". These reports help us shut it down quickly
-don't be quick to trust a new APUG member with little to no activity that is offering you something, there is even the possibility an old or established APUG account has been compromised as well.
-ideally, always use paypal or a form of payment that offers you some protection, no protection no sale
-try to find out more about the seller (personal web page, social media, ebay history, APUG feedback, etc)

I'm open to any further suggestions on how we can manage this better. This particular scammer circumvented a few system protections that are designed to limit private messages on new accounts. They did this by appearing a model citizen long enough to use the private message system. The most brute force method of ending this is making private messaging a subscriber only option. Scammers generally will never subscribe to a forum due to the subscription payment creating an identity trail. Taking drastic action like that could upset a lot of members though. We might have to stick with "buyer beware" in this case.

Thanks,
Sean

 

[Sirius Glass]

Thank you for working so diligently for the APUG community.

 

[resummerfield]

I agree with Sirius... Thanks, Sean!

 

[StephenT]

ditto

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Now is a good time to re-iterate this heads up, particularly for WTB ads, but also some classifieds requesting payment by wire transfer or international money order.

Lately we've had cases where WTB posters are contacted in PM by alleged sellers who claim to have an array of analogue gear, contacting various sellers with very different requests, and asking to take the transaction off forum and requesting payment by wire transfer, Western Union, or some other difficult-to-reverse, instant form of payment. This is obviously suspicious, and I would advise everyone to steer clear of such offers. Thanks to those who have reported them.

 

[trendland]

Wow - now as you mentioned this issue I remember the more and more official anouncement of sales.
The danger you described I did not see before. So we can learn more and more about this bad world. ...

But I would not come in private conversations and at the end I have to tranfer big money in further continents.

With regards

PS : Seriously - thank you for your service.I realy don't think about before.

 

[MattKing]

Just posting again to this thread, to bring it again to every one's attention.
There is now a minimum post count required before access is granted to the private Conversation function, but still we suggest that people be cautious when contacted by new members.

 

[MattKing]

Bumping this again - we still suggest that people be cautious when contacted by new or recently much more active members.

 

[MattKing]

And bumping this again - be cautious when contacted by new or recently much more active members, particularly if you have a current WTB listing.

 

[BMbikerider]

I am the Administrator for a UK based Motorcycle club and we had something like this over many years but we solved it by any new account having to be checked by myself or the other administrator and we find most are genuine and get their account activated as soon as we see them. There there are the others that usually stick out like a sore thumb. They do check them by various methods and any that are 'odd' get consigned to the bin without getting access. The one that usually sorts them out is an enquiring E mail making sure the know who is sending it - they never respond.
It was not only 'scams' attempting to trick people into parting with their cash, they were offering things like - generic medication (viagra), sex contacts, Holiday offers (that didn't exist) etc etc. They tended to come in batches with a number of attempts in a short space of time then a break of several months before they had another go.
Most of the attempts seem to come from the former eastern Europe, Bulgaria, Lituania. Latvia, Poland etc) Pakistan, India and Malaysia.
Since we took pro-active steps 7 years ago non have managed to gain access to our forum