Fraud Ads Have Been Posted Lately

@phillyb we are on it. Have a plan to roll out this week or next to stop this dangerous fraud. In the meantime, We encourage any user that sees something to email Support@audiogon.com Appreciate the help.

Everybody is out for the BIG SCAM no feedback NO SALE DUDE!!!!

Be careful also not to pay sellers thru family or friends . Some sellers will ask for it, if it’s  scam PayPal will not be able to protect you.

AGON survival credo : ” …. In God we trust …. Everyone else pays cash! ….”

Family and Friend payments are OK with great past feedback from sellers. The reason for family and friends' requests now is due to sales being taxed by Paypal even though as we know we never see that money we pay off for the gear that is being replaced. I have purchased items that way from long-time Goners. The Scammers go looking for those who want something almost for free. $15,000 Mark Levinson amp for $2,600...wow! and like-new condition from their pictures used. The thing is this is a group and they use different states for their ads across the country so this is a planned endeavor. Buy from long term Goners with feedback and you are good to go. 

@phillyb +1

continual fraud from experienced fraudsters, whom the police cannot stop, is also common. Repetition leads to an increase in sophistication of the methods.

Look up ’john Bowering’ at canuck audio. (web search). He’s a serial fraudster who’s been near impossible to stop, in some 20 years of defrauding people in high end/vintage audio.. There are many people who would like to rain physical harm down on this guy. A long long list of people. It’s a frightening look into the problems with prosecution even if you know who the fraudster is. the guy is so close to taking a beating from those trying to ensnare him so they can deliver said beating..that he plays games like a hostage taker looking for a bag of cash from the police (Drop zones, watching people from afar at the given meeting points, etc) . he’s so well known that this is part of his ’fraudster’ package of contacting buyers and sellers. it’s some seriously freaky stuff going on there. Not all Canadians are good guys. Remember Trevor! (GTA V).

Point is, if you can’t name names directly, not much can be done to retrieve funds or property.

And if you know who it is exactly, probably near impossible, even then. the modern environment, economically and socially, and legally...is turning it all into a no show regarding any efforts of police or police interest, even if it is a serial defrauder who’s lifetime known totals come well into the hundreds of thousands of $.

Frauds are everywhere. Many are members here. 

If you've been fooled by another Agon member report them to Admin but also post here and let others know who they are so as not to fall for their schemes

I have seen them on other sites too.  One good thing to check is do a google image search of the images they provide and often you can find the ad where they stole it from. often years ago.  The great thing about stealing an ad from 2 years ago is the copy is already written so they don't have to show off their poor english.  If you can't positively identify fraud and are nervous but interested, offer to add 3% and pay with paypal.  If they refuse that, it could be a red flag. OTOH, if they refuse because they don't want a 1099 from paypal, that sounds like they are a real person.  --Jerry

@music_is_life ,

Frauds are everywhere. Many are members here. 

On what evidence do you base your accusation on?

What are the names of these alleged fraudsters?

@teo_audio I looked on USAM for a john Bowering per your suggestion but nothing comes up. How can this guy defraud people time and time again without being stopped? Makes no sense.

@thecarpathian Gosh let’s see here, you have to join to post equipment for sale or post a fraudulent ad, hence they are members.

This is not some elite secure club. You, this site and it’s members are not special or are you afforded any protections by selling or purchasing products on this site.

@music_is_life ,

Ah, I see now what you are alluding to.

The world is full of frauds, many of these frauds join here to run their frauds.

You are not alluding to specific long time members.

A bit more specificity to your overly simplistic statement would have been nice.

No need to get all chopsy.

@thecarpathian guess some are slow on the uptake. You are the only one who took it to heart. 

Annnd now we can add insulting to chopsy in your very short time here.

Welcome to the forum. You’re going to be real popular here.

Quick question; 

What was your previous username before you were banned?

I believe I already know.

@music_is_life

"Gosh let’s see here, you have to join to post equipment for sale or post a fraudulent ad, hence they are members."

You don’t have to post equipment for sale to become a member. Many long time members have never sold or bought anything!

Hi, yogiboy.

He's saying you have to be a member to post equipment for sale, not that if you're a member you have to post equipment for sale.

Thought I'd clear that up politely before he starts insulting you also...

@thecarpathian you were insulted? So sorry.

That was not my intent at all. 

please accept my apology, or not.

Look everyone,

Jerryg123/earlflynn/skypunk is back!

Man, what's wrong with people nowadays. I make a post to inform us all for the good of us all and like always at some point it turns into a negative argument and put-downs. Get a grip, life is too short.