SCAM ALERT For AudiogoN Sellers - Too Many Questions

It's actually quite shocking how much information you can get from just a cell phone number. The list begins with your name and possibly address. Some other things might be:

• Past addresses.
• Relatives’ names.
• Where you live.
• Your assets and how much you paid for your house.
• All your criminal records.
• Driving records.
• Legal issues (bankruptcy, liens, taxes, court cases, lawsuits, etc.).
• Travel information.
• Social media accounts.
• Other online accounts.
• Email addresses.
• Vital records.
• Deep web and dark web records.
• Mugshots.
• Professional licenses.
• IP address.
• VIN number. 
•  

As a buyer, looking at the feedback can be very valuable.  If a seller has been selling for 5+ years, with 100% or near 100% feedback, its VERY unlikely they are about to start ripping off a buyer.  This is particularly so if the seller is doing this to make a living.  Its simply not worth $1000 to damage your entire livelihood and tarnish a perfect feedback rating.  

The buyers most valuable asset is also feedback.  If something is not right with your item, or the seller is not willing to take care of an issue, just the threat of leaving neutral or negative is your superpower.  NEVER just leave it without first contacting the seller. 

In my 2 decades of using AudiogoN it has been wonderful to find that most of the buyers and sellers here are reasonable and mature people who will communicate.  This is not the case on eBay, Facebook, etc.

Just my 2 cents.

I know on usaudiomart you can exchange private email and phone numbers. I always research the person and property address and at times have called the local police for verification. You have to be especially careful when traveling with large sums of money for a cash deal.

I

Sad about phone number exchange not being allowed.  I think it's disallowed on Ebay also.  I wonder if it's a liability thing, or to discourage making a deal on the side?  I admit to doing that once in the early days of Ebay.  I met a local seller and made the deal external to Ebay to avoid the fees.  But that was only once, of many many purchases.   

I was just notified that images from my listing on another site were on Ebay and the sell price was about one third of my asking price. Fortunately some folks from that site informed Ebay that it was a scam listing. Seems nothing is sacred anymore. 

@ronboco 

True. I've done that before, good thought.

Life is one big SCAM!!

Agree!  Good post!!!

Scammers are doing a similar thing w/ advertising apartments for rent online. They post Multiple photos & description of a place they got from somewhere  & ask for an application fee or credit check fee or even first months rent & in this tough time for available housing, people pay it. Unfortunately, the unit doesn’t exist! 
 

I would not buy or sell virtually anything if the person isn’t present unless I could directly talk with or have an email exchange w/ them. These are crazy times we live in. 

@lowrider57 

You can share personal info in the message section. You just have to use “code “ if you will. 

I advertised a pair of vintage Klipsch on another sight and being that I'm from Mass, a potential buyer from NY asked for a video of them actually playing before he made the trip.

He came with cash in hand. I let him demo the speakers in my system and he bought them for my asking price.

Just my 2¢

@salon1audio 

There are a few ways to add a watermark with your iPhone/iPhone photos.  One is just with your iPhone under photos and there are 2 options with an app called snapseed a free app through apple.You can also search Youtube for "how to add a watermark with your iPhone photos"

Good Luck and let us know how you make out.

It's a good idea but I'll take great! Thanks!

That is a great idea. It's called a watermark, often used to protect copyrighted media.

@dweller 

Great idea.  I know some people who are good with Photoshop and its pretty amazing what you can do.  It least it will make them work for the images! :-)

Salon1, when you send new pictures, hold up a sign that identifies your business. preferably over a part of the component that would be hard to replicate with photoshop, etc..

@lowrider57 

Yea I forgot about the phone numbers.  As a dealer on AG we are able to post contact info.  I guess if you can talk to the seller who's a dealer you can build a good relationship... and weed out the bad ones.  It is nice to hear a bit about the system, and challenges with the room, etc and most are happy to make recommendations based on their experience.  You don't get that on Amazon :-)

@salon1audio 

I appreciate you sharing the experience. Learning about techniques used by scammers helps us.

SOLUTION:  Talk on the phone.  Is still amazing how much of a feel you can get with a simple conversation. 

I agree. Unfortunately, the powers that be don't permit phone numbers to be exchanged; no personal contact allowed. I used to speak directly to a buyer or seller. You can get a sense of the character of the person on the other end of the line. I even made a couple of friendships this way.

Two years ago, I actually had a potential buyer ask me to send him a video of the speakers that I was selling playing music. Now I would not be too surprised by many things.