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Buyer Beware

Audiogon has seen a number of fake accounts trying to rip off members. If you come across an item that seems very low in price and advertised by a brand new member the chances are it is a fake account trying to rip you off. My suggestion is to not attempt to buy from any of these accounts.

 

They have figured out how to get bogus tracking accounts from USPS, which look like an item was delivered to your house. Until you can prove that nothing was delivered, which can take time, you are out of your money. In some cases, the more that time passes the less likely you can prove this.

 

I’m not sure why Audiogon can not do a better job of filtering these scammers out but there are a number of ads up now that are most definitely scams.

raymonda
dgluke
100 posts
 

You’re not overthinking it for him. This has been a tactic for decades. The account and routing numbers will be correct, but the name won’t be, and it will not be caught right away. By the time it does, your friend will think it has cleared. These things are never legit. Next thing you know the amount of the check will be for more than the purchase price and the buyer will be asking for the difference to be wired to him for a small fee that will be something the buyer will try to make look legit (the over amount and the fee). 

Ag insider logo xs@2x
yags1
29 posts
 

.If it's paid by check when you go to your bank you can aske the teller

to put a hold on their account and check that there is money in that account to cover the check

 

dgluke
100 posts
 

What they are doing, is sending a postcard general delivery and PayPal will see the tracking number delivered to the city of record. They will not notice that your name is not on it and side with the seller simply because they provided tracking info to your city. I got hit hard. Audiogon was NO HELP. 

fertguy's avatar
fertguy
271 posts
 

I sold a set Of B&W 803s & used Paypal.  He paid. I shipped. The day they arrived he filed a complaint.  He said one had a blown tweeter. It didn't. I had to refund the tweeter price. Around v$300 I think. Scam deal.

 

clearthinker's avatar
clearthinker
1,582 posts
 

As I said before, it's so hard to pin these bastards.  The only answer is to increase sentences for those that are caught, to create risk.

In general I advocate much higher sentences for crimes that are difficult to police.

So for these scums I advocate 5 years first offence, 20 years subsequent.  The US is good at long sentencing.  There needs to be a lower grade facility to make prison life more unpleasant.  Bring back shackles.

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