Thanks for commenting, and yes. As intended. Not to be an *******, but the world is what it is. Let me help decode this a bit in the hope the fair and normal folks at least hear the thinking (cause screw the scammers).
I've bought a fair number of things from special interest forums like this one. Scammers are most common in the "wanted" posts (where this post is), and quite common in forums that allow access to that section with low post count accounts (as this forum does, and should not). I'm now retired, but I've deep experience in cyber-crime from the financial industry. Meaning I've a little knowledge of how to limit scammer problems. Heck, I've written primers, hosted seminars, and worked with sysops of other forums to help address these things. I'm rarely on this forum (no reason, I just seem to go to the "other" forum more often), so I don't want to presume I should tell anybody else what to do or how to address scammers. I do tend to take my own advice though.
Anyway, hopefully we can agree there is no absolute way of beating a scammer or dishonest person. Golly, I bought my FJR from Oregon and had it shipped here after two dealers checked it over (pre-shipment and on-arrival). Both missed it had been over and had broken mirror fairing stays, bad battery, etc.. I'd used Escrow.com, but given the clean bill of health from both dealers, well, I got taken a bit. Ok, gonna happen. For little things, under a few hundred, I just roll with whatever my intuition says knowing that scammers tend to focus on larger ticket items. I bought a Sargent (other forum I think) just that way. But an RDL? Yea, that's enough money to attract a scammer. Ergo, laying it out upfront.
As to reaction from others, in my experience a legit seller doesn't care for he/she too wants a clean sale. The scammer wants to get off-line, redirect you off forum, always have low post count, etc. And of course wants to control the shipping/payment process. There's more of course, but just what I've posted already usually lowers the scammers interest.
I suppose I should update the "Avoiding Internet Scammers" document and share it, but as I've said I'm not on this forum often and didn't want to fall into the "who do you think you are" sort of thing from a noob (me) offering advice to long established forum members who justifiably have a sort of implied trust with each other.
I've rambled a bit, but basically you're seeing what the first steps are in minimizing scammers (nothing's 100% in the cat and mouse cybercrime game).
Warmest regards,
-d
