look out for scam

Warning about a scam on the Mountain Project "For Sale" forum using the name Jennifer Blake. I sent $80 for a Micro Traxion, after seemingly good back and forth communication and a believable photo. seller stopped all communication and haven't received anything in the mail for 2 weeks. be smarter than me! lol

I feel like I've noticed that most scammers do that thing where they'll write notes next to the item they claim they're selling. It doesn't seem like a common thing done on MP but I could be wrong. Only time I've seen it is when labeling different batches of gear if that makes sense. Sorry to hear about the L

something about the hand writting / cursive thats feeling prompted.....

Folks are using AI to produce this stuff, only buy gear off of MP users who are contributors to the site in some way.

Couple ways to help prevent you from getting scammed:

1: Use Venmo/PayPal Goods and Services. They take a fee, but this is pretty much a foolproof method because if they scam you, you can just issue a chargeback.

2: If someone has low comments or seems suspicious in general, ask for a second social media account like Facebook or Instagram. 

3: Ask for more photos. If it’s AI or fake, they usually won’t be able to provide additional pictures.

In general, if something is suspicious, just use Goods and Services and charge back if they scam you.

Gabo Swrote:

I feel like I've noticed that most scammers do that thing where they'll write notes next to the item they claim they're selling. It doesn't seem like a common thing done on MP but I could be wrong. Only time I've seen it is when labeling different batches of gear if that makes sense. Sorry to hear about the L

Small note: the note thing is really common in most other online marketplaces. It’s honestly more unusual that it isn’t more of a thing on MTP. 

hope this helps

Womans name but a guys hand is a bit of a redflag

Ti ckwrote:

Womans name but a guys hand is a bit of a redflag

I'm sorry what? How can you tell that it's a guy's hand from the pic?

Jeremy Lwrote:

I'm sorry what? How can you tell that it's a guy's hand from the pic?

"She had man hands!"

Ti ckwrote:

Womans name but a guys hand is a bit of a redflag

Its a dead giveaway!!! 

That's a bummer man. Thanks for following up with a post mortem and community warning.

I agree about the man hands and the handwriting being flags, but hindsight man. It's easy seeing what things are after you've been told what your looking at.

Stay vigilant y'all. These AI enabled scams will only get better over time.

Alex Mankouskiwrote:

1: Use Venmo/PayPal Goods and Services. They take a fee, but this is pretty much a foolproof method because if they scam you, you can just issue a chargeback.

I thought Venmo was legit protection...  Until I got burned recently.  Bought something here on MP, shipper made an honest mistake and sent it to the wrong address, an address that doesn't even exist.  6 weeks has gone by, like 10 trips to all the POs in my area... and the package is nowhere to be found.  I filed a dispute with Venmo and they told me to pack sand.  The tracking info says it was delivered so they won't refund me.  I provided proof that the shipment went to the wrong address, not the one I provided to the seller, and still... I'm out $102.

Andy Shoemakerwrote:

I thought Venmo was legit protection...  Until I got burned recently.  Bought something here on MP, shipper made an honest mistake and sent it to the wrong address, an address that doesn't even exist.  6 weeks has gone by, like 10 trips to all the POs in my area... and the package is nowhere to be found.  I filed a dispute with Venmo and they told me to pack sand.  The tracking info says it was delivered so they won't refund me.  I provided proof that the shipment went to the wrong address, not the one I provided to the seller, and still... I'm out $102.

Sorry for your loss. I’ve just personally heard that gs works well. 

I think the lesson learned on venmo/PayPal goods and services is to provide the shipping address within the payment app itself. As a note. Often I pay and email the address separately. But this will show venmo you paid for a specific item and address and didn't get that.

I notice scammers will contact you directly but seldom respond publicly to the posting in the forum .

Sorry to hear this happened... I recently had run-ins with 3 scammers here (I'm almost certain) for Nomics, one also with the paper of my name. 

The Sticky in this subforum needs to be updated by MP Moderators to encourage video calls of the goods. 

Invariably the people getting scammed on here are the people with new accounts or not active on MP. The OP is a perfect example. And the scammers know this. That's one reason why they target WTB, because it's easy to screen for a likely mark.

I'm sorry the OP got scammed, but it's entirely predictable he'd be targeted. Every couple months there's one these threads.