Scammers

I just had my first encounter with a scammer on a shave forum.  
I am looking to buy a Smart-Helix Apollo Razor, and have a posting here and at another forum (TSN).  
So I got a PM that read "I've got this kindly send me a text via (xxx) xxx-xxxx for pictures and price".  
The scammer was brand new to the forum, and this was his first posting.  
So to confirm my suspicions I sent him a text, and he responded back with 5 pictures and a price of $180.  
So I texted back "Send me your PayPal address".  He said he didn't have PayPal, but had a friend who did.  
However his friend's PayPal would only accept F&F, something I've never heard of.  He kept calling me "bro".  
There was something about his English language usage, that led me to suspect that he was not a native speaker; 
possibly a Francophone African.  So I ended the text conversation, and will likely never hear from him again.  
The pictures were probably captured from a previous BS&T sale on one of these forums.  
These scammers just aren't very bright, and likewise neither are their victims.  So it goes.

They are lurking in the weeds and bushes. 
   Had one yesterday on reddit . They ask for razors and would donate money to a charity. I had a very inexpensive razor that was gifted to me with some blades. I told this person you pay the postage and it's yours.

After seeing some other guys postings questioning how that would work for the guy with the razor getting nothing the post disappeared. 

Then the guy wrote To me again saying if it was user friendly, by this time knowing it was a scam completely, I said no it's not user friendly.lol
 He/she took a few hours to reply thanks anyway.

It won't prove the person isn't a dirtbag, but to prove the person actually has the item, request that they write something you specify on a piece of paper and put it in a new picture with the item clearly seen.

It's happened to me twice. They lurk BST threads. Never, but never respond. Report the user to a moderator. Glad you weren't taken.

I just had my first encounter with a scammer on a shave forum.  
I am looking to buy a Smart-Helix Apollo Razor, and have a posting here and at another forum (TSN).  
So I got a PM that read "I've got this kindly send me a text via (xxx) xxx-xxxx for pictures and price".  
The scammer was brand new to the forum, and this was his first posting.  
So to confirm my suspicions I sent him a text, and he responded back with 5 pictures and a price of $180.  
So I texted back "Send me your PayPal address".  He said he didn't have PayPal, but had a friend who did.  
However his friend's PayPal would only accept F&F, something I've never heard of.  He kept calling me "bro".  
There was something about his English language usage, that led me to suspect that he was not a native speaker; 
possibly a Francophone African.  So I ended the text conversation, and will likely never hear from him again.  
The pictures were probably captured from a previous BS&T sale on one of these forums.  
These scammers just aren't very bright, and likewise neither are their victims.  So it goes.

sorry to hear about that and glad you didn't go forward and send them your money. we cannot stress enough that you should NEVER complete a transaction as F&F unless you truly know the person.

I sent you a PM.

I've been around the block a few times, and am not very easily deceived.  I do like to lead them on however, 
and catch them in their lies.  It gives me some pleasure to call their bluffs.

About a month ago, when I was trying to buy a shaving brush at BB, I met them. They just registered and sent me PM immediately.

He claims to be in Philadelphia, but refuses to trade face to face.

Only F & F payment will be accepted.

Don't accept G & S, even if I promise to pay for the service.

At the same time, the photos he provided were shared by others in the early days of the forum.

I do like to lead them on however, 
and catch them in their lies.  It gives me some pleasure to call their bluffs.

Same here 
I mess with people on Ebay sometimes too who have ridiculous listings, I just can't help myself

I'm ALWAYS skeptical, especially regarding new members. HOWEVER, it is not always prudent to immediately suspect something as a scam or a scam artist.

A couple of days ago, I received a PM from a new member on another Forum who had only been on the Forum since March of 2021.
The usual short request asking if an expensive brush was still available. So, at least two 'Red Flags' to me. I then sent a reply asking if he was in the US. A short reply stating that he was, with a general region (New York). I sent another PM asking HOW he planned to make payment. His reply was asking if I would accept PayPal.

It was at THIS point that I gave him my PayPal address AND I made several STIPULATIONS: I do NOT accept PayPal F&F and only G&S with PayPal FEES. That the price would be $XXX USD and ONLY to a PayPal VERIFIED ship to address. I asked him to verify his ship to address and to put a description of the item in the PayPal Notes section.

Soon after this, I received the PayPal payment. It was not only for the requested amount, but he paid the PayPal fees! The ship to address was the PayPal Verified address, which matched the one he gave me. The address was in a city in NY State.
I then printed out the Shipping label via PayPal, packed the item and put the USPS label on the package. Then took a photo of the shipping box showing the address and Tracking number and PMed the Tracking number to the buyer, as well as an attached photo of the package. Then, took the package to the USPS and obtained a receipt for the package which displayed the Tracking number. I also paid for a 'Signature Required" when purchasing the USPS Shipping, but shipped USPS First Class because I don't think that Priority is any better (Sometimes worse) and USPS Insurance is pretty much worthless in-regards to getting payment.

I know of other members that do some or all of these things. I am doing them more and more often especially with the afore mention circumstances, and any expensive items, or those shipping to International address (Even with a US Forwarding service ... actually ESPECIALLY with a Forwarding Service, since they are often problematic!).

Bottom Line: Be skeptical and cautious, and (especially) Cover YA as best you can!

I'm ALWAYS skeptical, especially regarding new members. HOWEVER, it is not always prudent to immediately suspect something as a scam or a scam artist.

A couple of days ago, I received a PM from a new member on another Forum who had only been on the Forum since March of 2021.
The usual short request asking if an expensive brush was still available. So, at least  two 'Red Flags' to me. I then sent a reply asking if he was in the US. A short reply stating that he was, with a general region (New York). I sent another PM asking HOW he planned to make payment. His reply was asking if I would accept PayPal.

It was at THIS point that I gave him my PayPal address AND I made several STIPULATIONS: I do NOT accept PayPal F&F and only G&S with PayPal FEES. That the price would be $XXX USD and ONLY to a PayPal VERIFIED ship to address. I asked him to verify his ship to address and to put a description of the item in the PayPal Notes section.

Soon after this, I received the PayPal payment. It was not only for the requested amount, but he paid the PayPal fees! The ship to address was the PayPal Verified address, which matched the one he gave me. The address was in a city in NY State.
I then printed out the Shipping label via PayPal, packed the item and put the USPS label on the package. Then took a photo of the shipping box showing the address and Tracking number and PMed the Tracking number to the buyer, as well as an attached photo of the package. Then, took the package to the USPS and obtained a receipt for the package which displayed the Tracking number. I also paid for a 'Signature Required" when purchasing the USPS Shipping, but shipped USPS First Class because I don't think that Priority is any better (Sometimes worse) and USPS Insurance is pretty much worthless in-regards to getting payment.

I know of other members that do some or all of these things. I am doing them more and more often especially with the afore mention circumstances, and any expensive items, or those shipping to International address (Even with a US Forwarding service ... actually ESPECIALLY with a Forwarding Service, since they are often problematic!).

Bottom Line: Be skeptical and cautious, and (especially) Cover YA as best you can!

I do the same steps as you with added steps. All of it began when I started receiving eBay purchases that were not as described or poorly packaged. Now, I always set up a tripod and video any purchase from eBay or a shaving forum BST item to record the packaging condition and actual package opening to capture the item’s condition and contents. It is a pain to do so and I now purchase far less from eBay than ever (I’ve been an eBay member since 2000), but it’s worth it when problems arise.

I now request that any BST item I purchase be shipped in a box and NOT a bubble pack. I have two brother-in-laws in the USPS, one in logistics, and both tell me that bubble packs are the worse means of shipping as their contents can be crushed by a larger package(s) on the conveyor systems and conveyors are notoriously hard on bubble packs.

Regarding USPS Priority Mail, it is better for longer distances as it gets routed so that it handled less (as does overnight and the more expensive expedited shipping options).