Guys,

This is the second time. Might be a bit long winded, but the devil's in the details.....

I'm not sure why I did here on OSO to begin with, but I have always included my phone number in other forums I've been on, typically because I'm a vendor. I doubt anybody's noticed, but I stopped including my phone number in my posts Here on OSO. This is why.

A couple months ago, I replied to a post selling a prop, indicating I would be interested, should a sale to the first taker fall through. Shortly after, the seller posted the prop had sold. I moved on. NBD. Sometime after that, I get a text from some rando, telling me they have "the" prop for sale. Thinking it was the original seller, having not actually closed the deal, had chosen to contact me directly, since I had previously indicated I was interested. Rando presented pics of a prop that matched the one that had been for sale. It all seemed legit. But then Rando got pushy about me sending the check. Being on a mini vacay, I told them I'd send the check as soon as I got home. Over the course of the few days in the interim, while exchanging details for shipping and such, things started to not add up. Sometimes, I'm kinda slow, though, so, when I get home, I hurried up and made out a check and got it out in the mail. But then the gears started turning, and the more I thought about it, the more doubts I had. This area code didn't match the ZIP; things like that. The day after I had sent the check, I decided I'd made a mistake, so I asked Rando to log onto OSO, as the original OSO seller, and send me a PM, to connect the ends of the thread, so to speak. They told me they would. In the interim, already pretty well convinced, I sent the original OSO seller a PM, asking if they'd reached out to me via text. He replied back in a short while, informing me that the prop he had had for sale was long gone, and that it was not him. My suspicions were confirmed. I went to my bank, ate the $25 and cancelled the check. Upon receiving the check, and finding it to have been canceled, Rando 'sploded and asked me why. So I told him. He complained about "Now he'd have to cancel the shipment", and "Now his accounts were going to be all screwed up". I told him to allow the shipment to go through. If the prop arrived, I'd cut him another check. Guess what has yet to arrive......

Fast forward to this morning......

I recently posted that I am seeking a Bravo 28P prop. I have gotten an offer for one that could be had one here on OSO. I replied to send me some pics via text, and (), like a dumbass, included my number. Wadayano... I get a rando texting me, indicating they are the one selling the prop. I asked them to send me a PM on OSO, as the seller. They tell me they can't, because they have lost access to their account. Bullsh!t. I have not responded, but I have PM'd the prospective OSO seller, and am currently awaiting response. I have not replied to Rando since.

I am posting this only to inform that they are out there. And they are scanning forums for soft targets. Just an FYI....

To be clear, I am, in no way, suggesting that either OSO member I have referenced are trying to scam anybody, and I have left their usernames out for just that reason. They are just the segue being used by those that are.

Thanks. Brad.
(XXX)XXX-XXXX🤬

Have some fun with them...tell them to send a pic of his face with him holding the prop for proof of life! LOL

So do you want the prop or not?

Call me: (937)545-.....

Your old posts still have your number........I couldn't resist

F.cking scammers

Jupiter,

I know. I'm not that worried about it. I'm just not gonna in the future.

I just find it amazing that people would stoop that low. My dad used to always say, "People are just no damned good."

Thanks. Brad.

That is why the 10 post rule was initiated to send/receive PM's. It has stopped 99% of the PM scammers

Griff,

Yup.

This is 100% my fault. I'll own that. I just thought I'd put it out there that it's happening. I've seen several other members put their numbers up, even if creatively to conceal from bots and such. Just know that these low-lifes are getting ever more creative and ambitious, while digging for soft targets.

Thanks. Brad.

BTW Brad,

I moved from the midwest so my area code doesn't match the zip code.

Wildman,

Oh, I get that. But that was just the first of many red flags that went up. For example, I’d asked him what boat he ran it on, and his answer was not one that you would expect that prop to be used on. He always seemed to need time to get answers that most of us could rattle off the tops of our heads. If one could imagine, it was almost as if he was him-hawing around with answering questions. It was always, “Give me a minute”, then, a couple minutes later, he’d have an answer that kinda made sense. Even for that of his OSO member name. I have screenshots of all this.

Ultimately, it turns out I was right and I made the right call to cancel the check. I’m just trying to help others avoid these asshats.

Thanks. Brad.

thanks for sharing the way he did it... always something we never think about by ourselves...