SCAM ALERT

[chasinghorizons]

So I'm in the process of selling my Sheeva 10s, and posted a listing on Facebook Marketplace. I was contacted by a Lucas shaw. He wanted to pay through Zelle instead of Facebook. I got a very official looking email from "zelleinfo service" saying payment pending, funds to be released once I shipped the item and updated tracking information. Shipping address was to 1878 NW 20th St, Miami, FL 33142. RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM A BARGAIN SPORTS STORE. Maybe related?? I was literally on the verge of shipping the item, but then the USPS shipping charge was a lot higher than the facebook estimate so I didn't. I went home to look up other shipping options, and that's when I checked my actual Zelle account and there were no payments pending. I contacted the guy and asked him to cancel his Zelle payment and pay through facebook. He blocked me.

In retrospect, I was very dumb and should've checked Zelle a lot sooner. But I really wasn't expecting someone to scam for skis, and it was a very official looking email. So yea, BE CAREFUL OUT THERE, YALL. It's a mean mean world...

 

[shadoj]

@chasinghorizons - Way to go! So many folks don't take the time to check those little details. Thanks for reminding us to be on our toes.

These scams are becoming more sophisticated & common. It's pretty easy to spoof (i.e. insert whatever you want into) email and text message sender addresses/numbers. It's easy to buy domain names that look official, but aren't.

Always be wary when someone asks you to take a transaction "off platform" and insists on a payment type (e.g. PayPal Friends & Family, Venmo, Zelle) with little buyer protection built in. Be wary if they want to send you a check with more than the amount offered. Be wary if there are oddities in wording, grammar, and punctuation. Check your accounts via the company's official page/phone number, rather than clicking on a "plausible-looking" link sent to you.

 

[VickiK]

Shipping address was to 1878 NW 20th St, Miami, FL 33142. RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM A BARGAIN SPORTS STORE. Maybe related??

Maybe so! Glad you didn't ship.

 

[chasinghorizons]

Glad you didn't ship.

Seriously! I was so mad when the shipping charge was 5x higher than what Facebook said it'd be (obviously I don't ship large packages often). But in retrospect, what a lifesaver!

 

[chasinghorizons]

@chasinghorizons - Way to go! So many folks don't take the time to check those little details. Thanks for reminding us to be on our toes.

These scams are becoming more sophisticated & common. It's pretty easy to spoof (i.e. insert whatever you want into) email and text message sender addresses/numbers. It's easy to buy domain names that look official, but aren't.

Always be wary when someone asks you to take a transaction "off platform" and insists on a payment type (e.g. PayPal Friends & Family, Venmo, Zelle) with little buyer protection built in. Be wary if they want to send you a check with more than the amount offered. Be wary if there are oddities in wording, grammar, and punctuation. Check your accounts via the company's official page/phone number, rather than clicking on a "plausible-looking" link sent to you.

Pretty sure another person just tried to scam me there... Michelle Ronald wanted them shipped to Tennessee and offered to pay $100 extra for rush shipping, but wanted to pay through Zelle. Small little capitalization and grammar errors in her msgs. I wonder if it's the same person? I am so surprised that ski scams are so common!

Anyway skis are now reserved for someone I know is legit

 

[shadoj]

Pretty sure another person just tried to scam me there... Michelle Ronald wanted them shipped to Tennessee and offered to pay $100 extra for rush shipping, but wanted to pay through Zelle. Small little capitalization and grammar errors in her msgs. I wonder if it's the same person? I am so surprised that ski scams are so common!

Anyway skis are now reserved for someone I know is legit

Sorry you're having to deal with bots/scammers!
Crossing my fingers that the skis end up with someone on here.

These scams now are common on most buy/sell platforms. It's less about the product (skis), but the potential to scam you. Any attempts to rush your decision, send someone different to pick up/pay for the item, asking about "final price" -- be on alert.

Oddly enough, cash-in-hand, exchanged in a public place, is still one of the safer methods. Or send to a Ski Diva -- I assume Diva cheating ramifications result in snow burning under your skis forevermore!