Just a heads up. I posted a WTB ad for a front bumper and got multiple PMs from zero post accounts stating emails for someone selling a bumper over the last month. I emailed the person from the newest one who PMd me " "Email Dickson in Texas, He has a 3rd gen off-road front bumper for sale. Here's his email"

The person I emailed said they had a used ARB for $455 shipped and sent pictures of the bumper.

I asked for paypal info, which they responded and wanted me to send as a gift. "Yes but kindly make PayPal payment through gift because that's the only way I could get the money fast and get it shipped to you without no form of delay or additional fees, PayPal Address: [email protected]
Send me a screenshot of the payment so I can confirm and proceed with the shipment."

Obviously I tried to send as an item purchase with the fees included on my end. Paypal wouldn't allow it to go through (thank god). I then got suspicious and reverse image searched the images he emailed me and found them to be poorly cropped from this site: Modifying an FJ Cruiser for Overlanding: ARB Bumper Upgrades - ITS Tactical

Benefit of the doubt, I though maybe he just didn't have a picture of his and wanted to show the bumper style he had, I then emailed him stating he needs to prove it isn't a scam before we proceed and that I will be sending it as a payment not a gift and he became defensive stating he's 47 and that should be good enough as his word. "If you're not interested in making payment that way, and cannot find someone to come look at it at the address in the signature, it means we cannot have a deal. I understand your being wary and addition to us not having had any deal in the past, but I think at my age of 47, I should be a bit trust worthy. $455 isn't an amount to be conned, although, some thieves will do so. My word is my bond anyway."

I told him sending a picture with my name on a piece of paper atop the bumper and sending $468.90 through paypal so he will receive $455 should be no problem if this was a legitimate sale.

He then proceeded to say he wasn't around the bumper. I responded I can wait. Then he said he has an idea. "I have idea, What if you make upfront payment and balance up after send you tracking number, 50% before and 50% after"

I said that was fine, but I want a picture before I send any money. He then said never mind he's going to have a local buyer buy it and come and pick it up.

I didn't do the best job at paraphrasing, but it was 100% a scammer. I hope no one else gets phished by this guy and looses money. NEVER send money to someone as a gift. ALWAYS send as a payment and include the fees.

Here's his information in case anyone else gets in this situation by someone on here. you can cross reference the info.

User on here that sent me the PM: Lawson738
The email from the PM: [email protected]
His alleged phone number:3254808497
His paypal: [email protected]
His alleged address: 604 N.church St Pilot Point, Texas, 76258

The other zero post emails I never followed up with these, but I assume they are the same person and/or just as illegitimate:
tycoon78
Check out Christopher in PA via chrisjh365 @gmail.com,he has a 3rd gen off-road front bumper w/ winch mount he wants to part with.

Jackson2
I think i saw a guy called Matthew posted a 3rd gen off-road front bumper winch mount for sale. Here is his email. iammatwilliams@gmail. He's in Texas..

The owner of the house in Pilot Point is not Blake Dickson. An 80 year old lady owns it and a 31 year old also lives in the house with her and has a criminal record and his name is also not Blake Dickson.

Thanks for the lookup. and hey I see you're in TX too. Interested in meeting the guy and seeing if he has a legit bumper? I'd make it worth your while. Only if you have a CCW though

That’s the most common scam on auto forums from what I’ve seen. They usually target a WTB ad, which gives them the upper hand to Google image some photos to send you. The big dead giveaway is that they say they know so and so that has this item and give you an e-mail address. You did good trying to get them to send their screen name written on a piece of paper but a good photoshopper could fool you on that one. Buyer beware, especially if you post a WTB ad. I wouldn’t buy anything sight unseen from someone on the forums that didn’t have a good rapport in the community. Another big one is PayPal as Family or Friends but even more so is Western Union or similar. No getting your money back on that one.

Happens on nearly every forum.

Thanks for the warning. I have an online business related to cars and I haven't encountered such scams yet. Hopefully, I won't though. Is it a common thing actually?

It's a common scam on all forums that have a for sale section. I have seen it many times.

Never send money as a gift, unless, of course, it is a gift.

Hmmmm.
I like f'king with these type of people.
And telemarketers. I had more than a few curse me out when I was bored and toyed with them.
The best two guys I like are the two always trying to sell me erection meds.
Same two guys, over and over and over. So I started playing along, and they STILL call after they "lost it" on me.

Chose a random e-mail from that post.
mateyokay13
https://www.google.com/search?q=%22mateyokay13%22

I'll just leave this here.

dean cameron's nigerian spam scam scam

Be sure to set aside at least an hour to read this epic piece of Internet history.

Standard issue scam. Silly thing is, even as a "gift" if you pay with a credit card you WILL still win that dispute. Sigh

The name with the picture is useless, I can create that in 10 min in photoshop. The best way is to Facetime/zoom/or whatsup video first.

Yeah! Totally agreed with you. ez