Power Kite Forum

Potential scam

Blitzhound - 1-10-2017 at 06:56 PM

Just thought I'd share this potential scam with y'all. I had recently posted on the forum in the wanted. Looking for a wheel. I recieved an email saying "I have what you need. If you're still looking." I replied that i was in fact still looking. They responded with pictures of a Patagonia Cameleon on Kenda beach Racers and sysmic rims. Asking 450 "USD" U.S. Dollars? Ok maybe he's not in the stats. That would be a bummer. I ask if his $450 is for the tires and wheels or the whole buggy. Where he's located? where he got it? Why he's selling it? I should point out that all of his responses to this point have all been short one liners and poor grammar. He doesn't say where he got it. Says he's selling it because he wants to get a new one, the $450 asking price is for the entire buggy. and he's located in Maryland USA. USA? I tell him in in Oregon. Would he be willing to ship it. He says yes. I ask him for his PayPal info. I'll send him the money. At this point I'm pretty sure it's BS. But let's play it out. How is this scam going to play out? He replays that his PayPal account is having issues. (Issues?) and he wants to use the Venmo. Bingo! There it is. I tell him I'm not comfortable using Venmo. (Venmo is an app owned by PayPal. It is Kent for sending money amongst friends and family. It offers no protection for buyer or sellers.) In fact the scam relies on a single line in the user agreement. " Venmo is not to be used for business transactions." He the proceeds to convince me that it is safe and he can be trusted. To which I reply. It's not gonna happen.

So...many red flags. But nothing substantial. I can't prove it's a scam. But be warned DO NOT use Venmo for payment transactions unless it's someone you know and trust. Good luck and safe interweb travels.

markite - 1-10-2017 at 07:50 PM

well I'm curious if this is the same Cameleon Pagona for sale from the UK - it's got barrow, big foots and discs going for 450 pounds - but definitely in the UK. It can be seen on the "kites, land boards and buggies for sale/wanted" Facebook group. Curious if it's the same photos.
If you can get a chameleon with the larger front fork and big wheels and and sysmic rim for 450 US that's a deal! But sounds like you might have something funky going on with this offer.

jimbocz - 2-10-2017 at 12:56 AM

I immediately thought the same thing as Mark, both being 450 seems like a big coincidence.

Blitzhound - 2-10-2017 at 02:18 AM

After Marks reply I investigated and it is not the same buggy.

jeffnyc - 2-10-2017 at 08:00 AM

Hey, thanks Blitz... I've never used Venmo, but sure it would come up at some point, good to know the differences. I'll stick to PayPal (until Apple comes up with a peer to peer)
Glad you didn't fall for the scam, if it is one.

sand flea - 2-10-2017 at 05:23 PM

Very good to know
Thanks Blitz