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Marketplace fraud

F

FELAW

Member
On the marketplace homepage:

"Please be aware that non-members can browse the Marketplace and use the Contact button in an ad to email a member. Internet fraud is always of a concern and we remind everyone to use every caution when sending or receiving funds."

Now you tell me. I always thought that only MOA members could post/reply to ads. Well I found out the hard way; sent the money by Western Union, the vendor is now incommunicado. The fraudster's name is suppose to be Michael Wrights, lives in Misissippi and uses the email name MichaelAA. I guess the only way to ensure a genuine vendor is to ask for the username and MOA number and then somehow get the club to verify the identity.
 
Fraud

Hope you are not out to much if someone asks for western union think scam it is easy to set up a PayPal account make them do it if they want paid.
 
FELAW said:
I guess the only way to ensure a genuine vendor is to ask for the username and MOA number and then somehow get the club to verify the identity.
Click to expand...

A lot of members use their MOA number as their user name so I would not use that as proof.

Ask the person to send you a PM. Only members can use this feature.
 
fraud

Lee said:
A lot of members use their MOA number as their user name so I would not use that as proof.

Ask the person to send you a PM. Only members can use this feature.
Click to expand...

I don't know, I have a couple of old pm's from "guest(s)" (unless they changed the rules to block guest postings).
 
FELAW said:
I don't know, I have a couple of old pm's from "guest(s)" (unless they changed the rules to block guest postings).
Click to expand...

Expired Members, those who have not renewed their membership, are changed to "guest" status.
OM
 
Pay Pal

179212 said:
Hope you are not out to much if someone asks for western union think scam it is easy to set up a PayPal account make them do it if they want paid.
Click to expand...

Never agree to Paypal as a gift though, you have no recourse. I see there is an Arai helmet on the market place asking for that as a payment, don't do it.
 
surfdad1060 said:
Never agree to Paypal as a gift though, you have no recourse. I see there is an Arai helmet on the market place asking for that as a payment, don't do it.
Click to expand...

Very mild rant: Asking a buyer to say that a purchase is a gift is dishonest and intended to deprive Paypal of a potential fee. Some might call it fraud. All the seller has to do is to include any fee in the asking price. Regardless of "recourse" I would never recommend a person knowingly do a dishonest act. I would avoid the seller.
 
I think it used to only be visible to members. I actually joined to see it a few years ago because I was looking for a bike...
 
donbmw said:
Marketplace should only be viewed by members only
Click to expand...

So, can you describe the real difference between getting shafted by a member and getting screwed by a non-member? Does the BMW MOA become a consumer protection agency? A collection agency? Or what? Literally anybody with a credit card can join BMW MOA. They might own a bike. It might be a BMW. Or not! It might be some dude from Nigeria or North Korea. I am responsible for my own transactions whether as a buyer or a seller.
 
PGlaves said:
So, can you describe the real difference between getting shafted by a member and getting screwed by a non-member? Does the BMW MOA become a consumer protection agency? A collection agency? Or what? Literally anybody with a credit card can join BMW MOA. They might own a bike. It might be a BMW. Or not! It might be some dude from Nigeria or North Korea. I am responsible for my own transactions whether as a buyer or a seller.
Click to expand...

Sure, you can still be defrauded by a member. Limiting to members narrows the potential of risk from "everybody" to the membership base.
 
PGlaves said:
So, can you describe the real difference between getting shafted by a member and getting screwed by a non-member?
Click to expand...

It's sort of like the perceived security that you feel leaving your gear in your tent at a club only campsite versus leaving your gear on an open sidewalk. The odds of someone joining the MOA just to rip off one person is pretty low. Name, addresses, and join date are available for all club members. That is a deterent for any member originated scams.

It SHOULD be MEMBERS ONLY!!! There are plenty of other venues for non-member transactions. The added security of members only is a benefit that should be provided by the club, otherwise why bother to host a marketplace. If I didn't care about dealing with just club members, I could reach more people on Ebay, Craigslist, IBMWR, etc, etc, just as easily.




:dance:dance:dance
 
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